> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.talentunveiled.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Interview Modes & Candidate Journeys

> Understand how web and phone interviews work, and what happens for each type of candidate source

TalentUnveiled supports two interview modes: **Web** and **Phone**. The mode is configured per job posting and determines how the candidate experiences the interview.

## Comparing Interview Modes

|                             | Web Interview                                        | Phone Interview                           |
| --------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| **How it starts**           | Candidate books a time slot                          | System calls the candidate                |
| **Candidate action needed** | Yes — must pick a slot                               | No — just answer the phone                |
| **Scheduling**              | Self-service or AI-assisted                          | Automatic                                 |
| **Retries**                 | Candidate can rebook                                 | System retries automatically              |
| **Best for**                | High-volume roles, candidates who prefer flexibility | Hard-to-reach candidates, fast turnaround |

## Web Interview

In Web mode, candidates book their own interview slot and join through their browser at the scheduled time.

<Note>The steps below describe the standard self-service flow. For imported candidates with auto-outreach enabled, the booking step may be handled by an AI scheduling call instead — see [What Happens by Candidate Source](#what-happens-by-candidate-source) below.</Note>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Candidate applies or is imported">
    A new application enters the system — either the candidate applied directly, or HR imported them.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Booking link sent">
    The candidate receives an email or SMS with a link to pick their interview slot.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Candidate books a slot">
    They choose a date and time. A confirmation email, SMS, and calendar invite are sent immediately.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reminders sent automatically">
    The candidate receives reminders the morning of, 1 hour before, and 5 minutes before the interview.
  </Step>

  <Step title="AI conducts interview">
    At the scheduled time, the candidate opens the link in their browser. The AI voice agent asks the configured questions and has a natural conversation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Results available">
    After the call, the transcript is automatically scored. Scores, summary, strengths, weaknesses, and the full transcript appear on the application page.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### What If the Candidate Doesn't Show Up?

If a candidate doesn't join within the grace period, TalentUnveiled detects the no-show and takes action based on your settings:

* **Phone callback** — The system calls the candidate directly to conduct the interview over the phone
* **Rebooking link** — The candidate receives a new booking link via SMS and email to reschedule
* **No action** — The candidate is marked as a no-show with no automatic follow-up

After reaching the maximum number of no-shows (configurable per job), the candidate is marked as **exhausted** and no further attempts are made.

## Phone Interview

In Phone mode, the system calls the candidate directly — no booking step is needed.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Candidate applies or is imported">
    A new application enters the system.
  </Step>

  <Step title="System calls the candidate">
    The call is placed automatically. If the candidate doesn't answer, the system waits and retries with increasing delays.

    <Note>The first call is placed during business hours in the candidate's local timezone (09:00–20:00). Applications received after 20:00 are dialed at 09:00 the next morning. Retries follow the per-organization retry policy.</Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="AI conducts interview">
    When the candidate picks up, the AI voice agent conducts the interview immediately over the phone.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Results available">
    After the call, the transcript is automatically scored. Scores, summary, and the full transcript appear on the application page.
  </Step>
</Steps>

If all call attempts fail, the candidate is marked as **exhausted** and no further calls are made.

## What Happens by Candidate Source

How a candidate enters the system determines what happens between application and interview. This diagram shows all possible paths:

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
    A[New Application] -->|Self-Service| B[Booking Link]
    A -->|Imported, no Outreach| B
    A -->|Imported + Outreach| C[AI Scheduling Call]
    A -->|Phone Mode| D[System Calls]

    C -->|Slot booked| E[Interview]
    C -->|No answer| B
    B --> E
    D --> E
    E --> F[Results]
```

| Scenario                             | What happens first                                                              |
| ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Self-service** (Web)               | Candidate receives a booking link and schedules their own interview             |
| **Imported + auto-outreach** (Web)   | AI voice agent calls to help schedule — falls back to booking link if no answer |
| **Imported, no auto-outreach** (Web) | Booking link sent — candidate schedules on their own                            |
| **Any source** (Phone)               | System calls the candidate directly — no scheduling needed                      |

### When does auto-outreach happen?

Auto-outreach activates when **all three** conditions are met:

1. The candidate was **imported** (HR import, ATS sync, or API) — not self-service
2. **Auto-outreach is enabled** on the job posting
3. The candidate has a **phone number** on their profile

If any condition isn't met, the candidate receives a booking link instead.

## Configuring Interview Settings

These settings are configured per job posting — during creation or in the job posting settings.

| Setting            | Description                                                                                              |
| ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Interview Mode** | Web (candidate books and joins via browser) or Phone (system calls directly)                             |
| **Auto-Outreach**  | When enabled, the system proactively calls imported candidates to help them schedule their web interview |
| **Retries Limit**  | How many times a candidate can retry the interview. Leave empty for unlimited retries                    |
| **No-Show Action** | What happens when a web candidate misses their interview — Phone Callback, Rebooking Link, or No Action  |
| **Max No-Shows**   | How many times a candidate can no-show before being marked as exhausted (Web mode only)                  |

<Info>See [Managing Job Postings — Interview Configuration](/guides/managing-job-postings#interview-configuration) for step-by-step instructions on configuring these settings.</Info>

## What's Next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Managing Applications" icon="file-lines" href="/guides/managing-applications">
    Review applications, interviews, and AI-generated insights.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Application Lifecycle" icon="arrows-spin" href="/concepts/application-lifecycle">
    Understand the full hiring pipeline, scoring weights, and evaluation stages.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Managing Job Postings" icon="briefcase" href="/guides/managing-job-postings">
    Create and configure job postings, interview questions, and evaluation criteria.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>