5 Things to Look for in an Applicant Tracking System
This article was written by one of our amazing contributors! Content may include promotional links.
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is designed to help you in the hiring process. The system will benefit your company from the job advertisement stage to the candidate interview stage. Understanding and evaluating the best recruitment technology is challenging since we now have over 200 options in the market. If you have the right ATS, the outcome will be great, and your candidates will have the best experience. A poor choice can have adverse consequences on the productivity of your company. The following are five things to look for in an applicant tracking system.
1. Company Profile
Make sure that you are installing an ATS that answers all your needs. The ATS field offers three types of companies: enterprise, staffing agencies, and small/medium businesses. However, every vendor you visit may claim that their ATS is the best for your company. Do not believe what they say. Instead, conduct independent research by reading reviews, asking for referrals, and asking each ATS company some questions.
2. Easy to Use
The ATS should be easy to navigate, and your recruitment team should require minimal training. An easy-to-use ATS will save you money and time, and your investment will be worthwhile. Some vendors may offer complicated features, which may require regular consultations. You recruitment team may end up losing interest in the system thus turning it to a liability. Look for a system that is easy to install, intuitive, and requires reduced maintenance. Enlist is an excellent example of an easy-to-use ATS.
3. Candidate Experience
If a candidate has never used an ATS before, you may lose him or her. If candidates have to go through a lengthy or frustrating process due to slow performance, they will leave your site. Most companies ignore this factor, but it is vital when evaluating an ATS. The application process should include as little clicks as possible, fast, and be attractive.
4. Social Network
The vendor should take you through their social networking and job posting abilities. Every ATS company has its unique way to gain candidate visibility. Most will use social media apps such as LinkedIn, E-mails, FaceBook, and many more. You should also ask the vendor to take you through the posting process. The interface should be easy to use. Additionally, the vendor should inform you if there is any job site that requires payment.
5. Customer Support
Every technological system is subject to downtime and performance problems. When such problems occur, your vendor should be willing to help you. Choose a company with a 24/7 customer support team. The team should be quick to respond to your Emails, phone, or messages. The vendor should also be willing to travel to your premise in case they cannot solve the problem while on their end.
Now you have the essential things to look for in an ATS. Take your time before making a decision. The consequences will affect the performance of your business, so consider these things to avoid unpleasant surprises later.