---
title: "Use Candidate Rejection Categories"
url: "https://knowledge-base.discovered.ai/en/article/candidate-rejection-categories"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-08-25T19:25:42.477Z"
---

# Use Candidate Rejection Categories

Easily tailor your rejection categories in Discovered so you can track candidate outcomes in a way that fits your hiring process. This guide shows you where to find the setting and how to create custom categories.

### **Overview**

Rejection categories let you specify why a candidate was rejected at any stage of your hiring pipeline. Instead of using one generic **“Rejected”** status, you can add custom reasons such as **“Candidate Withdrew,”** **“Not Qualified,”** or any labels that make sense for your workflow.

## **How to Use Candidate Rejection Categories:**

[Embedded content](https://www.loom.com/embed/dc59fbe07fe5475da11d2bb4d5a43c16?sid=e6d9892b-81c2-4220-a3e2-61f5f1ea9c82)

### **1\. Access Settings**

-   Log into your Discovered account.
-   Click your name in the top navigation bar.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/bf6b3c45-9f46-40bd-aece-e873c3c2a99b)

-   Select **Settings**.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/44e4a8df-a5da-454d-afba-d85688342d39)

### **2\. Open Status Pipeline Settings**

-   In Settings, click **Statuses Pipeline Settings**.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/10bb765f-b541-41b4-84bf-fae0e9610f65)

-   This is where you can manage and customize rejection categories.

### **3\. Add a New Rejection Category**

-   Enter the label you’d like to use (e.g., “Candidate Withdrew”).

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/30f6b2b8-ba86-4e3f-84d1-51245ff19523)

-   Save your changes.
-   Categories are fully customizable — use whatever naming best fits your workflow.

### **4\. Apply a Rejection Category to a Candidate**

-   Go to **Candidates** in the navigation bar.
-   Click on the candidate’s name.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/0f2e4cf7-3e0a-436b-8645-c64765e1ebeb)

-   Change their status to **Rejected**.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/0cb4ef65-7e9b-4dba-a5d1-6a9c47d9c5e7)

-   Select the appropriate rejection category from the dropdown list.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/140e9292-8d5d-4897-8803-de1039c0d046)

**Note:** You can add a note in the field for more context.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/1ecd0058-8247-4dbe-b27d-5dae926aba6f)

Once saved, the candidate will show as rejected under the category you selected.

## **Why This Matters**

Having clear rejection categories improves the quality of your hiring data. It allows you to:

-   Track common reasons candidates don’t move forward.
-   Share consistent feedback with your hiring team.
-   Spot patterns that help refine job descriptions or sourcing strategies.

## **Use Cases**

-   A candidate withdraws after receiving another offer — log it under “Candidate Withdrew.”
-   An applicant doesn’t meet minimum qualifications — tag as “Not Qualified.”
-   Someone advances to late stages but declines compensation — use “Compensation Concerns.”
-   A candidate does not attend a scheduled interview — use a category such as **No Show – Interview** to track that outcome consistently.

By customizing categories, you’ll have a more accurate view of candidate outcomes across roles.

## **How It Works**

Each rejection category is tied to your hiring pipeline and appears whenever you mark a candidate as “Rejected.” Notes you leave alongside categories give added detail for reporting and team visibility.

## **Best Practices**

-   Keep categories clear and concise so the team uses them consistently.
-   Review categories quarterly to remove duplicates or unused ones.
-   Combine categories with notes for more context when needed.

## **What Happens Next**

Once rejection categories are set up:

-   They’ll be available for every job posting in your account.
-   Any team member rejecting a candidate can choose from the standardized list.
-   Over time, you’ll build a dataset of why candidates don’t move forward, helping refine hiring decisions.