When you cancel your PyjamaHR subscription or your plan expires, your data remains securely stored on our servers, but your access to the platform and its data is restricted. This article explains exactly what happens to your data after cancellation, how you can retrieve it, the timelines involved, and best practices to ensure a smooth transition—whether you plan to return later or migrate to another system.

Recommended Workflow:
1. Log in to PyjamaHR.
2. Export Candidate Data Job-wise:
- Go to each job posting.
- Click on Compare Candidates.
- Select all candidates.
- Click the Download button (top right) to export candidate data as an Excel/CSV file.
- [Screenshot: Compare Candidates view with Download button highlighted]
- [See: Comparison View: How to Export Candidate Data]
3. Request a Data Dump (Optional):
- Contact support via chat or email.
- Specify if you need resumes (PDFs), candidate data (CSV), or both.
- Provide the email addresses for delivery.
- Note: Data dump links are typically valid for 5–7 days.

Tip: If you have many jobs (e.g., 100+), request a custom data dump to avoid downloading each job individually.

If You Forgot to Export Before Cancelling:
1. Contact PyjamaHR Support Immediately:
- Provide your registered email and company name.
- Request either:
- Temporary access (24–48 hours) to export data yourself, or
- A data dump sent to your email.
2. Download Data Promptly:
- Data dump links expire in 24 hours to 7 days (confirm with support).
- Use recommended extraction tools (7-Zip, WinRAR, or The Unarchiver for Mac).
- [Screenshot: Example of data dump email with download link]

Important: If you do not act within the provided window, your data may become inaccessible without renewing your subscription.

Do:
- Export your data before your subscription ends whenever possible.
- Request temporary access if you forgot to export.
- Act quickly when given a data dump link—links expire!
- Communicate clearly with support about your data needs (resumes, candidate fields, custom formats).

Don’t:
- Assume you’ll have ongoing read-only access after cancellation.
- Wait until after your account is blocked to think about data export.
- Ignore data dump link expiry dates.
- Expect data to be available if you delay for weeks/months after cancellation.

1. “Account is blocked after cancellation—can’t access data.”
- Solution: Contact support to request temporary access or a data dump.

2. “Data dump link expired before I could download.”
- Solution: Contact support immediately to request a new link. Act quickly.

3. “Zip file is corrupted or won’t open.”
- Solution: Use 7-Zip (Windows), WinRAR, or The Unarchiver (Mac). If still not working, report to support for a new file.

4. “Data dump only includes resumes, not candidate details.”
- Solution: Request a custom data dump including candidate fields (CSV/XLSX). This may take extra time (up to 2–3 weeks for large/custom requests).

5. “I need data organized by job/role, not one big dump.”
- Solution: Request a role-wise or job-wise data dump. Note that this is a custom request and may take longer.

6. “Still receiving notifications after cancellation.”
- Solution: Contact support to ensure all job postings are unpublished and notifications are stopped.

7. “I forgot to close open positions before cancelling.”
- Solution: Request support to close/unpublish jobs for you.

1. Will my data be deleted immediately after cancellation?
No. PyjamaHR retains your data for a reasonable period after cancellation, but access is blocked.

2. Can I access my data in read-only mode after cancelling?
No. There is no automatic read-only access. You must request temporary access or a data dump from support.

3. How do I export all my candidate data and resumes?
Use the Compare Candidates view for each job to export data, or request a data dump from support.

4. How long are data dump download links valid?
Typically 24 hours to 7 days. Confirm the exact window with support.

5. What if I need data in a specific format (e.g., CSV with all candidate fields)?
Request a custom data dump. This may take 2–3 weeks for large or complex requests.

6. Can I get my data back if I renew my subscription later?
Yes, as long as your data retention period has not expired. Contact support for details.

7. What tools should I use to extract large zip files?
Use 7-Zip (Windows), WinRAR, or The Unarchiver (Mac).

8. What if my data dump is empty or corrupted?
Contact support immediately for a replacement.

9. Can I revert to the free plan after cancelling a paid plan?
No, cancellation does not automatically revert your account to a free plan.

10. What happens if I have open jobs or live LinkedIn postings after cancellation?
Contact support to close or unpublish these for you.

11. How long does it take to receive a data dump?
Standard dumps (resumes) are usually processed in 2–7 days. Custom dumps may take 2–3 weeks.

12. Can I request data after several months of inactivity?
Data retention periods vary. Contact support as soon as possible to avoid permanent loss.

Recommended Next Steps:
- Plan your data export before cancelling.
- Communicate your needs to support early, especially for large or custom requests.
- Review related help articles for exporting and managing your data.

Still have questions?
Contact PyjamaHR Support via chat or email for personalized assistance with your data retention and access needs.

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