Executive Summary

PyjamaHR’s AI Interview feature streamlines candidate screening by allowing recruiters to send automated interview links with a set completion deadline. However, many recruiters and candidates encounter situations where the original deadline needs to be extended—due to technical issues, network problems, or personal emergencies. This article provides a comprehensive, up-to-date guide on how AI interview deadlines work in PyjamaHR, what options exist for extending them, and best practices to ensure a smooth candidate experience.

Detailed Overview

What Are AI Interview Deadlines in PyjamaHR?

When you invite a candidate to an AI Interview in PyjamaHR, the system sets a specific validity period (commonly 48–72 hours, but this may vary based on your organization’s configuration or recent platform updates). Candidates must complete the interview within this window. After expiry, the link becomes inaccessible, and the interview cannot be resumed or extended through self-service.

Why Deadlines Matter

Fairness: Ensures all candidates have the same opportunity and timeframe.
Hiring Velocity: Keeps your pipeline moving and prevents bottlenecks.
Automation: Allows for automated reminders and status tracking.

Integration with Other PyjamaHR Features

Candidate Pipeline: Expired interviews automatically update candidate status.
Notifications: Automated reminders are sent to candidates before expiry.
Reporting: Recruiters can track who completed, missed, or expired their interviews.

Step-by-Step Guide: Managing and Extending AI Interview Deadlines

1. Understanding the Current Expiry Policy

Default Behavior: Once an AI interview is sent, the expiry date is fixed and visible to both recruiter and candidate.
Recent Changes: As of the latest updates, recruiters can no longer manually set or adjust the expiry date after sending the invite. (Previously, this was possible, but the feature has been removed for consistency and fairness.)

2. What To Do If a Candidate Needs More Time

Scenario A: Interview Link Has NOT Expired

Option 1: Advise the candidate to use the original link and complete the interview before expiry.
Option 2: If the candidate faces technical issues (e.g., network, device, browser), you can increase their number of allowed attempts (see below), but NOT the expiry date.

Scenario B: Interview Link HAS Expired

Option 1: Resend the Interview
Revoke the original invite (if the candidate hasn’t started the interview) and send a new one.
Note: If the candidate has not started the interview, revoking will return the credit to your account.
If the candidate has already started or partially completed the interview, you must send a new invite, and a new credit will be used.
Option 2: No Extension Possible
Once expired, the original link cannot be reactivated or extended. This is a platform limitation.

Scenario C: Candidate Faces Technical Issues Before Expiry

Increase Attempt Limit:
If a candidate is locked out due to exceeding the maximum number of attempts (common with network or device issues), you can increase their allowed attempts so they can rejoin using the same link—but only before the expiry date.
This does NOT extend the expiry date, only the number of times the candidate can try.

3. How to Increase Attempt Limits (for Technical Issues)

Go to the Candidate’s Profile in the job pipeline.
Locate the AI Interview Stage.
Click “Increase Attempts” (button or link—location may vary by UI version).
Confirm the Increase.
- The candidate can now use the same link to retry, as long as the expiry date has not passed.

Screenshot Callout:
- Show the candidate profile with the “Increase Attempts” button highlighted.
- Show the AI Interview stage with expiry date and attempt count visible.

4. Revoking and Resending AI Interview Invites

Go to the Candidate’s Profile.
Click “Revoke Interview” (only available if the candidate has not started the interview).
Confirm Revocation.
- The AI Interview credit is returned to your account.
Send a New AI Interview Invite with a fresh expiry window.

Note: If the candidate has already started the interview, you must send a new invite (credit will be deducted).

Advanced Usage & Best Practices

Power User Tips

Communicate Clearly: Always inform candidates of the exact expiry date and time in your invite message.
Monitor Expiry Dates: Use the candidate pipeline filters to quickly see who is approaching expiry.
Automate Reminders: Leverage PyjamaHR’s automated reminder emails, but consider sending a personalized nudge for high-priority candidates.

Optimization Strategies

Buffer Time: When possible, send invites early in the week to avoid weekend expiry issues.
Technical Troubleshooting: Advise candidates to use Chrome or Firefox, check their network, and avoid mobile devices if possible.
Attempt Management: Proactively increase attempt limits for candidates reporting technical issues, but remind them this does not extend the deadline.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:
- Revoke and resend invites for candidates who haven’t started and need more time.
- Increase attempt limits for technical issues before expiry.
- Communicate deadlines and troubleshooting steps up front.

Don’t:
- Promise deadline extensions after expiry—this is not possible in PyjamaHR.
- Wait until the last minute to address candidate issues.
- Assume increasing attempts will extend the deadline.

Troubleshooting & Common Issues

Common Error Messages & Solutions

Error Message / Scenario	Solution
“Link expired”	Cannot extend. Revoke (if not started) and resend, or send a new invite.
“You have exceeded the maximum number of attempts.”	Increase attempt limit in candidate profile (before expiry).
“Blank screen / interview not loading”	Ask candidate to try a different browser/device, check network, and retry before expiry.
“Candidate missed deadline due to technical issue”	If expired, only option is to resend a new invite.
“Candidate started but did not finish before expiry”	Must send a new invite; previous progress is lost.

What If Scenarios

Candidate requests extension after expiry:
Not possible. Must resend a new invite.
Candidate faces repeated technical issues:
Increase attempt limit, advise on browser/network, and escalate to support if unresolved.
Recruiter wants to set a custom expiry date:
Not available as of the latest update. All candidates receive the same fixed window.

When to Contact Support

If increasing attempts does not work.
If revoking an invite does not return the credit (when candidate hasn’t started).
If you encounter a bug preventing you from resending an invite.

Comprehensive FAQ

1. Can I extend the AI interview deadline for a candidate?
No. Once the expiry date is set, it cannot be extended. You can only resend a new invite.

2. What happens if a candidate’s link expires?
The candidate cannot access the interview. You must send a new invite.

3. Can I revoke an invite and get my credit back?
Yes, if the candidate has not started the interview. If they have started, a new invite will use a new credit.

4. Can I increase the number of attempts for a candidate?
Yes, before the expiry date. This allows more retries but does NOT extend the deadline.

5. What if a candidate faces technical issues and misses the deadline?
You must send a new invite. The original cannot be reactivated.

6. Can I set a custom expiry date for each candidate?
No. This feature was removed for consistency. All candidates get the same fixed window.

7. How do I know when a candidate’s interview will expire?
Check the candidate’s profile under the AI Interview stage; expiry date/time is displayed.

8. Can I resend the same link after expiry?
No. You must generate and send a new invite.

9. What if I revoke an invite after the candidate started the interview?
You cannot revoke; you must send a new invite and use a new credit.

10. Can I extend the deadline for all candidates in bulk?
No. There is no bulk extension feature.

11. What if the candidate claims they didn’t receive the invite?
Resend the invite and confirm their email address.

12. Can I see which candidates are about to expire?
Yes, use pipeline filters or reporting to monitor approaching expiry dates.

AI Interview Attempt Management: Increase attempts for technical troubleshooting.
Candidate Pipeline Filters: Track interview status and expiry.
Automated Reminders: Ensure candidates are notified before expiry.
Revoking & Resending Invites: Manage credits and candidate experience.
Reporting: Analyze completion rates and bottlenecks.

Recommended Next Steps:
- Review your AI Interview workflow to ensure candidates have adequate time.
- Train your team on how to handle expiry scenarios and communicate with candidates.
- Bookmark this article for quick reference.

Summary Table: What You Can and Cannot Do

Action	Possible?	How To Do It / Notes
Extend expiry date after invite is sent	No	Not supported.
Revoke and resend invite (not started)	Yes	Credit is returned.
Resend invite after expiry	Yes	New credit is used.
Increase attempt limit (before expiry)	Yes	Via candidate profile.
Set custom expiry per candidate	No	Not supported.
Bulk extend deadlines	No	Not supported.

Final Notes

PyjamaHR’s AI Interview deadlines are designed for fairness and efficiency. While you cannot extend deadlines after sending an invite, you can proactively manage candidate experience by monitoring expiry dates, increasing attempt limits for technical issues, and quickly resending invites when needed. For any issues not covered here, contact PyjamaHR support for assistance.

Still have questions?
Contact PyjamaHR Support or use the in-app chat for real-time help.

Extending AI Interview Deadlines for Candidates in PyjamaHR: Complete Guide, Best Practices, and Troubleshooting