Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

An Applicant Tracking System is software used by recruiters to track and manage the recruitment and hiring process of candidates. Some of the major tasks that an ATS handles during the recruiting process include:

• Sending out job applications to multiple job boards.
• Storing applicant data.
• Parsing applicant CVs for suitable candidates.
• Giving data-driven insights into the hiring process.
• Documenting notes about a candidate in a database. 

An HR professional that wants to use an ATS can create customizable criteria for candidate applications to be parsed successfully. Some of the criteria can be:

• Relevant keywords
• Years of experience 
• Skills and certifications 

Benefits of an Applicant Tracking System 

• An ATS makes it easy to attract and source the right candidates for your organisation. With its customizable criteria, it quickly filters through the applications and ensures you get only the most qualified candidates for the role. 
• The right ATS can help in the onboarding process of candidates. With it, they can accept employment and access the necessary information to settle into the job. 
• An ATS enables you to create stronger job descriptions with the relevant keywords needed for the role. Job descriptions can also be reused for multiple positions. 
• It can help keep the database of candidates for future job openings in the company.
• It can be used for automated responses such as interview schedules, reminders and alerts to people on the database on new openings. 

Some examples of ATS that recruiters can use are:

• iCIMS: A comprehensive system that has many features you'd expect from one of the top vendors.
• Jobvite: A well-rounded system with onboarding functionality to simplify the new hire process.
• Taleo: Now owned by Oracle Taleo is a popular system used by companies of all sizes.
• Lever: An easy-to-use ATS with candidate relationship management features built in.

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) serves as a crucial tool for recruiters, simplifying candidate management throughout the hiring journey. From distributing job applications and parsing CVs to enhancing job descriptions and automating responses, an ATS optimizes the recruitment process. It aids in selecting qualified candidates, streamlining onboarding, and maintaining a valuable candidate database. Notable ATS platforms like iCIMS, Jobvite, Taleo, and Lever offer diverse features to cater to different recruitment needs, ultimately leading to more efficient and effective hiring.