May 17, 2022

What is ATS in recruitment? Characteristics and features

Hiring and recruitment is one of the most important responsibilities for Human Resources professionals.  Frequently, this requires a detailed candidate analysis, which can take a considerable amount of time. Since recruiters race against time, they need all the tools possible to do the best job in the shortest amount of time. For that purpose, one of the most useful tools they use are ATS. 

Do you know what is ATS and how does it work? At T2W we are experts in talent acquisition and we are always adopting the latest tools for our recruitment processes. That’s why in this article we take a closer look at ATS and the way they work. 

What is ATS in recruitment? 

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. This is software specially designed to simplify the tasks recruiters have and assist them through all the stages of recruitment. One of the main benefits of these systems is that they integrate Artificial Intelligence into each task, which streamlines the whole process. 

ATS in recruitment are quickly extending among organizations of different sizes. Nowadays it is estimated that around 75% of the big companies in the world use these systems. That is just a small example of their growing relevance. Today, there is a wide variety of these programs and the features they offer vary according to the brand. 

What is an applicant tracking system used for? 

As previously mentioned, these systems assist recruiters from the moment the selection process begins. In general, ATS in Human Resources allow recruiters to receive, store, manage and evaluate the applications from candidates to a certain position. Let’s take a look at what an ATS does in each phase of recruitment. 

1. Publishing job posts 

During the initial stage of the selection process, recruiters must publish job ads in several digital platforms. ATS make this task a lot easier since you can write and publish these ads without leaving the program. That simplifies this step of the process. 

2. Collecting candidate applications 

Para qué sirve un ATS

Once the job ads have been published, recruiters start receiving resumes from candidates. Usually, these applications come through different channels such as an email address, social media, job sites, etc. ATS systems receive all these resumes from all those channels and store them in one single place so that the task of checking them gets easier. 

In fact, the data of the candidates applying is stored in the database of the program. Therefore, in the case recruiters need to contact a professional for a similar position in the future, they can check this list and contact those applicants who got to the final stages of previous processes. This is perfect for creating a talent pool. 

3. Candidate evaluation 

One of the most important phases of the recruitment process is evaluating candidates. In this case, the features of an ATS can be of much help. These can evaluate all the resumes and rate their suitability for the vacant position. Since they have Artificial Intelligence, it is possible to set evaluation criteria inside the program to analyze each applicant. 

For instance, recruiters can enter keywords or related terms that are important for the position. Then, the software will check each resume and compare them with the criteria specified. It is also possible to evaluate candidates based on requirements and skills. As a result, the process of checking each applicant gets a lot faster. 

Perhaps it is necessary to check the resumes manually. Since each candidate will use different a format, reading and analyzing all of them can take time. In that case, ATS can scan and unify the format of all resumes. Then, they can filter those resumes that don’t meet the requirements and keep the best ones without wasting time. 

4. Communicating with candidates 

Once the resumes have been checked, it’s necessary to contact the candidates to notify those who made it to the interviews stage and those who didn’t. ATS can help recruiters to communicate with each applicant and notify them about their status in the selection process. Additionally, it’s possible to coordinate the details of the interview without leaving the program. 

Difference between ATS and HRIS 

Some people think that ATS systems are the same as HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems). That is not correct. The main similarity between these two is that both are digital systems used by Human Resources professionals. However, the scope they have is completely different. 

As we have seen, ATS focus only in the recruitment and selection processes and even some can help in the onboarding process. On the other hand, HRIS focus completely on the Human Resources area. This system is perfect to manage and monitor information about employees inside the organization. This is key to have a good Human Resources Management. 

Now you know what is Applicant Tracking System. As you can see, this offer many features and benefits for recruiters. In a few years, these will be the new standard for all selection processes. 

At Talent2Win, we strive to align your company’s business objectives with the best Talent Acquisition strategies available. If you want to learn more about the services we offer, do not hesitate to contact us.  

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