An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a Human Resource (HR) management tool companies use to streamline job recruitment by automation. Part of the process of implementing an ATS involves vendors building a custom career page where clients post their jobs and candidates apply online. Depending on the ATS vendor, companies can also post positions to third party job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter to expand audience reach and increase candidate flow. With this comes the candidate’s perspective and experience while applying. According to a study conducted by CareerBuilder, 60% of job candidates abandon online job applications due to its complexity or length. Although companies cannot control the experience applicants face while applying on alternative websites, they can make sure their ATS vendor provides a seamless apply process with support to ensure a positive candidate experience that will protect company reputation.
Three things to remember when purchasing an applicant tracking system:
1) Preview the apply process & review options: Some ATS vendors offer job application template options where companies have the flexibility to choose apply processes that best fit their needs. Some employers require a lengthier and more in-depth application due to the nature of a job requisite, while others require a simple and easy process that includes basic information and attaching a resume file. Whatever the case, it’s important all apply processes are as convenient as possible, user-friendly, and most of all – working. Request the ATS vendor provide examples of apply processes and ask if its possible to apply as a mock candidate to view the candidate’s perspective. Also ensure that it’s possible to include customized questions that are job specific or essential due to internal company requirements.
2) Mobile Optimized Career Sites & Applications: According to a recent survey, 65 percent of people use their mobile phones to look for job opportunities. 55 percent cited this was due to convenience and 78 percent said they’d use their devices to apply for jobs more often if the process were more simplified. The latter is a reflection that many job candidates often run into obstacles while attempting to apply online on their smart devices. Without an innovative applicant tracking system that includes mobile responsive career sites and applications, companies are clearly missing out on a large source of talent. With millennials set to become the next big work force, it is crucial to cater to their method of seeking jobs.
3) Support: Customer support is a key element for recruiters and those responsible for sourcing job candidates. Sometimes job candidates are not technical savvy and may require some extra help, while others might have questions that can be addressed by a technical team. Without support from your ATS provider, companies with a large volume of job candidates risk an influx of requests and questions from candidates that can divert HR’s attention from important tasks in effort to assist applicants. Be sure your applicant tracking software provides applicant support in the form of live chat, call centers, and email ticket systems to serve as the buffer and resolution for all candidate inquiries and issues while applying.
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