A software consultancy's coding-test stage crawled: manual invites, forgotten chasing, scores retyped into the ATS. We automated the whole loop — instant invitations, reminders, score sync, and pass rules that auto-advance candidates — cutting the stage from nine days to two.
Typical results
2 days
Assessment stage, from 9
84%
Test completion rate
0
Manual invites sent
6 hrs/wk
Recruiter time reclaimed
Figures reflect typical results for this kind of automation.
The challenge
Every developer candidate takes a coding assessment, but recruiters sent invitations by hand — often two days after the stage change — then chased completions, downloaded scores, and updated the ATS manually. The stage averaged nine days, only 58% of candidates ever finished the test, and the fastest developers accepted other offers mid-wait.
Before and after
Assessment stage duration
−78%Test completion rate
+45%Recruiter hours on test admin
−86%The automation
We connected the ATS to the assessment platform through Make. Moving a candidate into the test stage now fires the right assessment for the role within a minute, with automatic reminders at 48 and 72 hours. Scores return by webhook onto the candidate record, where rules take over: passes auto-advance with a tech-interview booking link, clear misses receive a respectful decline, and near-miss scores queue for recruiter review with the full breakdown attached.
How it works
- 01
Instant invitation
Moving a candidate to the assessment stage sends the right test for the role within a minute.
- 02
Polite chasing
Automatic reminders at 48 and 72 hours keep completion high without recruiter effort.
- 03
Scores flow back
Results land on the candidate record by webhook, with a breakdown per skill.
- 04
Rules decide
Passes auto-advance with an interview booking link; clear misses get a respectful decline.
- 05
Humans on the margin
Near-miss scores queue for recruiter review with full context, so judgment goes where it matters.
Starts from
- ATS stage changes
- Role test profiles
Delivers
- Instant test invitations
- Auto-advance on pass
- Near-miss review queue
The impact
The assessment stage now runs two days instead of nine, and completion climbed from 58% to 84% — candidates start tests while interest is hot. Recruiters spend one hour a week on test admin instead of seven, and not a single invitation, reminder, or score entry is typed by hand.
Questions about this automation
Which assessment platforms can be connected to the ATS?
Most coding and skills testing platforms that offer an API or webhooks can be connected, along with most ATS products. Each role is mapped to a test profile, so moving a candidate into the assessment stage sends the right test within about a minute, without a recruiter choosing it by hand.
How are pass, fail and borderline scores handled?
Scores return by webhook onto the candidate record with a breakdown per skill. Rules set by the hiring team then act on them: clear passes move forward with an interview booking link, clear misses get a polite decline, and scores near the threshold go to a recruiter queue for a human decision.
What happens when a candidate does not start or finish the test?
Automatic reminders go out 48 and 72 hours after the invitation. If the test is still not done after the final reminder, the candidate is flagged for the recruiter, who can extend the deadline or close the application. Every invitation, reminder and score is recorded on the ATS timeline.