Applicant Tracking Software Aids in Job Placement 

If you’ve ever worked with a recruiting agency as part of a job search, you’ve seen the enormous amount of information and data that has to be recorded, managed, and reported.  In today’s economy, there are many more applicants than available jobs, and applicants are likely to experience long wait periods before their skill set can be matched with an open position.  So how do companies keep track of all these idle job applications and resumes?  Many choose to utilize some form of applicant tracking software.  Each application or candidate profile is entered into an electronic database that is easy to update and search.  With good software, the qualified applicants will never fall through the cracks, which is a benefit to both the employer and employee parties.  The costs associated with installing and maintaining the software is minimal, and can easily replace two or three desk jobs if a company switches from paper to electronic files. 

Applicant Tracking Software Benefits 

Applicant tracking software makes handling and processing records orders of magnitudes more efficient.  Application dates can be found rapidly, and electronic calendars can check for candidate availability as long as each applicant keeps their profile updated.  The reports and recruitment tasks can all be automated by a good software package.  The computer can’t conduct the one-on-one interviews or replace your phone communications, but it does make the paperwork and follow-up go much more smoothly.  You can access contact information, print relevant resumes or reports, and forward lists of employees to companies that are looking to hire. 

Enough companies are using applicant tracking software in today’s market that recruiting companies can’t stay competitive without it.  As new job descriptions come in, the software cross-references the requirements with the large applicant pool to pull up a short list of the best possible matches.  This saves you the time and energy of sorting through thousands of resumes looking for the few qualified individuals to interview.

Costs Associated with Applicant Tracking Software 

Most applicant tracking software requires online hosting, so you will pay for a site license on a monthly basis.  Packages start as low as $39/month, but certain features, like restricted logins for managers and extended library capacity carry additional fees.  A large company with a database capacity of 20,000 job candidates can expect to pay $100/month for the tracking system.  This is a reasonable cost for a large company, but may not be appropriate for a business that is just starting.  Customizable options are available, but may require some additional searching online.  Be sure to choose a applicant tracking package that has the potential to grow as your business expands.

Get Your Software Up and Running 

Once you choose a software platform for your company, you can download the programs you need and install them on the appropriate computers.  When your payment has been received, you will get a confirmation code via email that you will have to enter in order to launch the program for the first time and set up all of your preferences.  You will need a live Internet connection, administrator permissions on the computer, and information about your job applicant pool.  If you have a pre-existing library, a technician can help you import the information into the new searchable library.  If you are building the pool from scratch, you can setup a template for easy processing.  If you are converting from a paper to electronic system, we recommend that you train three or four technicians to complete the data entry accurately and in a timely fashion so that you can resume control and get on with business as usual.