Write kind candidate rejection emails
Write respectful rejection emails for applicants at each stage, from not shortlisted to final-round, so every candidate gets a timely, decent answer.
The prompt
Write candidate rejection emails for the [ROLE] position at [BUSINESS NAME]. Write three versions: 1. Applicants not selected for an interview (short, sent within a week of applying). 2. Candidates who had one interview. 3. Final-round candidates who were strong but not chosen. Include a line offering to keep them in mind for future roles [only if true], and an optional sentence with one piece of genuine feedback: [FEEDBACK, or leave blank]. Rules: - Use their name and the role title. - Thank them sincerely for their time, in proportion to how much time they spent. - Be clear that the decision is final, without long explanations. - Do not mention anything related to age, family, health, religion, background or other protected characteristics. - Each email under 120 words, with a subject line.
Replace every [BRACKETED] part with your own details before sending.
How to use it
Send rejections promptly; silence is the most common complaint candidates have. For final-round candidates, a short phone call is even better than the email.
Related prompts
Create interview questions and a scorecard
Get structured interview questions tied to what the role needs, plus a simple scoring rubric so you compare candidates fairly instead of by gut feel.
Write a 15-minute phone screen script
Get a short phone screen script that checks the deal-breakers (availability, pay, must-have skills) before you spend time on full interviews.
Write a clear job offer letter
Draft a warm, specific job offer letter that spells out pay, schedule, start date and conditions, plus a short call script for making the offer.
Write a job post that attracts the right people
Turn your notes about a role into a clear, honest job post that describes the work, pay and schedule so the right candidates apply.