Choosing the right applicant tracking system for your team

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software application designed to help businesses manage their entire recruitment process, from posting job advertisements to onboarding new hires, by centralising candidate data and automating repetitive administrative tasks.

Key takeaways

• A modern applicant tracking system reduces time-to-hire by automating manual workflows and centralising communication.
• The best systems go beyond basic resume filtering to assess organisational fit, personality, and core skills.
• Implementing an ATS improves the candidate experience through consistent communication and professional touchpoints.
• Data-driven hiring decisions lead to better long-term retention and stronger team culture.

The struggle to find the right talent is a common headache for HR leaders. You spend hours sifting through hundreds of resumes, only to find that most applicants don't have the specific skills or – perhaps more importantly – the right work personality for your team culture. Without a centralised system, candidate details get lost in messy email threads, and top-tier talent often slips through the cracks because your response time was just a little too slow.

This is where an applicant tracking system becomes your most valuable recruitment partner. It is no longer just a digital filing cabinet for resumes; it is a strategic tool that allows you to manage the high volume of applications while maintaining a human touch. By automating the 'busy work', you and your team can focus on what actually matters: building meaningful connections with the people who will drive your business forward.

The evolution of the applicant tracking system

In the past, recruitment was a paper-heavy process. You would post an ad, wait for the mail (or faxes) to arrive, and manually sort through stacks of paper. Early versions of the applicant tracking system were designed simply to digitise this mess. They were often clunky, difficult to navigate, and focused purely on keyword matching – a process that frequently overlooked brilliant candidates who simply didn't use the 'right' buzzwords on their CVs.

Today’s landscape is vastly different. Modern teams need more than just a database; they need intelligence. Contemporary systems are built to handle the complexities of the modern workplace, where remote work, diverse talent pools, and cultural alignment are top priorities. At Compono, we believe that hiring is about more than just matching a list of requirements to a resume. It is about understanding the human behind the application.

When you use a sophisticated platform like Compono Hire, you aren't just tracking applicants; you are gaining deep insights into their potential. By assessing candidates across Organisation Fit, skills, and qualifications, you ensure that every person you bring into the fold is set up for success from day one.

Streamlining your recruitment workflow

One of the primary benefits of an applicant tracking system is the sheer amount of time it saves. Think about the manual steps involved in a standard hiring cycle: posting to multiple job boards, scheduling interviews, sending follow-up emails, and collecting feedback from hiring managers. When these tasks are handled manually, the margin for error is high, and the process is incredibly slow.

An ATS centralises these actions into a single dashboard. You can post to various platforms with one click, use templates to ensure brand consistency in your communications, and allow candidates to book interview slots that work with your calendar. This level of organisation doesn't just make your life easier – it creates a professional image for your company. Candidates notice when a process is smooth and well-managed, and it reflects positively on your employer brand.

Furthermore, a centralised system facilitates better collaboration amongst your internal team. Hiring managers can leave notes, rate candidates, and share feedback in real-time. This eliminates the need for endless internal meetings and ensures that everyone is on the same page. When the whole team has visibility into the pipeline, decisions are made faster and with more confidence.

Prioritising candidate experience and engagement

In a competitive job market, the candidate experience is a critical differentiator. If your application process is too long, or if candidates feel like they’ve dropped into a 'black hole' after submitting their resume, they will likely look elsewhere. An applicant tracking system helps you maintain a high standard of communication without requiring you to spend your entire day in your inbox.

Automated (but personalised) updates keep candidates informed at every stage. Whether it’s a confirmation of receipt or a polite notification that they haven't been successful this time, consistent communication builds trust. It is also important to consider the 'pre-boarding' phase. Once a candidate accepts an offer, the transition to becoming an employee should be seamless.

Tools that focus on the ongoing relationship, such as Compono Engage, help you transition from 'hiring' to 'belonging'. By understanding a new starter's work personality early on – whether they are The Doer who wants to get stuck in immediately, or The Auditor who needs to understand the details first – you can tailor their first few weeks to ensure they feel supported and valued.

Data-driven hiring for long-term success

The most powerful feature of a modern applicant tracking system is its ability to provide actionable data. By tracking metrics such as time-to-hire, source of hire, and cost-per-hire, you can identify which parts of your recruitment strategy are working and which need adjustment. For example, if you find that your best Pioneers consistently come from a specific professional network, you can choose to invest more heavily in that channel.

Beyond basic logistics, data helps you solve the 'culture fit' puzzle. Traditional interviews are notoriously prone to unconscious bias. We tend to hire people who are 'like us', which can lead to a lack of diversity in thought and approach. An ATS that includes evidence-based assessments helps level the playing field. It provides objective data on how a candidate works, how they solve problems, and how they will interact with your existing team.

At Compono, we’ve spent over a decade researching what makes teams high-performing. Our intelligence platform doesn't just show you who can do the job; it shows you who will thrive in your specific environment. This data-driven approach reduces turnover and ensures that your recruitment efforts contribute to a healthy, sustainable company culture.

Key insights

• An applicant tracking system is essential for centralising candidate data and eliminating manual recruitment bottlenecks.
• Modern hiring requires a shift from keyword matching to holistic assessments of personality and organisational fit.
• Streamlined workflows and automated communication significantly enhance the employer brand and candidate experience.
• Objective data from an ATS helps reduce unconscious bias and improves the quality of long-term hires.

Where to from here?

• Explore: Compono Platform

• Talk to an expert: Book in a 15-minute chat to get a walkthrough of Compono.

Frequently asked questions

What is an applicant tracking system and why do I need one?

An applicant tracking system is a software tool that organises and automates the hiring process. You need one to save time, reduce manual errors, and ensure you are providing a professional experience for every candidate who applies to your business.

How does an ATS help with diversity and inclusion?

By using objective assessments and standardised criteria, an ATS helps reduce the impact of unconscious bias. Instead of relying on 'gut feeling', you can make decisions based on clear data regarding a candidate's skills and work personality.

Can an applicant tracking system help improve my time-to-hire?

Yes, significantly. By automating job postings, interview scheduling, and candidate communications, an ATS removes the administrative delays that typically slow down the hiring process.

Is an ATS only for large companies?

Not at all. While large enterprises use them to manage thousands of applications, mid-sized businesses find them equally valuable for maintaining a high-quality hiring standard without needing a massive internal HR team.

Does an applicant tracking system replace the human element of hiring?

Actually, it does the opposite. By taking care of the repetitive, robotic tasks, an ATS frees up your time so you can actually talk to candidates and focus on the human connections that lead to great hires.