Should you hire without an Applicant Tracking System?

In today’s fast-paced world of recruitment, many small to medium-sized enterprises complete their recruitment activities without an applicant tracking system. Understandably, ATS systems can be expensive, costing upwards of $100 per month for the most basic features. Even more expensive ones offer sophisticated add-ons, which are great for high-volume recruitment, but less so for smaller organisations with fewer positions to fill.

The general consensus is that most businesses will need an ATS to keep on top of recruitment – even if they don’t have a recruitment team – but might not need all the bells and whistles attached. Here are 5 non-negotiable features you must have for your recruitment applicant tracking system:

1. A central information source

When you post your job online, you need to collect all of your applications in one place. Important need-to-have information includes candidate resumes, contact information, and date of application. This makes it easier when shortlisting candidates and deciding who to interview.

2. Interview scheduling tool

Whether you will interview candidates in-person or electronically, it is important to be sure the time is locked in. Miscommunication in this area can result in unexpected visitors at best, and at worst, candidates being left waiting. First impressions count from both sides, so it is essential to keep track of your interview schedule.

3. Cloud-based functionality

As our jobs become more remote, it is important to have cross-platform functionality. For your ATS, this means you shouldn’t have to sit at your computer to review applications and do phone screens. Cloud-based systems ensure that you can recruit on the go, using your mobile.

4. Referral tracking

Employee referrals are the future of talent acquisition and retention, though it is incredibly easy to make a mistake in this area. If your ATS does not track referrals, you may overlook promising talent, lose track of important referral paperwork, and lose the trust of your workforce.

5. LinkedIn integration

Not many ATS systems offer LinkedIn integration, which means that you could be missing out on applications from candidates on the go. Relating back to increased mobility, candidates are more mobile than ever, and the traditional application form is dying out. Candidates should be able to apply for your role quickly and efficiently, simply by logging in with their LinkedIn account.

Although there are many strong opinions out there regarding the “must have” ATS capabilities, we strongly believe that these 5 should be essential to the future of hiring. With all of these capabilities built in, it might be a good idea to try KindReff for your hiring needs.