The evolution of tech tools and professional software simplifies plenty of routine tasks in any company but still cannot replace qualified employees. At the same time, the business environment is growing more competitive — and so is the hunt for human talent. Fortunately, technology comes to the recruiters’ rescue, too. One can always power up the hiring process by using relevant tools. Below are the must-have categories (with specific software examples) all recruiters should use in their search for the best candidates.  

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

This seems like an obvious start, but not all ATSs are made equal. Even though most applicant tracking systems can monitor as different candidates go through their respective stages of the recruiting process, some tools offer more advanced analytics, support team access, etc. Here, the choice of the best platforms will usually depend on the company’s size and industry. The most popular examples to consider are:

• Freshteam: a great option for anyone getting started with ATSs because, unlike most other systems, it has a perfectly functional free plan for the first 21 days. Freshteam can automate up to 75% of routine HR operations, according to Forbes, and supports integrations with many other different platforms.
• Workable: another great tool for small and mid-sized companies, especially in the IT industry. Besides applicant tracking functionality, Workable can help run social media campaigns and post on job sites to attract more candidates. 
• Rippling: this tool is a superb example of all-in-one HR software because it also supports inventory management and payroll tracking. There is no free plan, but the advanced functionality it offers is worth $8/month per user — that is, if this user balances between recruiting and HR management, which often happens in small companies. 

Database Building & Organizing Tools

The more contacts of qualified experts you have, the higher the odds of quickly finding a suitable candidate for a specific opening. Even recruiters who have been in business for some time and built vast professional networks need extra help sometimes. The best tools to acquire new contacts and manage the existing ones are:

• SignalHire: this tool, designed specifically for recruiters, supports bulk searches by practically any parameter you need — from job title and location to years of experience and specific skills. SignalHire can find emails and phone numbers of the best candidates suitable for an opening and export this data into neat spreadsheets. The free version supports five searches a month, but there are more advanced plans for professional use. 
• FullContact: while SignalHire can help you acquire new contacts, this tool is the top platform for organizing them. FullContact is by far the best contact managing cloud service today because it can automatically sort and organize contact data that comes from different sources and platforms (i.e., your phone book and your social media connections). It presents info in a neat CRM-like fashion and can build an entire user persona from scraps of contact info.

Background Screening 

The more responsible a job opening is, the more background information about a candidate is necessary. Some tools, like IntelliCorp, can provide all sorts of sensitive data about a person, i.e., financial history, legal affairs, and even medical records. But usually, such a thorough investigation (and privacy intrusion) is excessive. For more routine checks, you can use SignalHire, a tool for locating contacts already described above. Besides access to emails and phone numbers, the service can also give you links to all available social media accounts, personal blogs, etc. This information is usually enough to get some idea about the candidates — and it saves plenty of time on manually searching for it online. 

A few other background check tools include:

• Deel, designed specifically for screening international candidates;
• Paycom, for running FCRA-compliance checks; 
• Certn, for convenient ATS integration;
• Checkr, a reasonably priced tool that is functional and easy to use.

Resume Parsing Software

When you get to candidate screening, you will see why resume parsing technology is such a lifesaver. Candidates use different formats and styles in their resumes, which is why screening this info manually takes a lot of time — simply switching from one format to another is already a counter-productive distraction. Resume parsers translate all files you receive into a simple format and structure the information based on any criteria you define. Usually, these tools are very similar in functionality, so you can choose practically any app you like — based on its design, pricing, platform compatibility, or any other criteria important to you.

Some popular parsers to get you started with this search are:

• Bullhorn, combining ATS and resume parsing functionality;
• HireAbility, a simple but very functional parser;
• HireEZ, an accurate and easy-to-use tool for working with multiple resumes;
• Sovren Resume Parser, a speedy, accurate, and powerful solution with a few optional, advanced features. 

Smart Analytics & Reporting 

The above tools are great solutions for stand-alone professionals and recruiters working in relatively small companies. But sometimes, more advanced software is necessary, especially as the company grows. When this happens, recruiters’ efforts increase exponentially, and intelligent analytics tools can alleviate most of this pressure. 

For example, recruiting intelligence apps can automatically analyze workflow in the company, provide reports on the most common vacancies or job openings that take time to fill, etc. This information is very helpful because it ensures a smoother, more streamlined recruiting experience and can help HR anticipate the company’s hiring needs. 

Some top tools in this category include: 

• iMocha: this tool positions itself as an intelligence skill assessment platform. It can integrate with ATSs and CRMs, search your database based on a candidate’s skill set, offer hiring suggestions, and much more. One of its best features is that it calculates ROI on upskilling and reskilling your existing staff — a tactic that has proven more effective than constantly hiring new candidates. 
• Yello: this service can analyze your hiring process and come up with informed suggestions on optimizing it. It also has plenty of additional CRM-like features, i.e., scheduling interviews, candidate assessments, and much more. Despite its multiple features, Yello is very easy to use. 
• Smart Recruiters: this is a great tool for larger recruiting agencies. The versatile and customizable platform can provide data-driven insights to streamline your recruiting funnel. Smart Recruiters can be a little over the top for small teams and beginning professionals, but it’s a solid choice for larger companies. 

Bonus Tip: CRMs as More Versatile Solutions

A customer (or, in this case, a candidate) relationship management system is another example of professional software that can help recruiters find and manage the best human talent. CRMs are very similar to ATSs but have more customizable features and more advanced reporting functionality. 

Often, CRMs can combine several features described above (besides finding new contacts, perhaps) and can work great for HR agencies and departments. Here, the obvious market favorites are HubSpot, SalesForce, Monday, and ClickUp — tools suitable not only for recruiting but also for routine office management and digital marketing. However, the actual choice of available CRMs is way larger, so it can accommodate any needs.

These software categories are the most essential assistants in a recruiter’s toolkit – they should prove a nice start to power up the hiring process. Still, there is no universal approach to recruiting — just like there is no universal approach to working with people. In other words, choosing the best tools is also about employers’ expectations, industry specifics, and overall market situation. So choose wisely! 

Power Up Your Hiring Process: Tools and Tech for Recruiters

The evolution of tech tools and professional software simplifies plenty of routine tasks in any company but still cannot replace qualified employees. At the same time, the business environment is growing more competitive — and so is the hunt for human talent. Fortunately, technology comes to the recruiters’ rescue, too. One can always power up the hiring process by using relevant tools. Below are the must-have categories (with specific software examples) all recruiters should use in their search for the best candidates.  

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

This seems like an obvious start, but not all ATSs are made equal. Even though most applicant tracking systems can monitor as different candidates go through their respective stages of the recruiting process, some tools offer more advanced analytics, support team access, etc. Here, the choice of the best platforms will usually depend on the company’s size and industry. The most popular examples to consider are:

• Freshteam: a great option for anyone getting started with ATSs because, unlike most other systems, it has a perfectly functional free plan for the first 21 days. Freshteam can automate up to 75% of routine HR operations, according to Forbes, and supports integrations with many other different platforms.
• Workable: another great tool for small and mid-sized companies, especially in the IT industry. Besides applicant tracking functionality, Workable can help run social media campaigns and post on job sites to attract more candidates. 
• Rippling: this tool is a superb example of all-in-one HR software because it also supports inventory management and payroll tracking. There is no free plan, but the advanced functionality it offers is worth $8/month per user — that is, if this user balances between recruiting and HR management, which often happens in small companies. 

Database Building & Organizing Tools

The more contacts of qualified experts you have, the higher the odds of quickly finding a suitable candidate for a specific opening. Even recruiters who have been in business for some time and built vast professional networks need extra help sometimes. The best tools to acquire new contacts and manage the existing ones are:

• SignalHire: this tool, designed specifically for recruiters, supports bulk searches by practically any parameter you need — from job title and location to years of experience and specific skills. SignalHire can find emails and phone numbers of the best candidates suitable for an opening and export this data into neat spreadsheets. The free version supports five searches a month, but there are more advanced plans for professional use. 
• FullContact: while SignalHire can help you acquire new contacts, this tool is the top platform for organizing them. FullContact is by far the best contact managing cloud service today because it can automatically sort and organize contact data that comes from different sources and platforms (i.e., your phone book and your social media connections). It presents info in a neat CRM-like fashion and can build an entire user persona from scraps of contact info.

Background Screening 

The more responsible a job opening is, the more background information about a candidate is necessary. Some tools, like IntelliCorp, can provide all sorts of sensitive data about a person, i.e., financial history, legal affairs, and even medical records. But usually, such a thorough investigation (and privacy intrusion) is excessive. For more routine checks, you can use SignalHire, a tool for locating contacts already described above. Besides access to emails and phone numbers, the service can also give you links to all available social media accounts, personal blogs, etc. This information is usually enough to get some idea about the candidates — and it saves plenty of time on manually searching for it online. 

A few other background check tools include:

• Deel, designed specifically for screening international candidates;
• Paycom, for running FCRA-compliance checks; 
• Certn, for convenient ATS integration;
• Checkr, a reasonably priced tool that is functional and easy to use.

Resume Parsing Software

When you get to candidate screening, you will see why resume parsing technology is such a lifesaver. Candidates use different formats and styles in their resumes, which is why screening this info manually takes a lot of time — simply switching from one format to another is already a counter-productive distraction. Resume parsers translate all files you receive into a simple format and structure the information based on any criteria you define. Usually, these tools are very similar in functionality, so you can choose practically any app you like — based on its design, pricing, platform compatibility, or any other criteria important to you.

Some popular parsers to get you started with this search are:

• Bullhorn, combining ATS and resume parsing functionality;
• HireAbility, a simple but very functional parser;
• HireEZ, an accurate and easy-to-use tool for working with multiple resumes;
• Sovren Resume Parser, a speedy, accurate, and powerful solution with a few optional, advanced features. 

Smart Analytics & Reporting 

The above tools are great solutions for stand-alone professionals and recruiters working in relatively small companies. But sometimes, more advanced software is necessary, especially as the company grows. When this happens, recruiters’ efforts increase exponentially, and intelligent analytics tools can alleviate most of this pressure. 

For example, recruiting intelligence apps can automatically analyze workflow in the company, provide reports on the most common vacancies or job openings that take time to fill, etc. This information is very helpful because it ensures a smoother, more streamlined recruiting experience and can help HR anticipate the company’s hiring needs. 

Some top tools in this category include: 

• iMocha: this tool positions itself as an intelligence skill assessment platform. It can integrate with ATSs and CRMs, search your database based on a candidate’s skill set, offer hiring suggestions, and much more. One of its best features is that it calculates ROI on upskilling and reskilling your existing staff — a tactic that has proven more effective than constantly hiring new candidates. 
• Yello: this service can analyze your hiring process and come up with informed suggestions on optimizing it. It also has plenty of additional CRM-like features, i.e., scheduling interviews, candidate assessments, and much more. Despite its multiple features, Yello is very easy to use. 
• Smart Recruiters: this is a great tool for larger recruiting agencies. The versatile and customizable platform can provide data-driven insights to streamline your recruiting funnel. Smart Recruiters can be a little over the top for small teams and beginning professionals, but it’s a solid choice for larger companies. 

Bonus Tip: CRMs as More Versatile Solutions

A customer (or, in this case, a candidate) relationship management system is another example of professional software that can help recruiters find and manage the best human talent. CRMs are very similar to ATSs but have more customizable features and more advanced reporting functionality. 

Often, CRMs can combine several features described above (besides finding new contacts, perhaps) and can work great for HR agencies and departments. Here, the obvious market favorites are HubSpot, SalesForce, Monday, and ClickUp — tools suitable not only for recruiting but also for routine office management and digital marketing. However, the actual choice of available CRMs is way larger, so it can accommodate any needs.

These software categories are the most essential assistants in a recruiter’s toolkit – they should prove a nice start to power up the hiring process. Still, there is no universal approach to recruiting — just like there is no universal approach to working with people. In other words, choosing the best tools is also about employers’ expectations, industry specifics, and overall market situation. So choose wisely! 

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