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How to choose the Best ATS for your company's hiring needs


Happy candidate, orange suit

In today's fiercely competitive job market, effective talent acquisition is crucial for any organization's success. But how to choose the Best ATS with the multitude of tools and systems available? It can be challenging to navigate through the options and find the right fit for your team. Let's explore some key considerations to ensure your hiring process runs smoothly.

What is Talent Acquisition?

Talent acquisition encompasses all aspects of recruitment, from sourcing candidates to analytics and applicant tracking systems (ATSs).

Understanding Company Size and Characteristics

When selecting tools and systems, it's vital to consider your company's size and characteristics. Software solutions often cater to specific company types, such as startups, scaleups, or enterprises.

Company Size Categories:

  • Startup: Less than 50 employees, seed through Series A funding, annual hiring volume less than 9 employees, and exploring product-market fit.

  • Scaleup: 50-500 employees, Series A through Series C funding, hiring 10-100 employees yearly, and growing product-market fit.

  • Enterprise: Over 500 employees, Series D through IPO funding, hiring over 100 employees annually, and maintaining product-market fit.

While categorising companies into these groups is helpful, it's not the whole picture. The maturity of the people team also plays a crucial role in selecting the right tools.

People Team Maturity: For instance, two companies both classified as scaleups may have different levels of people team maturity. Company A might have a part-time recruiter and a dedicated Head of HR, while Company B has a full-time recruiter, a Head of Culture, and a VP of People. Even within the same category, their tool sets may differ due to this variation in maturity.

Throughout this article, we'll refer to companies as having high, medium, or low People Team Maturity. While there's often a correlation between company size and maturity, exceptions exist. Startups typically have low to medium maturity, while enterprises tend to have high maturity. However, there's more variation in the scaleup phase.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS):

Picking the right ATS is crucial for managing your hiring process effectively. Here are some options tailored to different company sizes and needs: Homerun

  • Core Features: Applicant tracking, job posting, career page builder.

  • Standout Feature: Talent Clipper browser extension for easy candidate information capture.

  • Our take: Homerun is great for job ad creation and employer branding. Its intuitive interface and robust features make it ideal for startups and scaleups looking to streamline their hiring process.

  • Best for: Startups and Scaleups.

TeamTailor

  • Core Features: Customized recruitment funnel, interview kits, automated workflows.

  • Standout Feature: Built-in AI assistant for task automation.

  • Our take: TeamTailor excels in employer branding and is suitable for medium-sized teams. Its user-friendly interface and customizable features make it an excellent choice for startups and scaleups looking to enhance their recruitment efforts.

  • Best for: Startups and Scaleups.

BambooHR

  • Core Features: Pipeline management, job board integration.

  • Standout Feature: Dedicated mobile app for on-the-go hiring.

  • Our take: BambooHR is intuitive but more basic in its offerings. Its mobile app allows recruiters to stay connected and manage their hiring process efficiently. Ideal for startups and scaleups with simpler recruitment needs.

  • Best for: Startups and Scaleups.

PinPoint

  • Core Features: Job requisition management, interview management, candidate communication.

  • Standout Feature: Built-in diversity tool and anonymized application.

  • Our take: PinPoint offers advanced features at a mid-tier price. Its focus on diversity and anonymized applications makes it an attractive option for scaleups looking to foster an inclusive hiring environment.

Best for: Scaleups. Lever

  • Core Features: ATS and CRM with advanced candidate analytics.

  • Standout Feature: Predictive analytics and candidate nurturing.

  • Our take: Lever is polished and ideal for engaging passive candidates. Its advanced analytics and CRM capabilities make it a top choice for scaleups and enterprises looking to attract and retain top talent.

  • Best for: Scaleups and Enterprises.

Greenhouse

  • Core Features: Applicant tracking, interview management, onboarding.

  • Standout Feature: Advanced CRM system with video capabilities.

  • Our take: Greenhouse shines in interview scheduling and automation. With its robust CRM system and video capabilities, it's a comprehensive solution for scaleups and enterprises aiming to streamline their hiring process.

  • Best for: Scaleups and Enterprises.

Ashby

  • Core Features: Sourcing, candidate pipeline, advanced analytics.

  • Standout Feature: Recruiting planner for tracking hiring goals.

  • Our take: Ashby is an all-in-one solution with advanced reporting. Its comprehensive features and recruiting planner make it an excellent choice for scaleups and enterprises looking for tailored hiring solutions.

  • Best for: Scaleups and Enterprises.

Workable

  • Core Features: Applicant tracking, interview management, SMS messaging.

  • Standout Feature: Built-in AI for passive candidate recommendations.

  • Our take: Workable is user-friendly but more suitable for medium to larger teams. Its AI-driven recommendations and intuitive interface make it a solid choice for late-stage scaleups aiming to streamline their recruitment efforts.

  • Best for: Late-stage Scaleups.

Workday

  • Core Features: Applicant tracking, SMS messaging, interview management.

  • Standout Feature: Skills Cloud and machine learning for better candidate matches.

  • Our take: Workday is a complex product suited for large enterprises. Its machine learning capabilities and Skills Cloud feature make it an ideal choice for enterprises looking to make data-driven hiring decisions.

  • Best for: Enterprises.

Jobylon

  • Core Features: Pipeline management, career page builder, in-platform assessment.

  • Standout Feature: Integration with LinkedIn Recruiter.

  • Our take: Jobylon is feature-rich and best for larger organizations. Its seamless integration with LinkedIn Recruiter and comprehensive assessment tools make it an attractive option for late-stage scaleups and enterprises.

  • Best for: Late-stage Scaleups and Enterprises. Summary of ATS Options: How to choose the Best ATS? Choosing the right ATS is crucial for managing your hiring process effectively. By understanding your company's needs and carefully evaluating your options, you can find the best ATS to support your talent acquisition efforts.

  • Homerun: Great for job ad creation and employer branding, ideal for startups and scaleups.

  • TeamTailor: Excels in employer branding, suitable for medium-sized teams in startups and scaleups.

  • BambooHR: Intuitive with basic offerings, ideal for startups and scaleups with simpler recruitment needs.

  • PinPoint: Offers advanced features at a mid-tier price, best for scaleups.

  • Lever: Polished with advanced analytics, suitable for engaging passive candidates in scaleups and enterprises.

  • Greenhouse: Comprehensive solution with robust CRM and video capabilities, ideal for scaleups and enterprises.

  • Ashby: All-in-one solution with advanced reporting, tailored for scaleups and enterprises.

  • Workable: User-friendly with AI-driven recommendations, suitable for medium to larger teams in late-stage scaleups.

  • Workday: Complex product with machine learning capabilities, best for large enterprises.

  • Jobylon: Feature-rich with integration capabilities, best for late-stage scaleups and enterprises.

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