Deploying an ATS for the First Time? Here are 10 Things to Consider

Deploying an ATS for the First Time? Here are 10 Things to Consider

An ATS, or Applicant Tracking System, is a piece of software designed to make your life as an HR manager much easier. From scanning resumes to commencing the interview process, an ATS can help save you valuable time by simplifying the hiring process. It can help get you the best talent not only from your applicant pool, but also from their online presence. It can then store applicant information at all hiring stages, track their progress, and even store the resumes of unsuccessful applicants in case they suit a future opening.

But enough said about all the benefits of an ATS. Let’s take a look at the 10 most important things to consider when first deploying this software, shall we?

1. An ATS can rank your best candidates for the position

Applicant Tracking Systems not only filter the best candidates for the position, but also rank them in order of who might be the best fit. After having eliminated all potential hires that do not fit the job or might not have the necessary skills, ATS softwares can then see which candidate profiles fit the job description best. So you might just find your best fit in the top 5 of hundreds of applicants.

2. ATS softwares are objective

Because they operate using AI, Applicant Tracking Systems are objective in the best candidates they select. This means less human error. While a hiring manager may unknowingly favor a candidate who might have less experience but went to the same school as them, an ATS is very clear in its selection process. A risk here, of course, is too much automation. Make sure you do not limit the search to a small range of keywords, and you’re good to go.

3. There are options to pick from

Because every company is unique, an ATS won’t be a ‘one size fits all’ kind of experience. The most important thing to consider is whether the specific ATS software being used will actually alleviate your workload in the long term, rather than adding to it. Any integration stage, of course, will require extra effort. But after it’s set in place, the ATS should be saving you valuable time and optimizing the hiring process!

4. An ATS can help automate further steps in the hiring process

It’s not just the initial filtering, but also the rest of the hiring process that ATS softwares can help facilitate. They can be personalized to schedule interviews and to follow up with candidates, ensuring an individualized experience for potential hires while also saving time for employers.

5. ATS can reach out to candidates on your behalf

So, you have got a good number of applicants, but you still want to make sure you are not missing any top talent out there? An ATS has your back on this too. You can easily use the software to reach out to candidates on professional job sites or LinkedIn, minimizing not just FOMO but also the time spent on manually reaching out to suitable candidates.

6. The system can also allow for internal messaging

Let’s be honest. You and your fellow hiring manager see each other every single day, and you’re probably sick of giving each other notes on all the applicants. Well, an ATS can help solve this problem as well. It can make objective notes on candidate progress, as well as allowing for hiring managers to add in their own notes and to message each other on the platform. By having all information on a single platform, ATS reduces any potential confusion in the long run.

7. It all stays on the system

Unlike your desktop, an ATS software is able to store all previous data. So, if you have interviewed a candidate that is not the right fit at the moment, an ATS will be able to store all their data, such as their resume and interview notes, to bring them up as a potential hire in the future. This way you can consider unsuccessful candidates for future positions or alternative roles.

8. The role of an ATS can be extended into onboarding

While an ATS is most valuable during the initial stages of the hiring process, it can also help facilitate those final stages as well. If you opt for an Applicant Tracking System that also has onboarding support, you can easily transfer information between the different stages. The one thing to be careful about is that ATS softwares focusing on onboarding are often more heavily customizable, which means they might require more time and effort to be put into effect.

9. ATS can post across multiple platforms

Yet another thing that you no longer have to worry about thanks to ATS is posting jobs on different platforms. You can set ATS up to post the opening across a variety of different platforms, ensuring that you increase visibility and get a good number of applicants while reducing the amount of time you spend on exposure.

10. Applicants are increasingly aware of ATS

The final thing to consider is that applicants are now increasingly aware of the role of ATS in the hiring process. This means there will be more resumes tailored to target keywords and reach the top rankings. However, this is actually beneficial for the hiring managers as well: chances of top talent not making it to the final rounds due software incompatibilities is now increasingly low, that means that the applicants you see will actually be the best fit.

And there they are, the 10 things to know before deploying at ATS for the first time!