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

# How to send Merge assessment invitations to candidates

> Learn how to invite candidates to a Merge assessment directly from the dashboard or through your connected ATS, and what candidates receive.

Once you've created an assessment, you invite candidates to it by sending them a unique link. Merge supports two invitation paths: directly from the Merge dashboard, or through your connected ATS if you've set up an integration. Either way, each candidate receives a personalized link and a guided setup flow before their session begins.

## Inviting from the dashboard

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the assessment">
    Navigate to **Assessments** in the main navigation and click the assessment you want to use.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click 'Invite Candidate'">
    On the assessment detail page, click the **Invite Candidate** button in the top-right corner.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the candidate's details">
    Enter the candidate's full name and email address in the invite form. Double-check the email address — the invite link will be sent there directly.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send the invite">
    Click **Send Invite**. The candidate receives an email immediately with their unique assessment link and instructions for getting started.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Inviting via ATS integration

If your ATS is connected to Merge — including Lever, Greenhouse, Ashby, Workday, iCIMS, SmartRecruiters, Rippling, BambooHR, Workable, Recruitee, Breezy HR, or Pinpoint — you can trigger assessment invites directly from the candidate record inside your ATS. There's no need to switch to the Merge dashboard for each invite.

When a candidate completes their session, results sync back to the candidate record in your ATS automatically, so your hiring team has scorecard data alongside the rest of the candidate profile without any manual export.

For setup instructions and per-ATS configuration details, see the [Integrations Overview](/integrations/overview).

## What the candidate receives

After you send an invite, the candidate experiences the following:

* **An invitation email** containing their unique assessment link and the name of the company that sent it. The email includes a brief description of the format so candidates know what to expect.
* **A pre-assessment setup flow** that walks them through the format, confirms any proctoring or identity requirements, and gives them a chance to test their environment before the timer starts.
* **Access to the codebase and review interface** once they confirm they're ready to begin. The session timer starts when the candidate opens the assessment.

## Managing active invites

You can track the status of every invite you've sent from the **Invites** tab on the assessment detail page. Each invite shows one of three statuses:

* **Pending** — the invite has been sent but the candidate has not yet started.
* **In Progress** — the candidate has opened the assessment and their session is active.
* **Completed** — the candidate has finished their session and a scorecard is available.

From the same view, you can **resend** an invite if a candidate didn't receive it, or **revoke** an invite if you need to withdraw it before the candidate starts.

<Warning>
  Each invite link is unique to the candidate it was created for. Do not share invite links with other candidates or forward them — Merge enforces one-session rules per invite, and sharing a link can compromise the integrity of the assessment.
</Warning>

<Note>
  Candidates must provide accurate identity information and complete any required verification steps before they can access the assessment. This ensures your scorecard is tied to the right person and maintains the integrity of your hiring process.
</Note>