Whatever your business, you probably strive to choose the best software and other technologies to serve your clients. One audience that tends to get less attention, however, is potential employees. And yet, that’s an audience every company, regardless of industry must reach. What is more, a tight job market now makes hiring increasingly competitive.
You most likely use applicant tracking software, or ATS, to gather applications and communicate with prospective employees. 75% of large companies now use one, and a whopping 98% of Fortune 500 companies do. It’s no wonder. They can weed out thousands of unfit submissions, saving a lot of money and staff time. A good ATS provides greater consistency in hiring practices, guarding against lawsuits.
Just because you use an ATS doesn’t mean you’re using the best one for you, however. There are now more choices than ever and, like most technology, AI is making these systems “smarter” all the time. The options might be much more sophisticated than the last time you shopped for an ATS. Here are some clues that it’s time to upgrade.
Your ATS Doesn’t Allow You to Customize It
You need more than a resume and cover letter to make an informed decision about an applicant. Depending on your industry, you might require certifications or licenses. You might need to ask highly specific questions to screen applicants. When you ask questions, you need to ensure that the answers make sense. There will be times you want to require certain information be entered, and others where you want to allow for more free-form types of answers. You’ll need to consider compliance restrictions relevant to your industry. Finally, you need to collect certain demographic information related to non-discrimination.
You Have Applicant Information in Multiple, Non-Compatible Systems
Isn’t it great when your systems work together? It’s no different with your ATS. You may want to easily pull information across your payroll system, or use it to schedule interviews, or even handle video calls. You waste valuable staff time by entering things in multiple places. Worse, you risk losing track of certain applicant information if it falls between the cracks. A sophisticated, newer ATS should allow you to keep everything in one place.
Applicants are Bailing Out of the Application Process
Companies tend to focus a lot on how they use their ATS. Make sure you know how your applicants experience it, too. If you don’t provide a good user experience, you won’t get the best applicants. Ideally, your system offers analytics that offer insight into that experience. If you see that many more applicants are starting the application process than are finishing, that’s your primary indicator of a problem. Whether they get confused or simply run out of patience, candidates can easily give up on a bad ATS.
Remember, each applicant may be applying to a lot of positions--not just yours. They want to make the most of their time. Make it intuitive on how and where to upload documents and also how to advance through the process. Keep the system from being too restrictive about what kinds of files a person can upload. Consider, also, that many applicants will apply using a mobile device.
You’re Not in Compliance for All Countries Where You Do Business
Compliance is crucial in so many areas of your business. But with GDPR and other measures, and increasing internet privacy concerns, don’t skimp on safeguards. Consider all of the locations where your company does business and all the places where someone might encounter your job listing. Your best applicants might not come from down the street.
You’re Ready to Move from On-Premise to SaaS
Many companies make the switch for the benefits of moving to the cloud, rather than because of the software itself. Cloud services stand to save you time and money. You can eliminate some IT costs by hosting your software offsite. Plus, your SaaS provider will install updates and keep things running smoothly for you. If you have already moved your CMS, your data storage, or other assets to the cloud, it makes sense to move your ATS, too. Find the option that meets all of your needs.