Recruiting fresh talent is a crucial task for any organisation – but managing and tracking each candidate’s progress throughout the hiring process can be challenging due to the high volume of job applications received daily. This is where applicant tracking system (ATS) recruitment software comes in handy.
ATS recruitment software is an application that automates and streamlines the hiring process, from job posting to candidate selection. In this blog post, we’ll explore what an ATS is and how it works, and help you determine if it’s the right solution for your organisation’s recruitment needs.
ATS recruitment software explained: what is an applicant tracking system?
ATS recruitment software (sometimes known as HR recruitment software) is a tool that assists hiring managers and recruiters in finding and managing the applications of qualified job candidates. It streamlines the recruitment process by automating tasks such as posting job ads, organising and sorting through CVs, and scheduling interviews. Organisations can narrow the applicant pool with an ATS, saving time and money throughout the recruitment process.
Additionally, ATS software can aid in distributing job vacancies and creating a central portal to display job ads. Some ATS solutions can also integrate with job boards directly or through an intermediary application – Ciphr’s recruitment platform, for example, integrates with services from partners such as Broadbean and Talent.com.
By implementing an ATS, organisations can streamline their recruitment process, improve their hiring outcomes and, ultimately, enhance the candidate experience.
How does ATS software work?
ATS software typically begins with candidates submitting their CVs and supporting materials into the system. The software will then scan these materials and extract relevant information, such as the candidate’s name, contact information, work experience and education. This information is stored in a database that can be searched by recruiters and hiring managers – and, as applications and CVs won’t need to be sent and received via email, it reduces the risk of a data breach.
When a job opening becomes available, recruiters or hiring managers can use the software to search the database for candidates who meet the role’s requirements. They can use keywords and other filters to narrow down the results, ensuring that only the most relevant candidates are selected for consideration. This can speed up the hiring process, as well as guarantee that older – but still relevant – CVs still in the system are not forgotten.
Once suitable candidates have been identified, the entire hiring process can be managed through the ATS software. Recruiters can schedule interviews, communicate with candidates and track where each individual is in the interview process. This allows for a more efficient and streamlined hiring process, which ultimately saves resources for an organisation.
What are the benefits of an applicant tracking system?
There are five key benefits of an applicant tracking system:
1. It simplifies the hiring process
ATS recruitment software offers a wide range of benefits to organisations. For starters, it streamlines and simplifies the hiring process by automating tasks such as publishing job vacancies on multiple websites, capturing CVs and monitoring candidate progress. This can save recruiters and hiring managers valuable time and ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently.
2. It encourages a fairer, streamlined hiring process for candidates
This leads us to another important feature of ATS software: ‘blind’ recruitment, which helps to ensure fairer hiring practices and boost diversity of hire. This means that hiring managers are not able to see a candidate’s name, age or other personal information that could influence their decisions, mitigating the risk of unconscious bias, and increasing the likelihood candidates are selected solely based on the skills they possess, and, therefore, that the most skilled applicant is offered the job.
Using an ATS to manage your hiring helps to create a better experience for candidates. Recruiters can use the tool to contact candidates in bulk, send out mass rejection emails and stay in touch with candidates they want to progress throughout the recruitment process.
3. It makes background and eligibility checks easy
ATS software can integrate with pre employment checks providers, making it easy to verify a candidate’s qualifications and eligibility to work in the UK. This can help organisations to avoid costly legal and compliance issues.
4. It weeds out unqualified applicants
ATS software can specify ‘killer’ questions, which are put in place to prevent candidates from applying if they do not meet certain minimum criteria, such as non-negotiable skills or the right to work in the UK. This helps to filter out unqualified candidates and ensures that recruiters only see applications from relevant individuals.
5. It gives you access to important data
ATS software can facilitate data and analytics, providing recruiters and hiring managers with valuable insights into their recruitment processes. This can include:
- The volume of applicants
- The quality of their CVs in relation to the available roles
- The diversity of your candidates
- The time it takes to find and hire a successful applicant
- The sources where candidates are applying for a role
ATS software can also ensure the data you capture is stored securely.
Choosing recruitment software that can integrate with your HR systems and onboarding software can provide a streamlined onboarding experience, automatically porting new starter details into your central HR system. Overall, an ATS can help organisations to improve their recruitment process, reduce costs, and make better hiring decisions.
How to choose an applicant tracking system
When choosing ATS recruitment software, there are several key factors to consider.
Firstly, it’s important to find an ATS that specialises in organisations of your size. Some ATS software may be better suited for small businesses, while others may be preferable for larger organisations with more complex recruitment needs.
Another important factor to consider is how easy and intuitive the software is to use. You want to choose a user-friendly ATS – one that’s intuitive for recruiters, hiring managers, and candidates to use.
It’s also important to shop around and compare different ATS software options to ensure that you’re making an informed decision. Don’t just settle for the first option you come across – take the time to research and speak to different providers to find the best fit for your organisation.
Budget is also an important consideration. Look for an ATS that fits within your budget while still providing the features you need.
Finally, make sure that the ATS you choose has the features that matter most to you. This may include integrations with other software you use, video interview capabilities, automated background checks or other features that are vital to your recruitment process. You don’t want to end up with recruitment screening software that is lacking in the functionality you need.
By carefully considering these factors and choosing an ATS that meets your specific needs, you can help ensure a successful, efficient, and improved recruitment process for your organisation.
Ciphr’s ATS recruitment system
Ciphr's recruitment software is a comprehensive applicant tracking system that can help organisations streamline and simplify their recruitment process, and has a range of features and benefits that can make recruiting easier and more efficient.
Some of the key benefits of our recruitment software include the ability to:
- Post vacancies on multiple job boards
- Track candidate progress and communications
- Integrate with Ciphr’s onboarding and HR software for a streamlined new-starter experience
- Support ‘blind’ recruitment to ensure fairer hiring practices
- Easily integrate with right to work and background checks providers
- And much more
Our software is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to navigate and use. It can be customised to meet the specific needs of an organisation and its recruitment process, and can be scaled up or down depending on the size of the organisation.
Choosing our recruitment software means your organisation can benefit from a comprehensive ATS that can help save time, reduce costs and ensure a successful virtual recruitment or in-person hiring process. Not only that, our customer success managers will be with you every step of the way, ensuring implementation is seamless.
Interested in learning more about what Ciphr's recruitment software can do for your organisation? Book a demo today.
Here’s what our clients have to say about our ATS recruitment software:
“Ciphr iRecruit makes the recruitment process less arduous and paper-based. Staff can access the system anywhere, any time, and shortlist applicants. It’s totally changed our process for the better.”
“Our spend was about 70% higher than it is today. Implementing Ciphr has significantly reduced our recruitment costs. Previously, when 90% of our recruitment was done through agencies, our spend was about 70% higher than it is today.”
– Surrey
How much is an applicant tracking system?
The cost of an applicant tracking system can vary depending on several factors, such as the size of your organisation, the volume of vacancies you’re hiring for each year, and the features and capabilities you require. As such, it’s difficult to give an exact price without discussing your specific needs with recruitment automation software experts.
If you’re interested in learning more about the cost of Ciphr's recruitment software and how it can benefit your organisation, contact a member our Ciphr sales team.
Recruitment ATS that complements your organisation
An applicant tracking system can provide numerous benefits for your organisation, from streamlining the recruitment process to improving the candidate experience and ensuring fairer hiring practices. By choosing an ATS that meets your specific needs, you can help feel confident that your organisation is set up for a successful and efficient recruitment process, saving you time, money, and hassle.
If you’re interested in learning more about how an ATS can benefit your organisation, download the Ciphr brochure or request a demo today. With our powerful ATS software, you can streamline your recruitment process, track candidate progress and more. Contact us today to learn more and see how an ATS can help take your recruitment processes to the next level.