[NOTE: This is an interactive article that includes an online survey. Visit my Applicant Tracking System Top Features Survey and cast your vote now on the essential features of the next generation of applicant tracking systems. In two weeks, I’ll publish the survey results and invite you to a personal online web conference. Get involved. Your future is at stake. ó Lou Adler] Making hiring top talent a systematic process requires some bold initiatives on the part of the HR/recruiting department. First, the department must ensure that the hiring and recruiting strategy a company uses maps directly to its business strategy (see my article Developing Hiring Strategies for more on this). At a more tactical level, it’s imperative that the company’s hiring processes, systems, and people are all singing from the same song sheet. Both are challenging objectives, but worth the time and effort given the impact top people can have on an organization. Much of this depends on the effectiveness of the applicant tracking system used (ATS). Some systems do quite a good job here; unfortunately, many don’t. You’ll now have an opportunity to help design the feature set for a world-class ATS. We’ll then benchmark all of the major ATSs against this standard. Many have already agreed to get involved. The results will be published in future articles. Following are features we’ve found to be most important in improving recruiter performance. After reading the article, take the survey. You’ll also be able to expand on this list and rank your own ATS. When completed, this will be great comparative information. Most of the ATS vendors are now listening, but sometimes you need to increase the decibel level to get heard. Here are the essential features for the “ATS of the Year” Award. Who will win? Stay tuned.
A few key features have probably been overlooked, but this is a good start. I’ve seen a remarkable shift in what’s being offered and considered from some of the top ATS vendors. So now is a good time to get involved. Most vendors are now listening to what recruiters really need to be more productive. Take my Applicant Tracking System Top Features Survey and be heard. Your future is at stake.