Blocking a candidate removes that person from your database views while always allowing you to manage their profile later. A blocked candidate does not appear in any search or list within Crelate. You can block a candidate from Intake, which has its own icon in the left navigation bar, and you can review, merge, unblock, delete, or export blocked Contacts on the Blocked Contacts page in Settings.
What does blocking a candidate do?
Blocking a Contact removes that person from your database views, so they no longer appear in any search or list within Crelate. You can still manage the profile later.
Blocking also applies to future applications. Any later application associated with the same email address goes to your Blocked settings instead of appearing in your Intake.
Why would I block a candidate?
Suppose you receive an entry-level applicant for a CEO position several times and do not want to keep dealing with that applicant. You can block that Contact. The candidate no longer shows in your database, and any future application from that Contact automatically moves to your Blocked settings.
💡 Pro Tip: If the same unqualified applicant keeps applying, block them the next time they appear in Intake. Every later application then goes straight to your Blocked settings, so it never reaches your day-to-day work.
How do I block a candidate from Intake?
When a candidate applies, the application appears in Intake. From there, you can review the candidate and block them. For more on managing your intake, see Managing Intake.
Select the Intake icon in the left navigation bar.
Select the application from the candidate you want to block.
In the toolbar, select Block.
In the Block Application message, select Yes to confirm. Select No to cancel.
Blocking rejects the Contact from that Job and from any future Jobs associated with that email address. The Contact no longer shows in any search or list within Crelate. To unblock, go to Settings > Data Quality > Manage Blocked.
What is the difference between Block and Reject?
Both options are in the Intake toolbar, but they do different things.
Option | What it does |
Block | Stops the candidate from applying again. They go to the Manage Blocked area of your settings, so they cannot continue applying and appearing in your Intake. |
Reject | Rejects the application and adds the candidate to the Rejected stage in the workflow for the Job they applied to. |
💡 Pro Tip: Use Reject when a candidate is not a fit for one Job. Use Block when you do not want to see that candidate in your Intake again.
How do I find my blocked candidates?
Go to Settings > Data Quality > Manage Blocked.
The Blocked Contacts page opens and lists each blocked Contact, with its Record Status shown as Blocked.
What can I do with a blocked Contact?
On the Blocked Contacts page, you can manage blocked Contacts by merging, unblocking, or deleting them.
Option | What it does |
Merge into... | Merges the blocked Contact with an existing Contact in your Crelate database. For steps and what to expect when records are combined, see Merging Records. |
Unblock | Unblocks the Contact so they can appear in your searches and lists again. |
Selected Contacts | Opens a menu for the Contacts you selected, which includes Delete... and Unblock. |
To use an option, select the blocked Contact, and then choose the option.
💡 Pro Tip: Review your blocked list from time to time. If a Contact was blocked by mistake, select Unblock rather than Delete.... Delete a Contact only when you are sure you no longer need the profile.
What happens when I delete a blocked Contact?
Selecting Delete... from the Selected Contacts menu opens a Delete Confirmation message. Deleting permanently deletes the Contact from Crelate, and it cannot be undone from the page.
If you delete a Contact by accident, reach out to Crelate Support. In most cases, Support can restore the deleted record on your behalf.
💡 Pro Tip: Review your blocked list from time to time. If a Contact was blocked by mistake, select Unblock rather than Delete.... Delete a Contact only when you are sure you no longer need the profile.
Can I add a blocked Contact to a process?
No. Records with an Inactive, Closed, or Blocked status cannot be added to a process. If you try, Crelate shows a Cannot Process Records message. If you need to add the Contact to a process, unblock the Contact first.
Can I export blocked Contacts?
You can export your blocked Contacts to analyze and report on them more easily, or to import them into other systems so you can maintain blocks across your organization.
On the Blocked Contacts page, select the export icon in the top right corner.
In the Exporter, choose a file type: Comma-Separated, Microsoft Excel 2016, or Microsoft Excel 2019+.
Select Start Export.
💡 Pro Tip: If your team uses other systems alongside Crelate, export your blocked list and import it there so the same candidates stay blocked everywhere.
Key takeaway
Blocking a candidate removes them from every search and list in Crelate while still allowing you to manage their profile later. Any future application associated with the same email address goes to your Blocked settings instead of your Intake. You can block a candidate from Intake by selecting the application, selecting Block, and confirming. Use Reject instead if you only want to reject the application and move the candidate to the Rejected stage for that Job. To review blocked Contacts, go to Settings > Data Quality > Manage Blocked, where you can merge a Contact into an existing record, unblock the Contact, or delete the Contact from the Selected Contacts menu. Deleting permanently removes the Contact, but if it happens by accident, Crelate Support can restore the record in most cases. Blocked Contacts cannot be added to a process, and you can export them to analyze them or to maintain blocks in other systems.
What's Next?
Learn how to review and manage new applicants in Intake, and how to merge records.