What is an ATS System?
ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It is the English name for what is also called a candidate tracking system.
An ATS System is used by recruiters to store applicants, track progress and automate processes. You can imagine that when you are professionally involved in recruitment , you have to process a lot of applications. An ATS System is ideal for keeping an overview and following up on all candidates properly. This increases the effectiveness of the recruiter. Because the candidate is better monitored, this should also improve the applicant's experience.
What does an Applicant Tracking System do?
Initially, an ATS System is a kind of card index in which all new applicants are automatically stored. The recruiter can track the status of the candidate per vacancy. This way you can see at a glance who you still need to invite for an interview, who has had an interview, and who you should send a proposal to or reject. You can imagine that this enormously improves the quality of the recruitment process.
In addition to keeping track of the status, you can also add candidates to a talent pool. Anyone who has the right qualities, but for whom you do not currently have a place, can still be approached for a job at a later time.
Automation via an ATS System
In addition to keeping track of the status of candidates, an ATS system usually offers numerous options for automating processes. The simplest form of automation is sending a confirmation of receipt. However, many ATS Systems go much further, they can automatically screen CVs and automatically invite or reject candidates. This is of course next level , and you really have to set this up very well. Otherwise, the automation processes will harm rather than add value. However, if this is properly set up, you can imagine that this can save a lot of time and money.
Links
In addition to being able to automate processes, you can also link many other systems to your ATS. Perhaps the most used functionality in a recruitment system is the link between the careers site and the recruitment system. Many recruitment systems even offer complete career sites. If someone applies via the form on the site, the applicant will automatically be classified under the correct label in the ATS System.
However, our experience with career sites supplied by ATS Systems is fairly limited. It is often better to develop a career site and link it to your system.
You can also link your ATS with various job sites and many systems already have such a link as standard. This way you can automatically publish a vacancy wherever you want, or at the touch of a button. Because the supplier of the ATS system often makes deals with the various job sites, you can often purchase cheaper via your ATS than advertising directly on a job site.
If you use other systems, you can often connect them. For example, consider a tool to receive feedback, but also your email program to send newsletters, or your back office system to send invoices.
The above-mentioned functionality is already integrated as standard in many systems. If you purchase an ATS System, you can often choose whether you will use the standard functionality of the ATS, or whether you decide to keep your current system and connect it.
Make sure that you do not pay extra for parts that you will not use. Sometimes you can choose to turn certain modules on or off, but that is not always possible. Above we already gave the example of the careers site. The functionalities of, for example, a professional email tool are often much more extensive than what the ATS offers.
Multiple target groups for an ATS System
In the world of recruitment there is always a division between recruitment agencies and in-house/ corporate recruiters . It is the same with ATS Systems. One system is more suitable for companies, and the other more for recruitment agencies. Then of course you also have the employment agencies and secondment companies. Everyone has their own wishes. While it is essential for secondments and employment agencies to be able to keep track of the hours and invoice them directly, this is of course not an issue for a corporate recruiter. Take this into account if you purchase an ATS System and make sure that your ATS is made for the purpose for which you will use the system.
Hopefully you enjoyed reading it. If you, as a corporate recruiter, would like to fill your ATS system with candidates for a fixed, low amount per month, please contact us!