10 Reasons Why You Need an Applicant Tracking System

Applicant tracking systems have been helping companies find and hire better candidates since the mid- to late 90’s. As technology has evolved in the last two decades, so have applicant tracking systems. Not only are they becoming more useful, but they are also becoming more intelligent in helping you find the right people to hire.

In our fast-paced world today, digital is eliminating the need for paper forms and saving much needed time for the busy executive. Applicant tracking systems were designed to help ease the time burden that hiring requires and many companies find the analytics from their prospects helpful. Not only can ATS’s help select candidates but they have also been helping companies receive inward insight regarding their interview process.

As a business owner, HR executive, or leader in your company, get informed on the following 10 reasons why you need to be using an applicant tracking system (ATS).

1- Customizable and Configurable

Retail stores manage the hiring process differently than a corporate office. Manufacturing companies hire differently than school administrators. With an HR application tracking system, preferences and processes are customizable and configurable in innumerable ways.

Some of the many add-on features include:

2- Integrate with Career Sites, Job Boards, and Social Media

You can specify your applicant tracking system to integrate with different job boards, even those in other countries. It can also automatically post to social media by using content marketing strategies.

3- Increase Your Pool of Qualified Applicants

By using an ATS that is mobile-friendly, your pool of applicants can increase up to 40 percent. Reducing the amount of time it takes to apply for a job to less than 20 minutes decreases the drop-off rate of applicants.

4- Thin Out the Candidate Pool

ATS systems can reduce your workload by thinning out the candidate pool with set minimum requirements, years of experience, and personality and cognitive assessments which gauge relevant skills and potential conflicts.

Find out how you can use people analytics to predict, manage and measure the impact of HR operations by downloading our new white paper.

5- Gather All Your Applicant’s Data and Hiring Info in One Place

Easily get applications and forms into your ATS so you can sort, rate, share, and contact candidates. Once someone has been hired for your company, their info can integrate directly into the HR employee system.

You also have the capability of saving promising candidates for future positions or to share them with other departments or positions within the company.

6- Avoid Interview Blunders

Be sure you’re compliant with non-discriminatory laws and company policies since applicant tracking systems are non-discriminatory and can help you with the wording of your job posting and interview questions.

7- Reduce the Time Burden of Hiring

An ATS can save recruiters and HR reps time by sorting through hundreds of resumes, automating social sharing with other people or departments within the company, using automated email templates to thank applicants for applying or to let them know they were not chosen for the position, and the ability to delegate hiring tasks.

Just by utilizing these options, it’s estimated that an ATS can reduce the time burden of hiring by up to 20 percent.

8- Save on Hiring Costs

The average hiring cost for a position in a moderately-sized U.S. company is $3,000-$4,000. By implementing an applicant tracking system, your company will save money on advertising plus the cost of paying a recruiter or employee for their time sorting through stacks of resumes.

9- Boost Employee Retention

How can using an ATS boost employee retention? By helping you hire the right person for the job. When that is done, the likelihood that both you and the person you hired will be satisfied with each other is higher, which in turn reduces employee turnover.

10- Improve Your Company’s Image

People want to work for a company that is efficient and uses current technology to their advantage. Being able to quickly and easily communicate with candidates at every stage of the hiring process keeps them interested in the company and sets you apart from the others.

Each company needs to evaluate the factors that go into purchasing and implementing an HR applicant tracking system. Those factors include cost, learning curve, and level of desired automation. However, the benefits are undeniable.

Download the white paper and see how you can create an integrated, engaging employee experience using people analytics!

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