An applicant tracking system (ATS) helps companies organize and track candidates for hiring and recruitment purposes. These systems allow businesses to collect information, organize prospects based on experience and skill set, and filter applicants. Show
More than 90% of Fortune 500 Companies are currently using an ATS. While these systems are excellent for storing candidate information, the best applicant tracking systems can track all communications with candidates. This makes it easy to search and filter resumes and other candidate information, decreasing time-to-fill and ensuring that companies get the best candidates for the position. Are you wondering “how does an applicant tracking system aid an HR manager?” Learn more about what businesses can do with the right ATS system. What Is an Applicant Tracking System?An applicant tracking system for recruiters simplifies the recruiting process by using automated intelligence to screen for the best, most qualified candidates. Since many open positions can attract hundreds or even thousands of candidates without the necessary qualifications, this saves companies and recruiters time that would otherwise be spent manually screening out these candidates. How Do Applicant Tracking Systems Work?Candidates are looking for application processes that are easy, fast, and user-friendly. The best applicant tracking systems allow job seekers to easily apply for a position from any device without needing to create a log in. This means that companies benefit from a larger pool of applicants, which can then be ranked automatically based on skills and experience. During the recruitment process, applicant tracking systems allow users to submit feedback and notes about a candidate easily. Some of these systems allow for collaboration from a mobile device, making it easy for busy recruiters and hiring managers. The best ATS software uses the latest technology, such as natural language processing and artificial intelligence, to screen and sort candidate resumes. These systems scan resumes, look for keyword matches, and use other algorithms for data analysis. Many applicant tracking systems also integrate with job boards, streamlining job postings. The Benefits of an ATSThere are many benefits of using an ATS, and you can expect to see metrics like time, cost, and candidate quality improve. Interview scheduling is easy with automated emails allowing candidates to choose a time that works for both hiring managers and themselves. An applicant tracking system can also allow recruiters and hiring managers to see all the information and metrics they need with a click of a button. The best systems include robust, user-friendly dashboards and configurable workflows including key performance metrics and industry benchmarks. Signs Your Business Needs an ATSWhile companies of all sizes can use applicant tracking systems, they’re particularly useful for businesses that are regularly hiring employees for various positions or those that tend to get large numbers of applicants for each position. Businesses are likely to see a significant ROI with an applicant tracking system if they’re screening more than 1,000 resumes annually. They’ll also benefit from an applicant tracking system if they have a long or convoluted hiring process or experience problems with their recruiting and administration. Applicant tracking systems can significantly reduce time-to-fill. This means that companies that find it difficult to manage the workload associated with large pools of candidates will find the streamlined process much more effective. Start Using an Applicant Tracking System TodayRecruiting new talent for your business can be a major challenge, and you want to be sure you end up with the right choice. Having an online applicant tracking system can help simplify the hiring process and save recruiters and hiring managers a huge amount of stress. Applicant tracking systems can transform that way your business handles recruiting and help you in your search for the perfect new additions for your business. Looking to learn more about what Jobvite’s Evolve Talent Acquisition Suite can do for your team? To see Jobvite in action, watch the on-demand Jobvite Product Tour or request a live demo. Or download our guide on Centralizing Your Talent Acquisition Technology: The Ultimate How-to-Guide to learn more. You spend hours perfecting your resume, making sure it outlines your skills and experience in the best possible light. After all, when it comes to job hunting, your resume is your most important tool. But after all that work, you’re still not getting enough interviews, even for jobs you know you’re qualified for. Why not? What you might not realize is that your resume usually doesn’t go to a human being
after you submit it – it goes to a computer. In fact, there’s a good chance a real person will never see your resume! That’s because more and more employers are using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes. What is an ATS? It’s computer software designed to scan resumes for certain keywords and weed out the ones that don’t match the job description. So if you want your resume to actually make it into the hands of a human being, you need to make sure it’s optimized for the ATS. In this article, we’re going to teach you 8 things you need to know about applicant tracking systems, including what they are, how they work, and especially how you can “beat” them!
The hiring process can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience for employers as well as job seekers. To streamline the process, many companies have started using applicant tracking systems (ATS). An ATS is a computer software program that manages the hiring process. It does this by collecting and sorting thousands of resumes. Hiring managers can then screen candidates using the ATS, as well as track their progress through the hiring process. By digitizing the hiring process in this way, an ATS saves employers time and money. Read the full article: What is an applicant tracking system? 2 – How applicant tracking systems workThere are 4 basic steps to how an applicant tracking system works:
What’s especially important to understand is that recruiters often filter resumes by searching for key skills and job titles.
For example, if a recruiter is hiring for an Administrative Assistant position and there are 500 resumes, their first step will probably be to search for “Administrative Assistant.” This isolates candidates that have done the exact job before. Anyone that doesn’t have that exact term in their resume is out of luck! A search can contain multiple terms. For example, recruiters might perform a complex search that contains a combination of job titles and skills: Administrative Assistant AND data entry AND payroll… This means that if you can predict the resume keywords that recruiters will use in their search, you’ll greatly increase your chances of moving on in the hiring process. But you don’t have to guess which keywords to use. All you have to do is analyze the job description to find them. Jobscan automates this process by using AI technology to analyze your resume against the job description. It then reveals the top resume skills and keywords missing from your resume. Make your resume stand out and get noticed Upload your resume to see what’s missing and get a free match rate. 3 – What’s the difference between an ATS and a CRM?When it comes to recruiting software, there are two main types of systems:
Let’s quickly look at each system. ATS software is typically used during the hiring process, and includes features such as resume parsing, candidate screening, and assessment tools. The downside to ATS software is that it only tracks job candidates that have already applied to your company. Top employers hire for several jobs at a time and receive hundreds of resumes for any given opening. Because applying for a job online is easier than ever, many of these applicants are unqualified and figured “it was worth a try.” CRM systems, on the other hand, are used during the recruitment process to target potential candidates who haven’t yet applied to your company. CRM features include email marketing, scheduling, and communication tools to build relationships with possible candidates. Whereas ATS only give you data that candidates input themselves, CRMs allow you to input information that you discover about prospective talent. In other words, ATS are more reactive, while CRMs are more proactive. You don’t necessarily have to choose between the two systems. Many companies use both! 4 – Key features of an applicant tracking systemApplicant tracking systems make it easy for people to apply for a position on any device, without having to log in. This means that companies benefit from a larger pool of applicants. Because there are so many applicants, companies use ATS software to automatically surface and highlight top candidates. Some other key features of ATS software include:
5 – How accurate is ATS software?While it is true that ATS can save recruiters time and effort in the hiring process, the reality is that these systems are far from perfect. A study by Harvard Business Review revealed that 88 percent of recruiters felt that qualified candidates were ignored by an ATS because they “did not match the exact criteria established by the job description.” This suggests that ATS places too much emphasis on keywords and fails to take into account a candidate’s skills, experience, or qualifications. As a result, many qualified candidates are overlooked simply because their resumes don’t contain the right keywords!
However, you can take advantage of this situation by making sure your resume contains the exact keywords that employers are searching for. 6 – Who uses ATS?Most large corporations use some form of applicant tracking systems. Jobscan research found that over 98.8% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS while a Kelly OCG survey estimated that 66% of large companies and 35% of small organizations rely on recruitment software. And these numbers continue to grow. The fact is: If you’re applying to a large organization, you’ll most likely face an ATS. If you’re applying through any online form, you’re applying through an ATS. Even job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn have their own built-in ATS. It’s clear that ATS is here to stay. That’s why it’s so important to use the right keywords and format your resume in a way that makes it easy for ATS software to read. Hard skills comparison in Jobscan. Click to see full example.7 – Why employers use applicant tracking systemsWhen you think about it, today’s employers are faced with a daunting task when it comes to hiring new employees. This is because the internet has made it easy for job seekers to submit applications, so they submit a lot of them. Many of these applicants are unqualified and figured “it was worth a try.” The result is that corporate recruiters now receive hundreds and sometimes even thousands of resumes for every job opening. This is why they need an ATS. These automated systems simplify and speed up the hiring process, saving businesses time and money.
The top ATS feature many benefits, including:
As a result of these benefits, ATS have become an essential part of the modern recruiting process. 8 – The future of applicant tracking systemsThere’s no question that artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the world of recruitment. Already, AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) are screening resumes, identifying potential candidates, and even conducting initial interviews. As AI continues to evolve, it’s likely that ATS software will become even more sophisticated.
In the future, these systems are expected to be more fully integrated with social media platforms like LinkedIn. This will enable them to identify both active and passive candidates who are a good match for open positions. Additionally, AI-powered chatbots could be used to answer questions and provide information about the application process. Ultimately, AI is poised to transform the recruiting landscape in a number of ways, making the process faster, easier, and more efficient for everyone involved. What is an ATS optimized resume?There is no universal trick to “beating” applicant tracking systems. Getting past an ATS and landing a job interview requires a well-written resume that is mindful of ATS algorithms as well as the people pushing the buttons. Here’s our simplest advice for how to beat an ATS:
You can automate a lot of this process by using Jobscan’s resume scanner, which quickly tells you how to optimize your resume to get the best results. FAQsWhat file types does ATS software recognize?All ATS recognize Word documents. Some of them are also compatible with PDF files. How can you test a resume for ATS?The best way to see if your resume is ATS friendly is to use a resume scanner like Jobscan’s. Try it now for free. Do small companies use ATS?The adoption rate for small companies is low, but growing quickly. Last year, it was estimated that 35% of small organizations use an ATS. Key takeawaysLet’s quickly sum up what we’ve learned:
If you want to make sure your resume gets past the ATS and into the hands of a recruiter, you need to optimize it. Jobscan’s resume scanner is an easy way to do this. Simply upload your resume and the scanner will show you where you need to improve your keywords so that your resume stands out from the rest. Don’t let a computer decide your future – use Jobscan today and start getting more job interviews! Make your resume stand out and get noticed Upload your resume to see what’s missing and get a free match rate. |