If you are into the recruiting industry, then without a doubt you are familiar with Applicant Tracking System or ATS. This is software that is used by Recruiters and Hiring Managers alike in many companies to get their Jobs filled as soon as possible. It is a software that has grown exponentially in popularity over the past few years as it has proven itself to be an indispensable tool for managers who are trying to find the right applicant for a specific job opening.
It may sound complicated but an ATS is really just a software that companies use to help them get the best applicants for job openings. That’s why companies love it, because it helps them to hire the best candidates quickly and easily.
How does it work?
Essentially, an applicant tracking system is a software application that helps companies manage the hiring process and automates the tasks involved in managing job descriptions, job applications, resume screening and candidate interviews.The first step in an applicant tracking system is to post jobs to your corporate website or popular job boards. Once candidates submit their resumes, they are searched against keywords related to the position. This can be done by either the company’s human resources department or by a third-party recruiting agency.
Applicant tracking systems often integrate with other human resource information systems (HRIS) to help automate basic tasks such as sending offer letters, onboarding new hires and collecting employment verification information from previous employers.
The features of an ATS
The functionality of an ATS varies according to the needs of the organization; basic systems are suitable for small businesses, while larger organizations may require a more complex system with additional features. Most companies prefer buying ATS instead of building one from scratch.
There are three major types of ATS: pre-recruitment, recruitment marketing, and post-employment. Pre-recruitment systems have many uses; they can be used to screen out candidates whose resumes don't match the job requirements or to see whether a candidate has been referred by an employee. They can also automatically score applicant resumes based on certain keywords or competencies. Recruitment marketing systems are used by companies to advertise their employer brand and attract talent. These systems are also used by recruiters to advertise open positions and find candidates who might be interested in applying for them. Post-employment ATS, also known as applicant tracking databases, help organizations organize new hires, maintain employee information and track labor law compliance.
Applicant tracking systems are not all created equal, but there are a few core functions that define the category.
Create and post job descriptions: ATSs let you create and store job descriptions for commonly open roles. You can then publish those descriptions to your career site or various job boards, depending on the platform. Some ATSs also offer a direct integration with popular job boards like Indeed, Monster, Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter, so you can simply click a button and post your job to select platforms.
Score incoming resumes against the job description: Once published, candidates will start applying to your jobs. The ATS should read incoming resumes against the job description and automatically score them based on how well they match the requirements you've listed in the description. As we'll touch on below, this score is not always perfect — some candidates who are great fits for a role may be filtered out if their resumes don't contain certain keywords or phrases — but it's a huge time saver for recruiters because it helps you quickly identify the applicants most likely to be good matches for any given role.
Store candidate information and manage communication: Candidates can sometimes apply to multiple open roles within your organization at once via your career site or ATS-powered job board.
The features of The Flatwork: Hiring simplified for startups
I would like to introduce to you a brand new service, Flatwork, which serves as a great ATS in comparison to the systems available in the market right now. I will briefly outline some of the amazing features that we are offering to our users.
- Freelancer Job Listing: Clients being able to create job listings, sift through applicants, interview and hire for hourly or for projects.
- Payment Options and Service Selling
- Messaging: Client to Talent communication
- Talent/Service Search: Being able to search talents or services
- Direct Hire: Directly hiring a talent (only if it's enabled by Talent)
- Referral Model: Paying for the first job to the referrer
- Task & Time Tracking: Trello like board to view what the latest tasks are for better communication
Please keep track of our weekly blogs to find out more about ATS, recruitment features, and further information on Flatwork!
Takeaway: An applicant tracking system can simplify the application and hiring process for both job seekers and employers. ATS helps in multiple ways but it is critical that you get the right one for your organization., which is why www.theflatwork.com may be a great ATS solution to look into!
