Gone are the days when employers had to stack up applicant files and manually hunt for the right talent for their company! Nowadays, companies are constantly looking for options to speed up their hiring process, and their HR staff to think of ideas that can contribute to their company’s growth.
One such innovation is the introduction of Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) for recruiting. Though ATS tracking systems have been in the market for over two decades, several companies are now turning towards this software to ease their recruiting process. Still, if you’ve never heard of ATS, this article gives you a detailed view of what you need to know about an ATS.
What is an ATS?
An ATS is a recruitment tracking system used by hiring managers to automate the recruiting cycle. Such software can handle the whole hiring process from start to end. It deals with job posting, recruitment marketing, candidate screening, onboarding, offboarding, and much more.
In short, an ATS cuts down the workload of the HR staff. It also saves significant time and money since most tasks are automated. HR only needs to step in to conduct the final interview rounds.
How Does an ATS Work?
As mentioned earlier, most online recruitment systems automate the entire hiring process from start to end. Recruiters begin by posting the job and marketing it on various hiring platforms. Later, they can view all the applications at a single place (in the ATS) and select the candidates they want to contact for the position.
Usually, ATS stores the applicant information in a database and ranks the candidates based on their suitability for the current position. HR can manually sort out the profiles that seem the best fit or automate this process. And finally, the interview rounds can be scheduled to hire the most deserving candidate.
Additionally, most ATS tracking software stores applicant details for future use. That way, companies can directly search their current database to hire candidates for future job roles.
Why Do Companies Use an Applicant Tracking System?
Whenever an organization posts about a vacancy, it receives thousands of applications from qualified and unqualified candidates. At such times, manually screening and filtering out potential candidates becomes a hectic process. Besides, the hiring cycle involves a lot of paperwork. That’s where the need to automate the recruiting process arises!
With an ATS, companies can significantly speed up the hiring process and automate most stages throughout the cycle. It even allows HR and applicants to communicate remotely and openly. Companies do not need a huge budget or use multiple tools to hire a single candidate. ATS offers everything in one place!
Above all, ATS also improves the candidate experience, which creates a good impression of the company.
How to Beat an ATS?
One of the most important questions job seekers have in mind is: “Is it possible to beat an ATS?” While it’s tricky, the short and simple answer is YES. You can beat an ATS and get your resume viewed by the hiring managers. But for that, you need to create a resume compatible with most ATS tracking software.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that every applicant tracking software uses a different algorithm for functioning. So, it might not be possible to make it through all recruiting software used by companies. But, here are some common tactics that should be followed while creating a resume or applying for jobs to beat an ATS.
- Stick to a simple, non-fancy resume that is clear and readable.
- Don’t use fancy fonts or graphics in the resume since tracking systems find it hard to read through pictures.
- Keep your resume format .doc or .pdf.
- Add keywords relevant to the post you are applying to in the resume. It will help you rank higher when the recruiter searches for such keywords.
- Make sure your resume is error-free. Spelling or grammar mistakes should not be present in the resume. Also, proofread your resumetwice before submitting it to any company.
- Avoid using short forms while writing about a skill or topic in the resume. Instead, use the acronym and extended version both.
- Use standard resume headings like Work Experience, Job Experience, Education, Skills, etc. Do not get creative while writing these headings. Otherwise, the ATS will fail to fetch the necessary details from your resume.
ATS is the Future!
ATS has several advantages and disadvantages. But it’s worth highlighting that companies won’t give up using online recruitment software. The main reason is that they are automated, fast, and cost-effective. No doubt, ATS is the future, and more companies will be welcoming this powerful tool in the coming years!
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About TrackTalents ATS:
TrackTalents is a leading cloud-based Applicant Tracking System with significant features, a functional, user-friendly interface optimized for low bandwidth usage, and secured with the latest encryption.
TrackTalents will efficiently and effortlessly manage your hiring journey from Job Postings, Resume Management, Communication Management, Onboarding, Timesheets, Invoicing, Payroll, Reporting, and integrations with VMS, Career Portals, QuickBooks, Outlook, etc.,
To know more about TrackTalents, and its significant features, click here TrackTalents – Features or click here to Start a Free Trial.
