Hiring new staff can feel overwhelming, but the goal is to simplify the process, right?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) helps with this.

It streamlines the hiring process by automating how you collect, sort, and manage job applications.

In other words, it changes how you hire people and saves you time.

So, keep reading to learn more about what is an Applicant Tracking System (or ATS)

What is an Applicant Tracking System?

Imagine a central place to store job and applicant information, that’s an ATS.

In short, an Applicant Tracking System is a software tool that helps organizations manage their hiring process.

It makes it easier to handle many job applications, especially for HR departments or companies dedicated to recruiting staff for other companies.

You can start creating job postings, collecting applications, screening candidates, and selecting applicants and more.

It’s pretty much got everything you need.

However, if you’re looking for a job, just a heads up that the ATS lets employers filter resumes by certain keywords.

So, the most relevant resumes are what land in the hands of hiring managers for a closer look.

Key Functions of an ATS

✅ Job Posting: The ATS allows users to create job postings and share them on job boards, social media, and company websites.

✅ Resume Screening: The system checks resumes for keywords to find important information.

✅ Management: You can track job candidates and their application status throughout the hiring pipeline.

✅ Collaboration: Team members can work together within the ATS by leaving notes and feedback on candidates.

✅ Background Checks: Some ATS solutions include integrated background check services such as employment history, education credentials, criminal records, and other pertinent information.

✅ Reporting: Many ATS systems provide analytics and reporting features to help organizations monitor key metrics.

How Does an ATS Work?

Using an ATS is pretty straightforward:

1. First, you create job listings in the ATS and with just one click, you can send them out to different job boards.

2. Candidates can easily toss their resumes and cover letters online.

3. The ATS collects all this info and keeps it in one central store.

4. The system checks out resumes to pull out important details like work experience, education, skills, and contact information.

5. Then, using the keywords and criteria you set, the ATS ranks candidates so you can easily find the best fits for the job.

6. Finally, you can use the ATS to schedule interviews and give feedback on candidates.

If you are planning to hire IT professionals, we recommend trying TheDevBlock, as the process to find the right candidate is simple and has proven results.

The Future of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Right now, ATS are advanced, but new trends are coming that will make your recruitment process even easier.

The most obvious one: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to improve resume screening.

These systems will get a better grip on the context and details of candidate profiles, making it less likely for them to overlook qualified candidates due to keyword mismatches.

But AI will do more, as it will analyze past hiring data to predict which candidates are likely to succeed based on previous hires.

We can also expect that ATS will use chatbots to chat with candidates while they’re going through the application process.

In Summary 

So, what is an Applicant Tracking System?

We could summarize it as a tool for companies that want to hire efficiently and effectively.

If you are hiring for your own company or providing management services and staff augmentation, an ATS will make your job easier.

You can make a lot of the hiring process run on autopilot to save yourself some time.

And with AI technology advancing, the hiring process will become even easier, helping you find the right match.

In the meantime, we invite you to try TheDevBlock to hire skilled IT professionals.