Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Vinati Kamani. Her opinions are her own.
The shortage of qualified and skilled candidates in a competitive job environment, coupled with a constantly rising competition to acquire them has resulted in a talent war that is only set to intensify over the coming years. Applicant tracking systems are the much required tools that can not only streamline the hiring process making it more time saving and cost effective.
According to Jobscan’s research, more than 98 percent of fortune 500 companies have an ATS in place which is a good example to follow if you are looking to emulate their success. Use of an applicant tracking system (ATS) results in a threefold benefit to the organization. It reduces the time to hire and cost of hire, while subsequently improving the quality of hire of the candidates.
Here is a list of 7 features of an applicant tracking system that can help streamline your hiring process.
1. Mobile responsiveness
The world has gone mobile and your business needs to do the same. In addition to designing a responsive website with a dedicated careers page that the applicants can browse through on mobile devices, a mobile friendly applicant tracking system is a must for your company. If your site is not mobile responsive, you are likely missing out on a pool of tech-savvy potential hires.
Every time a candidate submits a resume through an online form, they interact with an ATS. Job applicants are increasingly using cell phones for initiating job search, uploading their resumes and even submitting applications.
Application tracking system integrates with existing mobile-friendly career’s page so that the postings are clearly displayed on mobile phones. Mobile responsiveness shows that your company cares about making the application process easier and isn’t running behind the times.
2. Posting on multiple job boards simultaneously
Applicant tracking systems integrate with numerous job boards and websites enabling a wider reach and ensuring that the job posting reaches the relevant audience. When the candidates click on the relevant posting, the information they enter is directly pooled into the ATS resulting in a centralized data repository.
Another important feature of the application tracking system is that it also integrates with the different social networks ensuring that companies advertise the vacancy at all relevant outlets and the job postings reach the target audience.
3. Effective screening of Candidates
Instead of manually reviewing each resume, the ATS filters and ranks the applicants in the order of decreasing relevance. The resumes are automatically filtered on the basis on keywords and phrases. Companies can filter through thousands of resumes received in a matter of minutes shortlisting only the ones that are most relevant to the position being hired for.
The more keywords and phrases used by the candidate, the higher chances for ranking. Use of artificial intelligence algorithms within the ATS can identify instances of keyword stuffing and those applications are rejected as well.
Applicant tracking systems that can also test the applicants through skill evaluation and video interviewing tools. The candidates that get filtered through the initial screening then get scheduled for one-on-one interviews with the recruiters.
4. Real-time scheduling of appointments
Applicant tracking systems allow for real time scheduling of the interviews by the interviewees themselves. This frees up the time of hiring managers and members on the interview panel who no longer have to look into booking the interview slots.
The members on the interview panel can integrate their calendars with the ATS following which the relevant link is generated by the hiring managers and is sent over to the applicants. The real time availability of the panelists is visible to the candidates who can then book their preferred slot for an interview.
Calendar sync results in more efficient scheduling of appointments since the live version of appointments in real time is made available. It also results in a positive candidate experience as the interviewees have the power to make the decisions and are subjected to a transparent hiring process.
5. Collaborative hiring
Applicant tracking systems act as a centralized repository where the panelists and HR personnel can discuss the candidate within the collaborative tools offered. The notes and candidate rating can be shared among the recruiters within the ATS using messaging and other collaborative tools available.
ATS promotes collective decision making by promoting collaborative hiring. It removes the need to flit between different applications and windows when discussing the hiring decisions. Collaborative hiring results in faster decision making and speeds up the recruitment cycle.
6. Improved candidate experience
Using an applicant tracking system results in a consistent and engaging recruitment process. This not only impacts the experience the candidate has while interacting with your company, but it also results in boosting of the employer brand.
By providing all candidates, irrespective of whether they are hired or not, a positive hiring experience, you stand a chance of turning them into potential ambassadors for your company. The value of ATS extends beyond just hiring into the employee on-boarding as well.
The ATS can act as a centralized repository for all employee data and the system can be used to ensure the completion of the required paperwork digitally, scheduling of initial meeting, ensuring setting up of IT services and other onboarding activities as well.
7. Bias free hiring
The most underrated feature of an applicant tracking system is its ability to promote bias free hiring of candidates. Human bias can creep in while manually screening through the resumes. The incorporation of AI in hiring removes the preconceived biases against specific age, gender, race or nationality and focuses solely on capabilities and skills.
Diverse teams are reportedly more productive and removal of bias from the hiring process facilitates the hiring of individuals from diverse backgrounds into the organization. Integrating ATS solutions into the existing hiring process strengthens the recruitment cycles, attracts quality candidates and results in hiring of applicants from diverse backgrounds.
Incorporation of technology in the hiring process not only saves the time of HR personnel but also results in cost savings while ensuring quality hires at the same time.
Author
Bernadette Eichner
Bernadette Eichner has had a successful career in hospitality sales, real estate, and recruitment. In 1999, she founded HRM Resolutions, a strategic human resource consultancy, and later became a founding recruiter and investor at RecruitLoop.
