If your applicants are having trouble accessing the campaign link, the website itself is currently live and active. Therefore, the access issues are likely due to client-side configurations, corporate network restrictions, or authentication barriers.
Here are the most common issues applicants face when accessing a platform like this and how to resolve them:
1. Corporate Firewall and VPN Restrictions
- The Issue: Many applicants may be trying to access the link from a corporate device or network. IT departments often have strict firewalls that block unfamiliar domains, newly registered subdomains, flagging them as potential security risks. VPNs can also cause routing issues.
- How to Resolve:
- Ask the applicant to try accessing the link on a personal device or using a non-corporate network (e.g., turning off Wi-Fi and using cellular data on their phone).
- If they must use a work device, ask them to disconnect from their corporate VPN.
- If the issue persists, they should contact their IT department to whitelist the domain
*.AwardScienceai.io. OR your own domain if you have connected your corporate domain to AwardScience
2. Browser Cache and Cookies Issues
- The Issue: Outdated or corrupted data stored in the browser can cause the page to fail to load, show a blank screen, or result in an endless redirect loop (especially if the platform uses Single Sign-On).
- How to Resolve:
- Ask the applicant to open the link in an Incognito or Private Browsing window. (If it works there, caching is definitely the issue).
- Advise them to clear their browser’s cache and cookies, then restart the browser and try again.
3. Ad-Blockers or Privacy Extensions
- The Issue: Strict privacy extensions, ad-blockers, or pop-up blockers can interfere with scripts necessary to load third-party platforms.
- How to Resolve:
- Ask the applicant to temporarily disable any ad-blockers or privacy extensions (like uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, etc.) for that specific site and refresh the page.
4. Outdated or Unsupported Browsers
- The Issue: Modern web applications often drop support for older browsers (like Internet Explorer or older versions of Safari) which lack necessary security protocols.
- How to Resolve:
- Ensure the applicant is using an up-to-date version of a major browser, such as Google Chrome (ideally), Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Safari.
5. Authentication or Single Sign-On (SSO) Failures
- The Issue: If the platform requires applicants to log in via SSO or another specific credential system, session timeouts or mismatched emails can lock them out.
- How to Resolve:
- Ensure the applicant is trying to log in using the exact email address authorized for the campaign (often a specific corporate email, not a personal Gmail).
- If they are getting an “Access Denied” error upon login, their specific email may not have been provisioned in the AwardSciencesystem yet. The campaign admin will need to manually grant them access.
6. Geo-Blocking or Regional Restrictions
- The Issue: If the campaign is region-specific, the platform might block IP addresses originating from outside the targeted countries.
- How to Resolve:
- Ensure the applicant is applying from an eligible region.
- If they are in an eligible region but using a VPN routed through an ineligible country, they need to turn the VPN off.
Best Practice for Admins:
When sending out the link, it is highly recommended to include a brief troubleshooting note. For example:
“To access the application portal, please click [Link]. If you experience a blank screen or loading errors, please try opening the link in an Incognito window, disconnecting from your corporate VPN, or using a personal network.”
