Recruitment software and applicant tracking systems (ATS)

To net the best and brightest, you need to share your well-written job description (JD) with the world that means posting in multiple online job boards (both free and fee-paying). 

This can be a time-consuming process, holding up recruitment. And the more time lost, the greater the chance you’ll accidentally skip posting your vacancy somewhere important. To help avoid this, consider using a type of recruitment software, like an applicant tracking system (ATS). 

A good quality ATS can help you with posting jobs online, allowing you to post to multiple free and paid job boards with just a few clicks. 

If you build it, they will come; but what happens if hundreds of applications arrive all at once?  

If your job vacancy has a lot of applications, you’re going to need a way to efficiently manage them all. From filtering through resumes to tracking a candidate’s progress, there’s a lot to consider.  

Thankfully, you can use talent acquisition software like an applicant tracking system (ATS) to handle the influx of applicants. By staying organized, you’re more likely to be able to identify that all-important candidate plus, you improve applicant experience, which is great for your reputation.  

During the recruitment process, communication is crucial. If a candidate doesn’t hear from you for a week or 2 after submitting an application or being invited to complete an online assessment, they may give you up as a lost cause and accept an alternative offer. 

Even so, keeping track of dozens or even hundreds of ongoing applications is a challenge. Thankfully, this is where applicant tracking systems (ATSs) come in.  

An ATS gives you a clear overview of each candidate’s progress, including when you last contacted them (and vice versa). And by communicating via the ATS, you can also keep messages all in one place and avoid losing track of what’s been said. 

When you’re receiving dozens (or even hundreds) of applications for a single role, the idea of going through each and every one can be daunting. 

An applicant tracking system (ATS) can help you narrow down that number, filtering out applications  that don’t meet minimum or mandatory criteria. Automatic screening saves a huge amount of time and helps identify promising candidates sooner. 

Finding the best talent takes teamwork, but being able to pitch in to keep the recruitment process flowing isn’t always easy. 

For example, if you’re using a spreadsheet to keep track of candidates and a senior manager wants to help shape the shortlist, you’ll have to send them a copy (and hope they don’t delete half the columns!). 

This is why cloud-based hiring software, like an online applicant tracking system (ATS) is so valuable. It allows people to access a secure, centralized portal, and any changes are updated in real time. 

Some ATSs, like the one found in our Apex HCM software, also provide collaborative assessment tools, so you can find your ideal candidate quicker. 

Once you’ve found the right person for the role, it’s time to bring them on board. 

This is a critical juncture in the recruitment process; it’s your opportunity to create a great first impression for your new hire and to effectively introduce them to the business. 

An applicant tracking systems (ATS) can help you make onboarding easy from both sides by: 

• Centralizing communication, so HR can see what’s been sent out 
• Sending out important documentation (e.g. contracts) in advance
• Facilitating electronic contract signage 
• Sharing useful information to welcome  your new hire (e.g. benefits, volunteer opportunities, how to find the office etc.).