Nicholas van Esch our Technical Director here at LogicMelon shares his thoughts on software automation.

 

Dear automated recruiting,

It’s no secret that you have your lovers and haters. We are very much the former. You hold a very dear place in modern talent acquisition strategies and we believe you’re the bee’s knees. Employers and candidates alike turn to you for consistency, personalisation and talent nabbing success.

Savvy recruiting software and excellent applicant tracking play a very real part in helping employers get a foot up, steering them to success through the murky waters of recruitment.

Thank you,

LogicMelon.

To say automated recruiting is ineffective or disengaging is simply not true. Think of what modern recruitment asks of us, it’s a lot. Recruiters, employers, HR teams and candidates are all struggling to manage their experience, perform on both a personal and company-wide level, as well as ensure that the right fit is found. It’s taxing to say the least.

In short, automated recruiting and its ATS and software counterparts have not failed. We should know! Employers flock to us for a recruitment solution that can tick the task boxes, improve the candidate experience and create a killer employer brand. And time and time again, automated recruiting systems delivers.

So, what do we say to the weary or non-believers? We say read below.

Fighting the corner of recruitment software - Grade A automation.

Automation, as an industry term, throws up connotations like impersonal, generic and cold. Really not the case. Yes, recruitment is in dire need of warmth and a return to best practice, something that is afforded by time and effort.  Automation allows for both.

There’s a pretty long list of benefits but we only have one post so let’s talk about the application process, best practice and the all mighty candidate experience. Automated recruiting is a beacon of help and hope in these struggle-heavy and time-consuming times.

All hail the fuss-free application experience.

Modern talent recruitment systems are all about ease. If wanting a more streamlined, interaction-prone application experience is cheating or dehumanising, lock us up.

These systems understand that ease is an experience staple, one that starts with the very first click and should run through the entire hiring process. Making things as simple and savvy as possible allows room for the holy grail of recruitment - engagement.

  • Application handling should be a system, an intricate and careful process that puts candidates in the picture from day dot. Aspect such as replies, personalisation and constant communication should not be left to chance or at the mercy of a busy schedule. They are a rock solid deliverable, no excuses.
  • Application processes need to be shorter and relevant - A good recruitment system keeps the application process swift and meaningful. Nothing deters value and candidates like a long-winded form and irrelevant questions. It’s in the benefit of both parties to serve up an application process that is a winning part of the candidate experience. Too many recruiters neglect this stage as a crucial step in a candidate's journey, it’s not just a functional to-do. Recruitment systems enable this stage to be sprinkled with job-appropriate, mobile-friendly touches that are both a breath of fresh air and extremely necessary in finding the best talent.

Helping recruitment be at its best - The oil that keeps the cogs in action.

The truth is recruitment is tough. It’s not just plate spinning or multi-tasking; it’s constant input and maintenance. Looking for a helping hand in these manic times isn’t about selling out, it’s all about wanting to give candidates and a recruitment team exactly what they need and want.

Automated recruiting is designed with best practice in mind. It doesn’t just look to the likes of engagement, constant communication and application management as things to strive for - it actively deliver them.

  • ATS and such systems help tighten the gap between candidate and employer - Talent should be engaged with, not hunted down and captured. This software is packed with ports of call for engagement and follow ups, something simply not available to those that opt for a more traditional approach.
  • Employer brand - We all know the power of the employer brand. The successful representation of this can do wonders for attraction and retention rates. Good experiences travel fast and automated recruiting can really streamline and personalise the candidate journey from day one. 
  • Boosting retention - Thanks to awesome automation and credible consistency, employers are able to create a benchmark, an intro to company values and culture. Not only is there already a higher chance of acceptance but this solid candidate experience serves as a nifty onboarding process of sorts. As values go, engagement, consistency and personalisation are pretty much royalty.
  • A checklist and promise of quality - Automation acts as a reminder, a checklist of steps that all go towards a dynamite delivery. Consistency is king in the candidate experience and that’s one thing these systems nail.

Tapping into what candidates need as standard - Designed for the candidate experience.

It all starts and ends with the user. An automated system is created to meet the needs and wants of candidates at every possible stage. Candidates don’t desire big claims or theatrical promises, they want the basics and principles of a healthy and happy recruitment experience to be met. Ignoring automation as a key factor in modern recruitment is like neglecting the busy status of candidates, as well as recruiters. These avid job hunters are just as hectic and are looking for employers to respect their time and experience.

  • Convenience - These systems enable candidates to register their interest while they think on. This is a mutual benefit - the job is on the radar of the candidate and they know they can return when they desire. And the recruitment team can follow up on any unfilled applications. Win win.
  • Personalisation - Tell me what you think a candidate would prefer, a well-sculpted and personal email sent by a recruitment application or no reply at all? Too many candidates get plopped into the no-communication abyss. Automated systems simply end that.
  • Community - Automation allows HR teams and employers to actively engage with the talent out there. The likes of automated responses always leave the door open for further communication, a task that can become a delight thanks to the free time your system has afforded you. From updates on the progress of applications to social recruiting, these systems open up the candidate experience and introduce it to the modern age.

Automation takes the best practice and turns it into common practice. And that’s the hook, line and sinker. The quality of a candidate experience can’t be skimped on or neglected because of busy schedules and demands on time. Automation of a system allows for constant mprovement, it’s simple and necessary to always review and deliver better and these systems offer up the data and tools to do just this.

Systematic doesn’t mean dehumanised, it means regimented and in something as fluid and complicated as recruitment, that can only be a good thing!

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Twitter snippets.

  • (Tweet This) Automated recruiting is a beacon of help and hope in these struggle-heavy and time-consuming times.
  • (Tweet This) These systems understand that ease is an experience staple, one that starts with the very first click.
  • (Tweet This) Making things as simple and savvy as possible allows room for the holy grail of recruitment - engagement.
  • (Tweet This) Automated recruiting is designed with best practice in mind.
  • (Tweet This) Automation takes the best practice and turns it into common practice.

 

This entry was posted in Recruitment, Tools & Tips, The Candidate Experience