Potential features*
Custom brand identity: Your logo is displayed in the chat.
Personalized communication: You use your own company profile and mobile number.
Chat within softgarden applicant management: Once an application has been submitted, you can chat with the candidate directly in the ATS.
Full control: You manage your WhatsApp account yourself as needed.
*depending on the service package selected
Once set up, the chatbot runs through your own WhatsApp account and not through a central softgarden account.
Prerequisites
Before you start, ensure the following requirements are met:
Chat Recruiting is booked, and your license includes the features mentioned above.
You have admin access to your company's Facebook Business Account.
You have a mobile phone number that has not previously been used for WhatsApp.
Notes
Facebook Business Account
If your company does not yet have a Facebook Business Account, you can create one here: Create Facebook Business Account
After logging in, you should have access to the following page: WhatsApp Account Settings in Facebook Business Manager
If you have access to this area, everything is set up. If not, please ask your company's IT department to set up administrative access for you.
Phone Number
Please ensure the following requirements are met:
The number is active on a mobile device, via either SIM or eSIM.
You can receive an SMS verification code on this device.
WhatsApp is not installed on the device.
The number has not previously been used with WhatsApp.
Setting up Chat Recruiting
1. Register with our partner, 360dialog GmbH
Registration is simple and free of charge.
Open this link:
Enter your business email address and choose a secure password. Make a note of both for your records. Then click "Continue".
Please fill in all fields.
In the meantime, you should have received a verification email from 360dialog at the email address you entered earlier. Please click the verification link in that email.
Afterward, click "Check email verification." Then, complete the reCAPTCHA and click "Create Account."
In the next step, you need to answer three questions regarding the phone number you wish to link to WhatsApp.
Please note: You must answer "No" to all three questions in order to proceed with the setup.
Then, confirm by selecting "Confirm number details".
2. Connect your WhatsApp account
Now, start connecting your WhatsApp account. To do this, click "Start Embedded Signup".
A pop-up will appear. Please do not close this pop-up during the entire setup process.
Now, enter your Facebook for Business login credentials. These must be the same credentials you used to open the link to the WhatsApp account settings earlier.
Please note that you need admin rights for this account to proceed with the setup.
In the next step, please enter the code for your two-factor authentication.
Click on "Continue"
Now select your business portfolio or create a new one, and then select the option "Create a WhatsApp Business account." After that, click "Next."
Now give the WhatsApp Business account a name. This is an internal name that is not visible to applicants. As a rule, you can simply enter your company name here.
Then select the category that best describes your company's activities. If in doubt, choose “Other”.
Then click on “Next”.
This is the important part.
Select "Add new number." Then, select the country code for Germany (+49) and enter your mobile phone number without the leading zero.
Under "WhatsApp Business display name," enter the name that your applicants will see in WhatsApp.
This name must contain your company name. Meta will check this name. You can optionally add a term such as “quick application” to the company name. Example: “Sample company quick application”.
Select "Text Message" as the verification method.
Meta will now check whether this number has already been registered for WhatsApp. If not, the validation will be successfully completed, and an SMS will be sent to you.
Please ensure that the SIM card is in a device you have access to.
Now, enter the verification code from the SMS.
The connection is now being established. Please wait until this process is complete.
You are now back in your 360dialog account. The number should already be automatically selected and now needs to be authorized.
To do this, click "Authorize".
A summary appears after the success notification.
3. Notify your softgarden contact
Inform your softgarden contact that the integration is complete.
We will then activate Chat Recruiting Plus for you.
Please note that Meta typically requires up to 24 hours to perform a final review of all the information you have entered.