What is an Applicant Tracking System?

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software application that enables the electronic handling of recruitment needs. An ATS can be implemented or accessed online on an enterprise or small business level, depending on the needs of the company. An ATS is very similar to a customer relationship management (CRM) system, but is designed for recruitment tracking purposes. In many cases they filter applications automatically based on given criteria such as keywords, skills, former employers, years of experience and schools attended. These systems may also post job openings to websites and job boards. In short, ATS software allows employers to quickly and easily integrate recruitment efforts with online job boards, automate hiring processes, and maintain compliance requirements.

“Traditional systems existed primarily as resume databases, but the modern version of the ATS is more of a well-rounded recruitment optimization tool.”

- Erin Wilson, Talent Engineer at Yahoo

Choosing to integrate your background screening solution with your Applicant Tracking System can be a daunting task, but yields many benefits and advantages. Processes are streamlined, duplicate data entry and associated errors are mitigated, and time-to-hire can be achieved quicker and more efficiently. 

Click here to download a comprehensive infographic outlining the benefits of integrating your ATS with your background screening provider's software platform, along with a step-by-step breakdown of what you can expect during the integration process.