What is an Applicant Tracking System?
Applicant Tracking System (ATS), is a computer software application used by companies to streamline and manage the hiring process by collecting, tracking, and sorting candidate information.
An Applicant Tracking System centralizes and automates many parts of the recruitment process, such as evaluating CVs and scheduling interviews. Hiring managers can utilize ATS for effectiveness and saving costs.
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Why use ATS in Recruitment?
ATS has a number of advantages in the recruitment process. It automates several segments of the process, making it faster and easier to sort candidates and find the best talent among all.
Here are some key benefits of ATS being used in recruitment.
- ATS allows employers and recruiters to create job posts and publish them on multiple platforms, including a career website, the company’s website, and job boards. ATS also offers tools that facilitate sourcing, reviewing resume databases, and integration with external platforms to download data.
- One of the best features of an Applicant Tracking System is managing resumes and applications. The ATS automatically evaluates all the applications and resumes, extracts the required information (candidate’s qualification and experience), and saves it in a structured format. Recruiters and hiring managers can easily filter applicants based on various criteria and job requirements.
- ATS platforms also filter candidates by evaluating applications and reviewing the qualifications and experience of the candidate. It will rank candidates’ profiles based on the keywords provided and other predefined parameters. Recruiters can also review the applications and create notes based on the candidate’s profile.
- Analytics is another crucial element of an ATS. The system offers reporting and analytics features to track and measure various metrics to make the process more efficient.
- ATS acts as a centralized platform for all stakeholders and recruiting managers to analyze candidate profiles and rate them. It enables everyone to check the comments and feedback from everyone and incorporate them into their final decision-making.
- ATS platforms offer data security and consent management and help comply with recruitment regulations and laws.
- Many ATS platforms enable integration with HR systems and payroll software, allowing process integration and data exchange. It provides scalability to SMEs and large enterprises.
- ATS platforms allow sending personalized messages to the candidates and saving those interactions for future reference. This helps create a talent pipeline for future requirements and improves the candidate’s experience with the organization.
How does the Applicant Tracking System work?
An ATS acts as a database for storing candidates’ details. Once a candidate submits an application, it processes it through its system. The system evaluates the resume and filters it based on certain keywords and qualification criteria mentioned by the recruiter. Then, it either rejects the profile and stores it for later usage or presents it to the recruiter in an HR tool.