What is applicant tracking software?

Applicant tracking software is a specialist piece of software designed specifically with recruitment and the needs of recruiters and employers in mind. As an industry-specific piece of software, an applicant tracking system allows anyone in charge of hiring to keep track of the details of candidates they’re working with. Specialist recruitment agencies can also use it to keep an eye on which companies they’re working with and where they’ve successfully placed candidates.

How can an applicant tracking system save you time?

Applicant tracking software is designed to help employers and recruiters hire the best applicants in the shortest possible time. Here are some of the main ways in which an applicant tracking system could help to save you time and money.

1. Quickly search candidate records

Applicant tracking software can give you the ability to quickly search through large numbers of candidate records. Good applicant tracking software will allow you to filter through stored CVs and profiles via multiple different subcategories. This means that you’ll rapidly be about to pick out candidates who would be particularly suitable for each specific role. Good applicant tracking software also gives you the ability to add additional information to candidate profiles, allowing you to use relevant keywords to rapidly search through your database.

2. Automate manual tasks

Another advantage of applicant tracking software is that it gives you the ability to automate tasks that need to be done repetitively. If you have a standard email that’s sent out to potential clients, for example, you’ll be able to save a template of this email that can be send out with only a few clicks of a button.

3. Store data in one place

A recruitment tracking system is the perfect way to streamline your data. By being able to store your data in the same place and in a standardised format, you’ll save yourself the task of having to trawl through unstructured data while trying to find the best candidate for each role.

4. Don’t get left behind

If you’re not yet making use of software that’s specific to the recruitment sector, you should be aware that you’re lagging behind the competition. Some 75% of recruitment agencies are already making use of applicant tracking systems to help them achieve the quickest possible turnarounds for their placement times. If you’re one of the 25% of agencies who still haven’t caught up, you could be losing out on placing great candidates who’ve already been snapped up by your competition.

Ultimately, as an industry-specific kind of software, applicant tracking systems are designed with the needs of industry users in mind. Whether you’re a recruiter or whether you’re in charge of hiring for your business, applicant tracking systems will help you to reduce the amount of time it takes to hire great candidates.