How Employers Use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

How Employers Use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)How Employers Use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS), also known as talent management systems, to process job applications and to manage the hiring process. They provide an automated way for companies to manage the entire recruiting process, from receiving applications to hiring employees. The information in the database is used for screening candidates, applicant testing, scheduling interviews, managing the hiring process, checking references, and completing new-hire paperwork. How Applicant Tracking Systems Work When applicants apply for a job online, their contact information, experience, educational background, resume, and cover letter are uploaded into the database. The information then can be transferred from one component of the system to aleidher as candidates move through the hiring process. The system allows company recruiters to review the applications, sends applicants a utomated messages letting them know their applications have been received, and gives online tests. Hiring managers can schedule interviews and mail rejection letters through the ATS. Finally, human resources personnel can use the same information to put individuals on the payroll once they are hired. These integrated systems streamline the recruiting and application process for employers. Streamlining the Process Using an ATS can help save both time and money. Information from applicants is uploaded and organized in a database, making it easily accessible and searchable for human resources professionals. Because the information is collected and organized digitally and automatically, companies do not have to pay for the additional time taken by sorting and filing paper applications. Some systems also can save time for job applicants. Many employers use systems that allow job applicants to upload their vital information, work histories, education, and references directly from thei r profiles on websites like LinkedIn or Indeed. While job applicants obviously need to cater different applications to different positions, being able to bypass the tedious process of retyping this information for every application is a valuable time saver. Tracking the Process Applicant tracking systems allow companies to track where candidates found the job posting- on a job board, directly from a company website, through a referral, or from another source. This can be important information that allows employers to focus their recruiting on the areas where the data shows they have the fruchtwein success or find the most desirable candidates while reducing or eliminating efforts in areas that show little success. Drawbacks However beneficial an applicant tracking system can be, there often are drawbacks employers need to consider. Systems are designed to look for specific keywords and types of backgrounds for advertised positions, meaning good candidates who are switching c areers might slip through the cracks of the system and not get noticed. There also can be technical issues. Some systems will eliminate candidates if they cant interpret a scanned resume properly. This can happen if a resume looks slightly different than what the system is programmed to understand or if the resume is more complex than it can interpret. Tips for Candidates If youre applying for a job through an online form, assume that your resume is entering an applicant tracking system. To increase your chances of making it through the ATS and to a recruiters inbox, optimize your application Follow instructions. Perhaps the most important thing you can do to make sure your resume makes it to a human being is to follow instructions exactly. That means including the right documents (resume, cover letter, samples, etc.) and the right document type (in other words, dont send a portable document format if the instructions specify a Word doc). Use keywords. Keywords are terms that r elate to job requirements. To make sure that your resume is filtered correctly, use the exact keywords from the job advertisement. For example, if the job description calls for someone with experience in Microsoft Word, dont put Microsoft Office. A human can look at that descriptor and understand that is includes Word, as well as other applications, but a bot might miss it. Dont get fancy. Nows not the time for your infographic resume. In fact, even a PDF might be too slick for the system. Follow the instructions and send the exact file type specified. Choose a standard resume format and font. Align your text to the left and set 1-inch margins. Remember, you have to get through the ATS before you can impress a hiring manager. Dont make any formatting choices that will work against you.