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Published January 13th, 2017 by

Applicant Tracking Software: What to Look for When Buying This Tool

Applicant Tracking Software What to Look for When Buying This Tool

The applicant tracking system (ATS), otherwise known as recruitment software, is an application used for improving the recruiting process. This tool is ideal for posting vacant jobs to the company’s official website or social media pages. Furthermore, it automatically screens résumés and produces interview invitations via email. Other components include personalized input forms, automated résumés ranking, pre-screening inquiries, and individual and requisition tracking.

As of today, many businesses use this software. For this reason, numerous companies are starting to develop this tool. If you’re looking for top applicant tracking software, then you’re in the right place! This post will give you some tips to follow when choosing this program, but first, you need to know if your firm will benefit from the applicant tracking system software.

Who Will Benefit From This Program?

According to Beamery.com, 6 out of 10 companies are investing in getting hiring software. The reason is that they want to improve their recruitment process, but the question is – will everyone benefit from this system? Yes, of course! Anyone who uses this software will profit from this tool.

However, there are industries that will enjoy it more. Here are some of them.

  1. The Green Construction – Global warming is one of the biggest issues today. Thus, when the outgoing US President, Barack Obama, was elected, one of his promises was to promote green technologies. Thus, the number of the environmentally-friendly industries has increased.

Nowadays, you can buy eco-friendly windows, rooftops, and even appliances. These tools do not only save Mother Earth but also your money. However, with the increasing demands of eco-friendly devices and materials come with the lack of human capital. To keep up with consumers’ needs, they hire more employees to create their products.

This is where the recruiter software comes in handy. Because it streamlines the application process, it will be easier to hire people. There is no need to spend weeks to find the right person for the job. In just a few days, you will get the best person who fits the position.

  1. Health Care – The health care bill has affected the current systems of hospitals and clinics. In the said order, benefactors will get insurance so they can get a checkup for free. Thus, many people go to the hospital to get a checkup. With the number of patients they receive, it’s pretty hard to handle administrative work and to serve sufferers simultaneously. For this reason, the health care industry is hiring medical and administrative staff to serve the patients and to manage jobs.

In any field, finding the right person for the vacant position is not easy, butif you use the candidate tracking software, it will be easier to hire the right person. Because it automatically screens all résumés, it will be easier to contact the right individual for the job.

  1. Mobile Technology – According to a 2016 survey conducted by ComScore.com, there were 198.5 million users of smartphones in the US. This number continuously increases as the months go by. For this reason, mobile distributors and app developers are looking for highly skilled engineers and programmers. These people will help not only in producing more smartphones, but also in enhancing the features of these gadgets.

As of today, the world-renowned multinational corporation, Apple, has 116,000 employees in the US alone. It’s all thanks to its good reputation, and of course, the application software. With the help of this program, hiring staff members is much easier.

Of course, these aren’t the only industries that will benefit from this system. Even small-scale enterprises can use this tool. You simply need to get a program that fits your needs.

However, before selecting a software package, make sure you read some applicant tracking software reviews first. Otherwise, you might get the wrong system for your business.

Things to Look for During the Buying Process

Reading user reviews can be helpful in finding the right staffing software, but this advice is not enough. There are a few things that you need to do when getting this package. Below are some tips on how to choose top applicant software.

  1. Start Your Search

Obviously, the first thing you need to do is to search for ATS products. There are two ways that you can do in finding a package. First is through a web browser. It’s one of the easiest ways to find the right recruiting system. You simply need to type the keyword in the search box, and the result will appear.

The second thing that you can do is by asking for recommendations. You may ask your friends because they will suggest a brand that they use. If you don’t know anyone who uses this program, you may visit some review sites. Not only does it offer unbiased critiques, but also a list of some of the well-known ATS brands.

Once you have a list of the software products, you need to know the reputation of each vendor. Again, you may use the web browser to know the reliability of the provider. You may start your research from the third page of the search engine. Usually, it is where you will find some of the good and bad reviews on the internet.

However, using the search engine in knowing the credibility of the software will take a lot of time. Hence, if you want to make it easier. You may go back to the review pages that you visited earlier. Read the critiques and know the experiences of the users.

  1. Identify Your Needs

Once you have a list of the ATS products, you need to know the needs of your business. Ask yourself, “What features do I need to look for when searching for this product?” List them down as it will help you find a software application that fits your requirements.

Apart from the features, you may also need to consider your future needs. Remember that you will use the system for years. Therefore, you don’t want to buy a tool that can only solve a single issue. Otherwise, you only wasted your money on a useless piece of software.

Once you know your present and future needs, it’s time to continue your research. Go to the official pages of the software provider and know the features provided by each program. If the tool doesn’t have the functionality that you need, then you may remove it from your list. Repeat this procedure until you have eliminated all unnecessary software products.

Once you have narrowed down your list, look for a vendor who offers a free trial period. A free demo is a must when finding the right applicant tracking tool. It lets you experience the perks of the software before buying the program. With this offer, you will be able to decide whether or not you should get the system.

However, if the distributor doesn’t provide a free trial package, you need to think it over before you decide. Otherwise, you might get a tool that doesn’t provide all the features that you want.

  1. Ease of Use

The reason you want to buy an applicant tracking system is you want to increase the efficiency of the hiringprocess. Hence, usability is an essential factor when buying this package. To know the usefulness of the program, you may ask the people who are using this tool. If the recruiter likes the tool, but the manager doesn’t, then you may need to ditch the software.

  1. How Long Will You Use the System?

One of the common mistakes of buyers is they consider the program as a short-term solution. It’s because technology develops rapidly; hence, considering it as a long-term solution is not needed. This reason is unacceptable. Yes, technology changes in a blink of an eye, butit doesn’t mean that you have to get a tool that only fits your short-term needs.

When buying this system for recruiting, you have to consider your long-term goals as well. In that way, you don’t need to change your software yearly. Consequently, you will be able to save money and use it for the future needs of your company.

  1. Best Practices or Customization?

Customization was yesterday’s trend. Nowadays, buyers are looking for methods used by the software. The reason behind is that they want to focus on hiring new people than learning how to use the software. Thus, when getting the right package, make sure you check the approaches used by the program. In that way, you don’t have to spend hours in learning the new system.

  1. Get the Best Deal

When you’re on a tight budget, surely, you want to get the best deal. However, it’s hard to find a reliable applicant tracking tool at an affordable price because most of them are expensive. If you know how to negotiate, then you will get the right program that fits your budget.

Finding the right software product for recruiting is never easy. However, if you follow these pointers, then it will be easier to get the best program that is suitable with your needs.

Are you looking for top applicant tracking software products? Go to CrowdReviews.com and read our reviews of applicant tracking software.

Our rankings are completely independent, transparent, and community driven; they are based on user reviews and client sentiment. These applicant tracking companies had to earn their way up and didn't just pay their way up.

View Rankings of Best Applicant Tracking Companies