Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Meaning & Definition

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a hiring system of record that streamlines the entire recruiting process from receiving applications to hiring employees. They come in all shapes and sizes, offer a variety of features, and can be appropriate for any type of growing organization that values efficiency.

A good ATS helps talent acquisition professionals and their partners across the organization move through the stages of hiring swiftly and seamlessly. Recruiters, sourcers, coordinators, hiring managers, interviewers and management alike should be able to collaborate with clarity and timeliness to maximize the value and effectiveness of the ATS

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

  1. Why applicant tracking system (ATS) is used in recruitment?

    The principal function of an ATS is to provide a central location and database for a company's recruitment efforts. ATS are built to better assist management of resumes and applicant information. ATS automates the entire recruitment process by tracking and organizing candidates in one database.

  2. What do applicant tracking systems look for?

    Applicant tracking systems can automatically compare your resume to the job description. So instead of reviewing each and every application, the recruiter can focus on candidates the ATS has identified as a great match. ATS automates the recruitment process by analyzing the resume against the job description to show top skills and keywords missing from the resume.

  3. What are the benefits of an applicant tracking system?

    The benefits of an applicant tracking system are -

    Reduces time spent with administrative tasks

    An ATS software allows you to speed up your recruitment process and save yourself a huge amount of time for more important tasks.

    Provides Better and Faster CV Screening

    An ATS automates the initial screening of all applications, using algorithms to match candidates against job requirements.

    Facilitates Collaborative Hiring

    HR teams can easily and quickly share notes and ratings on every candidate and drive a collective decision-making process, in which every recruiter has a say.

    Enhances Candidate Experience

    Besides building a more efficient hiring process, Applicant Tracking Systems enable an enhanced candidate experience, which is key for the success of your hiring process.

    Improves the Quality of Hire

    With the automation of administrative tasks recruiters have more time available to engage with candidates in the selection process. This means that they can gather more information and make better informed decisions about the candidate before hiring him/her.

  4. How does applicant tracking software work?

    An ATS streamlines the hiring process by helping recruiters create job postings, publishing them to company websites and job boards, screening applicants, tracking their status, storing their information, and simplifying the final steps of the hiring process when an offer is extended.

    ATSs are multifaceted and have many features, many of which may vary based on the different brands of software that are out there. Some brands are more reputable than others and have better and more advanced features. However, the top brands usually share a number of general streamlined hiring features in common, some of which include:

    1. Candidate sourcing
    2. Resume storage
    3. Resume parsing
    4. Filters
    5. Keyword search
    6. Applicant communication
    7. Job posting distribution
    8. Automated email customization
  5. Who can use an applicant tracking system?

    ATS are used by companies of all sizes to organize, search, and communicate with large groups of applicants. The main goal of an ATS is to make life easier for recruiters and hiring managers in an organisation.

  6. What’s the difference between applicant tracking software and recruiting software?

    Where ATS focuses solely on tracking applicants, recruiting software helps connect candidates with their clients. As a result, recruiting software includes ATS features in addition to scheduling, email marketing, multiple users, boolean search, and mobile capabilities.

    Modern recruitment software even pairs applicant tracking with customer relationship management (CRM).

  7. How much do ATS’s cost?

    The average overall ATS prices range from around $3,000 (<10 employees) to around $140,000 per year (5,000+ employees).

  8. What are the top features of applicant tracking systems?

    The top features of an ATS are -

    1. Career page hosting
    2. Job distribution
    3. Receiving and sorting applications
    4. Resume/CV storage
    5. Collaborating with teammates
    6. Interview schedulers
    7. Onboarding tools
    8. Social sharing"
  9. Why do companies invest in applicant tracking system technology?

    Companies invest in applicant tracking systems as they -

    Increase the volume of applicants

    ATS software can make it fast and easy to post position openings to multiple job boards, careers pages, and social sites, which can increase the resume volume greatly.

    Allows the company to view data for recruitment optimization

    ATS software tracks all of the hiring data and makes it easy to view using reporting and analytics functions. Being able to look over the recruitment data in new ways can provide the company with valuable insights that may have otherwise been overlooked.

    Assists with managing and filtering resumes

    ATS software uses keywords and semantic search technology to help filter out resumes of the wrong candidates by target, view, and track the resumes of those best suited for the position.

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