What Is An Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
An Applicant Tracking System is an online platform used by recruiters and in-house HR teams to screen candidates during the recruitment process. The platform allows candidates to be entered into the system and have their progress from job application to onboarding tracked. It also acts as a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool to allow recruiters to keep on top of each candidate’s application journey and to maintain communication at each hiring stage.
An ATS can parse or migrate data from candidate resumes submitted via online job boards which are added to the central database. A good ATS can greatly improve the candidate hiring process, decreasing the amount of time it takes to make a hire and increasing the productivity of the recruiter enabling them to fill more jobs. Newer platforms integrate third-party providers to bring a greater degree of flexibility to the core system, from background checks to payroll services.
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a human resources software that acts as a database for job applicants. ATS are used by companies of all sizes to organize, search, and communicate with large groups of applicants.
The main goal of an ATS is to make life easier for recruiters and hiring managers. Companies often hire for multiple positions at once and receive hundreds if not thousands of applicants for each job opening. When a recruiter or hiring manager receives that many resumes, it’s not feasible for them to carefully read each one.
ATS makes searching easier—or even automated—saving time while avoiding human error.
As an applicant, you should optimize and tailor your resume to the job for which you’re applying.