When you message an applicant, a Read or Unread status shows whether they've opened the conversation. Use it to decide whether to wait, follow up, or try another channel, so applicants don't miss interview invites.
📌 Access needed: To use the Messages page, you need the Send texts and emails to applicants permission. If you don't have access, contact your Super Admin.
Where to find it
The status shows next to each message you send to an applicant, both manual and automated.
You'll see it on the Messages page, in the applicant side panel on the applicants list, and on the Messages tab of the applicant's profile.
What Read and Unread mean
Read (blue eye icon): the applicant has opened the Chat tab for that application in the Workstream app since the message was sent.
Unread (grey crossed-out eye icon): they haven't opened it since the message was sent.
On collapsed messages, such as automated messages, you'll see the icon only.
Good to know
Read means the applicant opened the conversation, not that they read the whole message.
The status only goes one way. Applicants can't see whether you've read their messages.
Text messages show a status only if the applicant has a Workstream app account. Emails never show a status.