What Is An ATS?

Key Insights You Should Know About Applicant Tracking Systems

You spend hours perfecting your resume and making sure to highlight all your skills, experience, and achievements.

After all, these are the crucial things that will help you in your job hunting.?

But after all the hard work, you are still not getting enough job interviews, even if you are qualified for all of them. right??

When you submit or upload your resume, it is important to note that it may not be immediately reviewed by a human being. Instead, it typically undergoes an initial screening process conducted by a computer or software known as an Applicant Tracking System. Yes, you heard it right, in fact, there is more possibility that your resume might not even go to a human ever! This is because,?with each passing day, more and more employers are using applicant tracking systems to screen resumes of applicants.

What is an ATS?

An applicant tracking system is computer software that is specially designed to scan resumes for certain selected keywords and extracts those which don't match the job descriptions.?

So if you wish for your resume to get into the hands of a human, you need to optimize it according to the Applicant tracking system.?

In this article, we are going to discuss the things that you need to know about ATS, including what they are, how they work, and how you can make your resume ATS-friendly to beat them.?

About ATS

The hiring process can be time-consuming for recruiters and applicants as well.

But to make the hiring experience smoother, many companies and recruiters have switched to Applicant Tracking Systems.?

An ATS is a computer software program that easily manages the hiring process. It does this by collecting a vast amount of data and sorting thousands of resumes.?

Hiring managers can utilize the ATS to screen applicants and track their progress throughout the hiring process. By digitizing the hiring process in this manner, an ATS effectively saves employers both time and money.

How does the Applicant tracking system work?

A job requirement enters into the ATS. It consists of job title, qualifications, desired skills, and experience.

The ATS then uses this information to create an ideal applicant profile.?

?As the applicants start to submit their resumes, ATS starts performing its job and sorting out the perfect match for the job description.?

At last, the hiring managers quickly evaluate the most ideal and qualified candidate and then further pass them to the hiring process.

The most special feature is that the recruiters can put filters for a particular job title and job skill.?

For example, a recruiter has posted a job for “assistant lab manager” and there are 300 resumes, their first and foremost step is to search for the term “lab manager”. This will extract the applicant that has the exact skill and experience for this job.?

Also, anyone that doesn’t have the exact same term will not be eligible for the job post!

This eventually means that if you predict the exact resume keywords that the recruiter will use to post a job then there are higher chances that you will get into the hiring process. But the best part is you don't need to search for the resume keywords. All the work you have to do is to analyze the keyword from the job description you have applied for.

Key features of an applicant tracking system

The applicant tracking system makes it easier for applicants to apply for a particular job position, without having to log in. This means that employers and companies have the chance to go through a large pool of applicants and get the best talent.?

• Resume Parsing: ATS software can automatically extract and parse relevant information from resumes, such as contact details, work experience, education, skills, and qualifications. This helps recruiters and hiring managers quickly review and search through a large volume of resumes.
• Job Posting and Distribution: ATS software allows users to create and post job openings on various job boards, career websites, and social media platforms. It simplifies the process of distributing job listings across multiple channels, reaching a broader pool of potential candidates.?
• Candidate Database and Search: ATS software maintains a centralized database of candidate profiles and resumes. Recruiters can search and filter through the database based on specific criteria, such as skills, experience, location, or education. This feature enables efficient candidate sourcing and helps identify suitable candidates for current and future job openings.
• Customised Application Forms: ATS software often provides tools to create customized application forms or questionnaires. These forms can be tailored to gather specific information from candidates, such as additional qualifications, work samples, or assessments. The software automates the collection and organization of this data for easy review
• Collaboration and Communication: ATS software facilitates collaboration among team members involved in the hiring process. It allows users to leave comments, rate candidates, and share feedback within the system. ATS software also provides communication features like email templates, interview scheduling, and automated status updates to keep candidates informed about their application progress.
• Screening and Evaluation: ATS software often includes screening capabilities to filter out unqualified candidates. It can automatically rank and score resumes based on predefined criteria, such as keywords, experience, or qualifications. This helps recruiters quickly identify the most promising candidates and focus their attention on those who best match the job requirements.
• Interview Management: ATS software offers tools to schedule and manage interviews with candidates. It can integrate with calendars and send automated interview invitations and reminders. Some ATS platforms even provide video interview capabilities, allowing for remote or pre-recorded interviews.
• Reporting and Analytics: ATS software generates reports and analytics to provide insights into the recruitment process. These can include metrics such as time-to-hire, source of hire, applicant flow, and diversity statistics. The data helps recruiters assess the effectiveness of their recruitment strategies and make data-driven decisions.
• Compliance and Data Security: ATS software often includes features to ensure compliance with labor laws and data privacy regulations. It provides data security measures to protect sensitive candidate information and allows for easy deletion or anonymization of data when required.?

How accurate is ATS Software?

ATS software can indeed save recruiters time and effort in the hiring process. Recent studies have confirmed that ATS systems primarily focus on extracting keywords from the job description and job title. Other keywords related to skills, qualifications, and experience may not be given as much weight by the ATS. However, candidates can optimize their resumes by incorporating the exact keywords found in the job description and job title. By doing so, their resumes are more likely to align with the algorithms used by the Applicant Tracking System. This increases the chances of being recognized and selected by the ATS during the initial screening process.

Who uses ATS?

Many large organizations utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to streamline the hiring process, making it more efficient.?

As a result, when applying to a large organization, there is a high likelihood that your application will be processed through an ATS. Similarly, when applying for online jobs, the use of an ATS is also prevalent. Additionally, job sites like Avua have their own integrated ATS to manage and track applications.

Why do employers use ATS?

As we all know, today’s employers are facing difficulty when it comes to hiring new employees.

This is because today’s technology has made it very easy for job seekers to submit applications, so they submit them to a great extent. However, plenty of job seekers are unqualified for that job post but they found that “it was worth the try”

Future of applicant tracking system

There is no doubt that artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the world of recruitment. Already, Artificial intelligence-powered Applicant tracking software is screening resumes, Recognizing potential applicants and even holding first-round interviews. So far as AI is evolving, it’s likely that applicant-tracking software will become even more convenient to use.

Conclusion

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) has revolutionized the hiring process by automating tasks such as resume parsing and interview scheduling, resulting in time and cost savings for employers. To increase your chances of standing out, it is important to customize your resume with relevant keywords from the job description. ATS software provides collaboration tools, screening capabilities, and reporting features. As AI continues to advance, ATS will have an even greater impact, automating tasks like resume screening and initial interviews. Understanding and optimizing for ATS can significantly improve your prospects in today's competitive job market. It is crucial to adapt to the evolving ATS landscape to enhance your visibility and access better job opportunities.