Exploring 10 Popular Applicant Tracking Systems for Recruitment

Hiring can get pretty hectic, especially when you’re juggling multiple job openings and sifting through hundreds of resumes. Imagine trying to find the perfect candidates for seven different positions each month, requiring around 980 applicants in total to find the right fit based on a 2023 study. It sounds overwhelming, right? This is where an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) comes into play. It’s a tool designed to make your hiring process smoother and more efficient, helping you keep track of all those applications and more. With an ATS, you can streamline the recruitment workflow, enhance the candidate experience, and make data-driven decisions to ensure you’re not just filling positions but finding the best match for your company. Stick around to discover popular ATS systems and how they can make your recruitment efforts a lot less stressful and more effective.

What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

Hiring new talent is streamlined with applicant tracking systems (ATS). ATS software oversees the hiring procedure, including hosting career pages and organizing interviews. By gathering, categorizing, and organizing applicant resumes, these systems assist recruiters in reducing the time spent reviewing resumes and interviewing candidates. They maintain candidate information in a centralized system of records so that talent pools may be built.

HR departments frequently use ATS to streamline candidate qualification and increase hiring process efficiency. Certain ATS tools for recruitment also offer job advertising options and candidate relationship management tools to HR professionals and recruiters. ATS recruiting software can be a stand-alone solution or a comprehensive HR management suite component. Integrating onboarding and recruiting marketing tools can create a talent acquisition suite.

For a product to be eligible for the ATS category, it must:

1. Gather, classify, and examine resumes and any related candidate data.
2. Organise talent pools with a personalized methodology
3. Ensure that the candidate and the hiring manager or recruiter can communicate

Why Does Your Business Need an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

As already defined, an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is essential for businesses due to its comprehensive capabilities in managing and enhancing the recruitment process. Here’s a breakdown how an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) benefits your business, including future growth projections:

1. Streamlines Hiring: Automates sorting and filtering candidates, saving you from manual resume reviews.
2. Identifies Top Talent: Matches candidate skills with job requirements, ensuring you find the best fit.
3. Improved Candidate Experience: An ATS can help you provide a better candidate experience by streamlining the application process and providing timely feedback to candidates. This can help you attract and retain top talent and enhance your employer brand.
4. Efficiency in Recruitment: By significantly diminishing the burden of routine recruitment tasks, it opens up opportunities for deeper strategic planning and decision-making, ensuring a more focused approach to attracting and securing top talent.
5. Data-Driven Decisions with ATS:  Offers real-time ATS Integration and Analytics for tracking metrics like time-to-hire and cost-per-hire, optimizing recruitment strategies.
6. Supports Business Growth: Helps hire talent with specific skills, like project planning or financial advisement, quickly and effectively.
7. ATS Customization: ATS customization lets companies tweak the software to fit their specific hiring needs and workflow, improving the recruitment process’s efficiency and effectiveness.
8. Future-Proofing: The ATS market is expected to grow at a 6.2% CAGR from 2022 to 2030, highlighting the importance of choosing the right system for your needs.

Top 10 Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Picks for Your Hiring Success

Here are the top 10 popular ATS systems poised to transform and elevate your hiring process. Each one is crafted to help you effortlessly discover and engage with the best talent, ensuring your recruitment efforts lead to success.

1. Zoho Recruit

Zoho Recruit is a cloud-based ATS recognized as one of the best ATS solutions available, streamlining the recruitment process for organizations of all sizes. 

Key Features:

1. Resume Parsing: Automates the extraction of applicant information.
2. Social Recruiting: Leverages social media for sourcing candidates.
3. Job Posting: Simplifies the process of listing openings on multiple platforms.
4. Applicant Tracking: Seamlessly track each applicant’s status throughout the recruitment process, from initial application to final decision.

2. Workable

Workable is one of the popular ATS systems that streamlines your hiring process with its user-friendly AI-powered ATS tools. 

Key Features:

1. AI-Powered Job Posting: Targets the right candidates efficiently.
2. Candidate Database: Access a vast pool of potential hires.
3. Collaborative Hiring: Enables team members to share feedback and make decisions together, enhancing the selection process.

3. Breezy HR

Breezy HR is an all-in-one recruiting solution that allows you to manage your entire recruitment process from one platform. 

Key Features:

1. Comprehensive Solution: Offers end-to-end recruitment management.
2. Automated Interview Scheduling: Coordinates interviews effortlessly.
3. Candidate CRM: Organizes candidate information for easy access. 
4. Multi-Channel Sourcing: Broadens your search for top talent by reaching candidates through various channels, increasing the likelihood of finding the perfect match.

4. Oorwin

Oorwin is one of the best Application Tracking Systems that offers a range of features to streamline your recruitment process. With Oorwin, you can manage your entire recruitment process, from job posting to onboarding, all from one platform. This ATS is designed to help you save time and reduce the workload of your HR team.

Key Features:

1. Resume Parsing and Candidate Tracking: Streamlines candidate evaluation.
2. Interview Scheduling: Facilitates easy arrangement of interviews.
3. Candidate Relationship Management (CRM): Maintains engagement with potential hires.
4. AI-Powered Candidate Matching: Quickly identifies the most suitable candidates. 
5. Analytics and Reporting: Provides insights into hiring performance, enabling data-driven improvements to your recruitment strategy.

5. Greenhouse

Greenhouse ATS stands out for midsized businesses with its user-friendly design and innovative features. It’s built to optimize hiring by enhancing engagement with top talent and supporting organizational growth through effective recruitment strategies. 

Key Features: 

1. World-Class Support: Exceptional customer service to help you maximize the use of the system.
2. Job Advertising: Broaden your reach to attract diverse candidates.
3. Automated Workflows: Streamline recruitment processes for efficiency and consistency.

6. Freshteam

Freshteam is tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, offering a user-friendly ATS that simplifies the recruitment process. It’s designed to make candidate tracking and hiring seamless.

Key Features:

1. Candidate Tracking: Keeps tabs on applicants throughout the hiring cycle.
2. Interview Scheduling: Streamlines the interview setup process.

7. BambooHR

BambooHR combines comprehensive HR functionalities with an ATS module, which is ideal for creating custom recruiting workflows.

Key Features:

1. Custom Recruiting Workflows: Tailors the hiring process to your specific needs.
2. Interview Scheduling: Organizes interviews efficiently.

8. SmartRecruiters

SmartRecruiters is an ATS that combines applicant tracking, candidate sourcing, and recruitment marketing into one platform. 

Key Features:

1. Automated Resume Screening: Filters candidates automatically.
2. Candidate Matching: Identifies ideal candidates effortlessly.

9. Lever

Lever is an ATS that allows you to manage your entire recruitment process from one platform. 

Key Features:

1. Collaborative Hiring: Facilitates team involvement in the hiring decisions.
2. Candidate Relationship Management: Builds and maintains relationships with candidates.

10. iCIMS Talent Cloud

iCIMS Talent Cloud elevates the hiring process with its comprehensive ATS, emphasizing flexibility through customizable workflows. 

Key Features:

1. Applicant Tracking: Enhances efficiency in tracking candidate progress seamlessly.
2. Candidate Relationship Management: Keeps candidates engaged through better communication.
3. Onboarding: Streamlines the integration of new hires into the company.

How Do You Choose the Best ATS for Your Business

Choosing the right Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a pivotal decision that can greatly influence your recruitment’s efficiency and success. Here are essential factors to consider when picking the best ATS to enhance your hiring process.

Understand Your Recruitment Needs

Begin by thoroughly assessing your organization’s recruitment necessities. Take into account your company’s size, hiring volume, the intricacies of your hiring procedures, and any specific needs. Pinpoint the shortcomings in your current recruitment strategy that you aim for the ATS to solve.

Establish Your Budget

Identify your financial allocation for an ATS. With a variety of pricing structures available, understanding your budget will assist in narrowing down your choices.

Identify Necessary Features

Compile a list of critical features your ATS must have. Essential functionalities often include resume scanning, a candidate database, job posting capabilities, interview scheduling, collaborative tools, analytics and reporting, and integration with other HR systems.

Evaluate User Experience

Ensure the ATS is intuitive and straightforward for both recruiters and applicants. An ATS that is difficult to navigate can hinder the recruitment process.

Customization Capabilities

Opt for an ATS that can be tailored to your organization’s unique hiring procedures and workflows. The ability to customize is crucial for adapting the system to meet your needs.

Integration with Other Systems

Assess the ATS’s compatibility with other HR systems, such as HRIS, payroll, and job boards. Smooth integration can streamline processes and minimize manual data entry errors.

Data Security and Regulatory Compliance

Verify that the ATS adheres to data protection laws, particularly if you process sensitive candidate information. Look for features such as data encryption, controlled access, and compliance with regulations like GDPR.

Support and Training from the Vendor

Investigate the vendor’s customer support and training offerings. Access to a dedicated support team and extensive training materials can be crucial for effective implementation and ongoing operation.

System Scalability

Select an ATS that can scale with your organization, capable of accommodating growing hiring needs as your company expands.

User Reviews and Feedback

Consult reviews and feedback from existing ATS users to gain insight into their experiences with the system.

Demo and Trial Offers

Seek a demo or trial period to directly test the ATS’s functionality and determine if it meets your requirements. They allow you to interact with the ATS, assess its ease of use, and determine if it aligns with your recruitment needs and workflows.

Discover the power of Oorwin’s ATS for your hiring needs with a quick demo request. Transform your recruitment strategy effortlessly.

Support and Customer Service

Choose an ATS provider with excellent customer service and support. Look for providers that offer phone, email, and live chat support, as well as online resources like tutorials and user guides.

10 Must-have Features for Your Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is equipped with a variety of features designed to streamline and enhance the recruitment process. When evaluating potential ATS solutions, consider these critical functionalities:

1. AI and Automation Capabilities: Utilize artificial intelligence and automation to enhance efficiency and optimize recruitment workflows.
2. Resume Parsing Functionality: Automatically extract and organize information from resumes and applications for easier candidate assessment.
3. Job Posting Tools: Efficiently create and share job vacancies across multiple job boards and your company’s career page directly from the ATS.
4. Centralized Candidate Database: Maintain a searchable, centralized repository for all candidate profiles, facilitating easy access and retrieval.
5. Efficient Candidate Communication: Leverage tools for streamlined communication with candidates, including automated emails, updates, and interview scheduling.
6. Collaborative Hiring Tools: Enable team collaboration in the hiring process with features for task delegation and sharing feedback.
7. Simplified Interview Coordination: Use integrated calendars and automated reminders to streamline the interview scheduling process.
8. Advanced Reporting and Analytics: Gain insights into recruitment performance with tools for tracking and analyzing key metrics.
9. Candidate Assessment Tools: Incorporate assessment tools and skills testing functionalities to evaluate candidate qualifications effectively.
10. Enhanced Career Site Integration: Leading ATS platforms emphasize creating a positive first impression for candidates by offering tools to develop a branded and customized career site in collaboration with your marketing team. This approach ensures a unique and on-brand experience right from the start.

Here is a detailed guide on choosing the top applicant tracking systems (ATS) for your business: ATS Buying Guide.

Elevate Your Hiring with Oorwin

Discover the future of efficient recruitment with Oorwin. Streamline your hiring process, enhance candidate experience, and make data-driven decisions effortlessly. Sign up now for a free trial or request a demo at Oorwin and witness firsthand how Oorwin can transform your recruitment strategy. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your hiring process with one of the popular ATS systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software system that streamlines the recruitment process, from posting job listings to hiring candidates.

What are the benefits of using an ATS software?

An ATS software can help you streamline recruitment, save time and money, and find suitable candidates for your organization.

What are some of the key features of ATS software?

Some key features of ATS software include job posting, resume parsing, candidate tracking, interview scheduling, candidate relationship management, and ATS integration and analytics.

What is the future of ATS technology?

The future of ATS technology is likely to see further advancements in AI and machine learning, enhanced integration capabilities, more personalized candidate experiences, and increased use of analytics to inform recruitment strategies.