---
title: Self-serve Importing Candidates via Bulk Import
slug: self-serve-importing-candidates-via-bulk-import
docTags: ZqNnA1vzYZ_Mpqy3SBPz2,Q905jnJca67f6SGq3OCW5,wmC4lKFZnq662iUhrSK0l
createdAt: 2025-09-09T15:14:24.768Z
---

If you are importing data via our self-serve bulk CSV import option, this guide will walk you through the recommended steps to add active and historical data while you’re onboarding. 

If you are importing all of your active and historical data using the Bulk CSV import tool, we would recommend doing this in three stages:

1. Import active candidate data into your active job pipelines
2. Import historical candidate data for your records and reporting purposes
3. Request a resume import (optional)

## Importing Active Candidate Data

If you have open roles in your previous ATS with active candidates in the pipeline, we would recommend setting up the departments, teams and jobs you’re actively hiring for manually in Ashby so you can continue hiring activities with minimal downtime.

For more information on creating jobs, check out [Creating & Opening Jobs](docId\:uyTn03bH4FvrPvjhYthAt) . Once you’ve set up these jobs in Ashby, you can import your active candidate data using the CSV import tool. More on this at [Bulk Import Options](docId\:SORNCJ66lgHRfLrAcXETJ).

Please note that with the bulk CSV import tool, the following is imported:

- Candidate demographics
- Current job application
- The current interview plan stage
- Current status

The following is *not* imported

- Resumes and other files
- Notes
- Long text fields

## Import Historical Candidate Data

Once you have imported active candidates, you can then import historical candidates data via the same Bulk CSV import tool.

In order to add candidates to job pipelines, those jobs would need to exist in Ashby, so you may need to create additional jobs if you’d like the candidate’s job application and interview plan stage to be imported.

:::hint{type="info"}
Jobs do not need to be open in Ashby for candidates to be added to the pipeline. If you are importing candidates to jobs that are closed in Ashby, be sure to uncheck the `Only match open jobs` checkbox within the Import Settings at the mapping stage of your import.

![](https://cdn.zappy.app/678ee7e1e71fab1ffda251d4043d54f0.png)


:::

## Request a Resume Import (Optional)

When importing data via a CSV file in the Bulk Data Upload section of Ashby, resumes are not imported. If you’d like to bulk import candidate resumes, reach out to your CSM or support\@ashbyhq.com for further assistance with this.