Are you a company owner wondering how to organize job applications and prevent chaos in your organization? Or maybe you’d like to increase your chances of hiring the best candidates? An applicant tracking system can be a solution to your recruitment management problems. What is an applicant tracking system and how does it work?
Table of contents
- What is an application tracking system in recruitment?
- How does it work?
- What are the benefits of ATS software?
- What are the drawbacks of ATS software?
- The takeaway
What is an application tracking system in recruitment?
The applicant tracking system definition states it’s a software application that helps recruiters manage the entire process, from sourcing to tracking applicants and hiring the best candidates for the job. An ATS can be used by companies of all sizes that need support in the management of their recruitment needs.
How does it work?
Since you know what an applicant tracking system is, it’s time to talk about its operation.
The first thing to note is that most ATSs have an interface that looks a lot like an email inbox. That’s because one of the main functions of an ATS is to help manage the high volume of resumes that come in after a job listing is posted.
When a resume comes into the system (either through an email address set up specifically for resumes or through an online form on the company’s website), it’s automatically logged into the database.
The recruiter can then use the search function to look for candidates that match the skills and experience required for the open position. Some ATSs also have the ability to parse resumes, extract important data and input it into the system automatically.
It’s also worth mentioning that many applicant tracking systems have features that allow the recruiters to track the progress of the candidates through the hiring process.
What are the benefits of ATS software?
Knowing the applicant tracking system definition and operation principles, it’s time to discuss why it’s worth using this type of software.
An application tracking system in recruitment makes it possible to:
- Automate and speed up numerous processes related to recruiting – the most important advantage of using an ATS is that it speeds up processes that would otherwise be performed manually by the recruitment team. By automating tasks such as sorting, or ranking applications, and sending interview requests, the ATS saves the team a lot of time and allows them to focus on more important tasks such as candidate assessment.
- Improve the quality of hires – with an ATS, it’s possible to implement the best recruiting practices and identify the most qualified candidates in order to improve the quality of hires.
- Increase transparency and collaboration – an ATS provides a central repository for all information related to the recruiting process. This makes it easy to access the latest data and stay up-to-date on the status of the recruitment process. In addition, an ATS can be used to facilitate communication and collaboration between the different members of the recruitment team.
What are the drawbacks of ATS software?
However, there are also a few reasons why an applicant tracking system may not be an effective option:
- not recognizing all valuable applications – while an ATS can help identify the most qualified candidates, it may also overlook some applications from qualified candidates if they don’t use the right keywords or if their resume isn’t formatted in the right way. Want to learn how to optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems? Check our article!
- high costs – such software can be a significant investment, especially for small businesses. In addition, it can involve additional costs for features such as integration with other HR software, or customer support. Therefore, it’s worth making sure you actually need it.
The takeaway
What’s an application tracking system in recruitment? It’s cutting-edge software that makes it possible to manage the entire recruitment process, from sourcing to tracking applicants and hiring the best candidates for the job.
Although it offers many advantages, it’s worth noting that it may not be the best solution for all organizations.
Learn more on how to use applicant tracking systems.