Managing multiple things and getting more done on a regular workday without losing quality is made possible by the main applicant tracking system features (ATS).
Many hiring managers and HR professionals understand the common struggles of manual hire and the value of having automated processes to find skilled candidates your organization needs in less time.
The old traditional methods of recruiting are dying. Technology has allowed for a more comprehensive yet simple process.
It gives you an edge over your competition by providing valuable insights with appropriate optimization to find the best candidates.
Aside from improving your selection process, administrative tasks are more straightforward and you can collaborate with your team more effectively.
So, what are some of the main Applicant Tracking System features?
In this guide, we’ll cover the important aspects of ATS software that modern recruiters and companies use as part of their HR systems.
How Do Recruiters Use the ATS?
Hiring managers and Recruiters use the applicant tracking system to effectively find candidates based on who fits the job requirement criteria the most.
This is achieved via your ATS system filtering applicants with specific skills, education, keywords and location matching your job requirement.
As a result, it’s easy to find the people who specialize in the field you need them to fulfill in your organization.
What Should a Good Applicant Tracking System Do?
The best ATS software features will use the latest staffing technology so you can manage people, clients, businesses, and talent on a global scale.
As agencies, firms and HR departments are different in every business, you’ll want to look out for which recruiting software fits your specific needs.
One key aspect is what integrations in your HR functions can be made.
In that regard, we’ve pinpoint some of the main applicant tracking systems features that helps with growing your company:
- Resume parsing
- Candidate sourcing
- Job matching
- Candidate relationship management (CRM)
- Email sync and seamless communication
- Support team
- Talent management
- Reporting, metrics, and analytics
- Internal database
- Job posting distribution
- Onboarding management system
- Employer branding
Reduce the time of hire and get more things done as a recruiter or hiring manager by having your tasks integrated seamlessly.
Unlike a human, AI can improve workflows in multiple areas efficiently and takes a more factual approach to see if someone is a good match.
It’s an advantage provided by the ATS that works in almost every market and industry.
Resume Parsing
Resume parsing removes subjectivity by taking an objective approach when making a hiring decision and narrowing down your list of candidates.
Finding the best candidate is more efficient this way because you can automatically extract data and organize all the relevant applications from thousands of applicants.
You won’t have to manually scan the entire list of resumes since you can automate and ensure it’s all read by the ATS.
When you set the keywords (which can be specific skills or work experience), it can learn whether or not they’re qualified for any of the positions you’ve put out.
As employers, it simplifies your work and makes you more productive because you can easily pick up any document from the job seekers applying that are a good match.
Before preparing your questions when you reach the interview and screening phase, at the very least you will know if they meet your basic requirements.
Candidate Sourcing
Candidate sourcing refers to the talent acquisition process for identifying and making smart assessments of a potential recruit.
It’s not all the time where your ideal candidate is on an active job search for a new career opportunity.
That’s why you’ll want to build up a list of passive job searchers so you can have employees on standby ready to work when you need them.
It’s better to plan ahead and be prepared this way. It means you won’t have to wait several weeks or months before onboarding someone new, which can save you a lot of valuable time.
Job Matching
Everyone wants a career suited to their strengths where they can thrive.
The job matching feature segmented into the ATS provides employers with the ability to match a potential employee with the job positions better suited to their skills.
While you need to have a strong understanding of the candidate and job position, the ATS will target the profiles and resumes that fit with the job vacancy requirements.
This comes with several advantages such as more satisfied candidates, stronger relationships, and better employee retention rates.
Candidate Relationship Management (CRM)
Managing your list of candidates, team, and external vendors is more straightforward with a candidate relationship management mechanism embedded in your internal structures.
At different stages, you can progress and move forward with a candidate. When you have a built up talent pool that you’ve attracted and with the help of an ATS, you can easily move them along the employee journey mapping.
Using this feature from an applicant tracking system, management becomes more coherent and you can maintain as well as develop the relationship you have with your list of candidates.
Email Sync and Seamless Communication
You can easily communicate with your list of contacts thanks to the features of an ATS. Whether you’re reaching out to:
- Candidates
- Hiring managers
- Clients
Syncing emails and integrating other forms of communication allows for fast communication, via Phone call, emails, SMS and MMS texting/messaging.
As you’ll have a record of your conversation, you can continue and pick up on the conversation. This prevents any miscommunication or confusion.
Support Team
The best ATS should have a helpful support team who have a good understanding of your workflow. They should also have a good level of expertise on how you operate and what best fits your needs.
Are the vendors friendly? What does their availability look like?
This benefits you by giving you access to a support team of experts who can guide you through your HR and technical functions.
There’s no problem with being completely independent. But, it’s an important feature that should come with every ATS.
Talent Management
While talent acquisition covers only a portion of recruiting, managing them is just as important.
You wouldn’t want your prospective employee to leave too soon. Therefore, it’s good practice to have a talent management system where you can keep them interested and engaged with your company.
Through this, you can improve your employee retention rate and cultivate a motivated work environment where workers are determined to thrive.
Reporting, Metrics, and Analytics
You need to be able to track your performance in the past and identify whether or not you’re making steady progress towards your targeted KPI’s.
The numbers, figures, and data shown in each report are important for improving your recruitment system.
When you can see what works and what doesn’t, as well as the areas you need to focus on, it leads to a better workflow.
Measuring ROI is also important, which can be shown through the reports and information provided by the ATS.
Internal Database
Having resume and candidate information stored in an internal database makes it quick and simple to access. Communication becomes smoother, which improves team collaboration and efficiency.
All important data such as a candidate’s email address, location, and contact details are all secure in an online database.
This means you can simplify the workload and the entire HR department can function with better fluidity. By the time you start scheduling, you’ll have all the related profiles and details ready when necessary.
For instance, you can keep all the data safe when you filter applicants.
When you have the complete information with robust accessibility – it’s faster searching for winning job seekers with the skills who can take on certain positions.
Job Posting Distribution
An ATS should allow you to create specific job order custom to what you’re looking for in a candidate.
Once your job orders are created, your ATS should be able to distribute your job orders to all major online job boards and through your network for better outreach. And ideally, find the right person for the job!
Onboarding Management System
This is how well you can onboard someone new to the job position that you’ve hired.
A good onboarding system leads to better candidate relationship management (CRM), which can retain new workers for the long run and lower employee turnover rates.
The cultural values of your workforce are just as important if you want workers to stay. You’ll want to keep them interested from the first few interactions and interviews, all the way until they become an employee.
If the experience is positive, the reputation also improves. In the long run, more job seekers may be eager to apply for any of your future job boards posting.
Employer Branding
Employer branding is how you do your marketing and advertising. The main purpose behind this for every business is to drive potential customers.
Your ATS should offer customizable and branded career website that can be linked to your Company website for branding.
Likewise, you’ll want to use this to promote your brand and credibility so you can draw in potential employees.
For example, using social media such as LinkedIn to attract candidates and passive recruits who are open for any available jobs.
Free Demos
Every organization operates differently. Some of us need a solution tailored for small businesses while others for larger corporations.
To see whether it’s a good fit for you, check if they offer a trial. StaffingSoft is one leading cloud-based recruiting platform example that provides a free demo for new users.
Our team is dedicated to ensuring you meet your targets by giving you all the information, tools, and resources necessary.
Want to know more about how StaffingSoft can transform your recruiting process?
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Conclusion
StaffingSoft is designed according to your workflow and integrates many parts of your recruitment process for an enhanced experience.
It’s all explained in our short video that’s less than a minute. Watch it below:
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at sales@staffingsoft.com!
