The Biggest Misconceptions Around Applicant Tracking Systems

Do you have an applicant tracking system in your organisation? If so, you may have experienced the undeniable benefits of automating the recruitment process. However, there are also certain common misconceptions about applicant tracking systems that can lead to confusion and mismanagement. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and debunk some of the most common misconceptions about the software.

How does an Applicant Tracking System Work? 

Online recruitment is the practice of using technology for tasks involved with finding, attracting, assessing, interviewing and hiring new personnel. Applicant Tracking Systems are used to manage and streamline the recruitment process, providing an end-to-end service that can deliver huge cost savings whilst improving quality and time to hire. An ATS improves recruitment and talent team productivity by removing the manual and time-consuming tasks that lend themselves to automation.

In short, an ATS works across the recruitment process:

• From raising a new recruitment request accurately that includes information about the position, such as the job title, desired skills, and required experience, to then getting the correct approvals and authorisation to recruit.
• To advertising vacancies on your careers site, social channels and relevant job boards and ensuring that candidate applications can be made easily. The ATS then CV parses, screens, and ranks a candidate based on how well they match the requirements.
•  Recruiters, Talent Teams and Hiring Managers can then quickly identify the most suitably matched candidates and move them forward in the hiring process, track progress and easily communicate and nurture candidates through automated emails or messaging systems.
• Evaluating and assessing candidates and managing the interview process are all possible with an ATS, as is managing the entire onboarding process online, from automated reference collection, to offer acceptance and document signing.

Misconceptions Around Applicant Tracking Systems 

One of the most common myths is that only large organisations use ATS software to manage their recruitment processes. This isn’t true. While larger companies often have more advanced workflows and system requirements, SMEs can benefit from using an ATS just as much as their bigger counterparts. Even if you don’t have a dedicated Recruitment team or HR department, you can still reap the benefits of using an ATS to manage your recruitment process, improve candidate experience and deliver productivity gains. This free research report on candidate sourcing channels shows the use ATS and other sourcing channels by company size and industry. 

Another misconception is that using an ATS means you have to use the in-built templates for job descriptions, applications and assessments. While some of the features built into an ATS are designed to help streamline processes and make sure they remain consistent, an ATS system should give you plenty of flexibility when it comes to creating and customising job postings, forms, recruitment workflows and the customisation for how best to connect candidates with your vacancies.

Finally, there is often a belief that Applicant Tracking Systems are difficult to learn and use. The truth is that while there may be an initial learning curve involved in mastering all of the features available on any particular system, many ATS providers offer comprehensive training courses and tutorials that are often free.

An ATS should be intuitive in its use and have access to a team for support. Forward-thinking ATS platforms are agile and provide ownership of the recruitment platform into a customer's hands to adapt recruitment workflows and unlock additional business value.

Overall, Applicant Tracking Systems provide a great way for recruiters and hiring managers to manage their recruitment processes in an efficient and organised manner. By understanding the common misconceptions that exist around ATS software, you can ensure that you make the most of this powerful tool.

Contact Eploy for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

At Eploy, we offer highly configurable Applicant Tracking Systems designed to help you find the best candidates for every job opening. Get in touch with our specialist team at Eploy to find out how we can help you meet your recruitment goals.