Companies of all types and sizes struggle to keep pace with the growth of their applicant tracking software. New job ads, new candidates applying for open positions, and constant changes in company policies create a never-ending stream of new applicants. The result is that recruiters spend far too much time manually inputting data into applicant tracking software programs. Every minute wasted typing data from handwritten notes or pasting in information from external sources decreases the time available to review applications and make hiring decisions. With the right tools, however, companies can automate specific processes and free up time to focus on other tasks. Let’s take a closer look at how different types of applicant tracking software benefit companies of all sizes.
What is Applicant Tracking Software?
Applicant tracking software (ATS) is a software tool used by human resource departments to manage their applicant tracking process. The two most common types of ATS are job boards and applicant tracking systems. Job boards are websites where recruiters post job openings. Recruiters post job ads on job boards so that they can find candidates that may be interested in applying for the position. There are hundreds of popular job boards including CareerBuilder, Indeed, Recruiterflow and LinkedIn. Applicant tracking systems are online systems where recruiters enter applicant data. These systems make it easy for recruiters to enter information about job candidates such as their name, address, email address, and employment history. The systems also track applicants who have applied for a position.
Benefits of Applicant Tracking Software
A good applicant tracking system can improve the efficiency of your hiring process by helping to free up time spent manually inputting data. Automated processes also make it easier to track the performance of each hiring decision and see areas for improvement. Improved efficiency in your hiring process – Time wasted manually inputting data is a major bottleneck to hiring. A time-saving applicant tracking system can free up time spent hiring to focus on other tasks. Automated hiring decisions – A good applicant tracking system can help to improve the decision-making process for hiring managers. With more accurate data about applicants, hiring managers can make better decisions about who to hire. Improved candidate experience – Good applicant tracking software can help to improve the candidate experience. Faster hiring decisions mean quicker interviews. Information on performance – Having accurate data on the performance of each hiring decision is a great way to identify areas for improvement.
Types of Applicant Tracking Software
The type of applicant tracking system that a company chooses will depend on their specific needs and the types of jobs that will be posted on the job board. Some hiring managers prefer to track applicants manually and enter data themselves. For those hiring managers, applicant tracking software might be unnecessary and even cumbersome. Some companies, however, find applicant tracking software to be a particularly useful tool. A great example is the University of Ottawa. The university uses applicant tracking software to streamline their hiring process. The system allows human resources staff to focus on more important tasks like teaching students. Applicant tracking systems can be divided into two major categories: open-source and proprietary. – Open-source ATS: These software systems are available for free and are developed by a community of volunteers. Open-source systems are often referred to as “free and open source software” or “FOSS.” The most popular open-source systems include Lotus Notes, Google Apps, and Zoho Creator. – Proprietary ATS: These systems are proprietary and are not available for free. There are several benefits to using a proprietary system. The most important of these benefits is the ease of scaling.
Company Intelligence and Process Automation
Automating certain hiring processes and collecting data on candidate experience can help recruiters to free up time to focus on hiring decision-makers. A hiring manager may spend a few hours conducting interviews before making a hiring decision. If a candidate experience issues, however, the manager will have to spend more time fixing the problem. Automated systems can now be used to track candidate experience and provide data on hiring decision-making efficiency. In this way, applicant tracking software can be used as a “scorecard” for managers. Managers can be presented with a summary of the hiring decision-making process. Side-by-side, they can see data on the time that each hiring decision took. This information can be very helpful to managers who struggle with time management. Automated systems can also help companies collect data on candidate experience. A recruiter can see a detailed history of each candidate’s experience with different software applications. This information can give hiring managers useful insight into the skillset of each candidate.
Bottom line
Applicant tracking software is a key tool for every human resource department. A good system can help to free up time for hiring managers, improve the candidate experience for candidates, and provide data for managers to make problem-solving hiring decisions. Automated hiring software can be used to automate the hiring process and reduce the time that managers spend making hiring decisions. This can result in fewer errors and mistakes in hiring decisions. Organization is key when choosing the right applicant tracking system. Make sure that you research different systems to find the one that fits your organization best.
