Is your applicant tracking system (ATS) in dire need of an upgrade? You don’t have an ATS? Both of these situations hopelessly handicap you in a job market that is beyond competitive. An older ATS may not be as mobile-friendly, which could mean you’re missing many candidates who use their phones for just about everything. If you’re still keeping track of candidates on an Excel spreadsheet, you’re not just in danger of falling behind your competitors in the recruiting game—you already have.

This blog will help you understand what you’ve been missing in a modern ATS. The latest tools and features can help you find, communicate, and track job candidates (not just applicants) to create a better experience for everyone you encounter.

How Can an ATS Help You Find Better Candidates?

Signs Your ATS is Out of Date

Not having an ATS is just as bad as having one that’s out of date. Both situations seriously handicap you in a tight labor market where you simply can’t afford any more difficulties in finding talent. An ATS helps with sorting resumes but it also allows for a more efficient search process of tagging candidates with skill-related keywords so you can easily find them. A good ATS automates hiring, so candidates don’t go with long silences after they’ve applied to your company. This software also lets you see at a glance where you are in your hiring process. 

The signs your ATS isn’t up-to-date include:

  • Application abandoned by candidates.
  • You need other tools (like Excel) to complete hiring tasks.
  • You’re not receiving resumes via cell phones.
  • Your recruiting team hates using the tool.

Having the right ATS can make a big difference in your hiring process. How? Here are three examples.

Three Benefits of a Modern ATS

1. Handle applications.

At a bare minimum, an ATS should allow you to easily manage the resumes that flow into your system. Outdated platforms often lack the easy user-friendliness of modern tools. If your recruiting team hates the unwieldiness of your ATS, it’s a good sign that it’s time for an upgrade. If your managers need an IT person to run a report, you’ve got more serious problems. Look for an ATS that is intuitive to use with a minimum of clicks between functions. Managers should have an easy-to-understand dashboard and a slew of standardized and customizable reporting features. At Exelare, we believe your ATS should be a critical partner in your recruiting effort, not a necessary evil.

2. Integrate with your current tech stack.

Modern ATS platforms make use of sophisticated application program interfaces (ATS) that allow these tools to connect to your existing software. This can unify your tech stack in a way that makes basic tasks much more streamlined. Modern ATS platforms should integrate with:

  • Your careers page.
  • Email.
  • Sourcing platforms.
  • Job boards.
  • HR tools.
  • Pre-employment testing and background checks.
  • And more.

3. Allow you to brand the candidate experience.

From the applications page on your website to candidate communications, today’s ATS platforms help you attract candidates by branding your one-on-one communications with these job seekers. A modern ATS today can help you optimize your candidate experiences by branding at every level. It creates a more unified approach to what can be a disjointed application process. Then, the ATS can automate some of your communications so that the candidate doesn’t experience a long gap in hearing from you. They are more mobile-friendly, too. Today’s ATS platforms are the opposite experience that made applying for a job like throwing your resume down a dark well. Look for an ATS that helps build your brand with potential candidates. 

Ready to Use an ATS to Find Better Candidates?

Exelare offers all of these features—and more. Contact us to find out how we can help.