Feeling overwhelmed by all of the TA software options on the market? You’re not alone. In today’s tech-driven world, the key to standing out from the talent competition is a strong TA tech stack. But with so many solutions available, it’s difficult to assess which tools are necessities and which ones are just nice-to-haves. 

Don’t worry—we’re here to point you in the right direction. With these four tools, you’ll impress candidates and smash your TA goals in one fell swoop.

1. Applicant Tracking Systems

If you don’t already have an applicant tracking system (ATS), this is your sign to invest in one. There’s a reason why over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS software (that’s all but nine companies). With an ATS in your TA tech stack, you can facilitate the application process without the risk of losing qualified candidates to the “black hole.” 

An ATS also allows you to easily filter applicants through keywords, skills, or previous roles. No need to spend time organizing applicants; an ATS conveniently collects all your applications in one place. 

While an ATS is a must-have, it’s not without limitations. Even though the typical ATS can now do more than just handle applications, their main expertise lies in that area. You’ll need to add additional products to your tech arsenal if you want to robustly tackle performance metrics, load balance, or enhance DEIB.

The ATS that you choose depends on the needs of your talent team and company. Consider your company size, scalability, and additional features that you’d like to use (text recruiting, referral program management, etc). 

Can’t decide which ATS is right for you? We get it—there’s a LOT. Here’s some recommendations:

  • Greenhouse
  • iCIMS
  • Jobvite
  • SmartRecruiters
  • Workday
  • Lever

2. Virtual Interviewing Platforms 

Remote hiring is far from a pandemic-born phase. Just look at the numbers: 93% of employers reportedly plan to conduct virtual interviews well into the future. If one thing’s for sure, getting acquainted with virtual interviewing platforms is non-negotiable. 

From Zoom to BlueJeans, adding virtual interviewing platforms to their TA tech stack enable recruiting teams to connect with applicants from across the world. No longer limited by a candidate’s geographic location, these platforms both widen and diversify your talent pool.

While remote interviewing is here to stay, you’ll need to master several best practices to maximize the potential of virtual interviewing platforms. These platforms are only as helpful as you make them. To give candidates the best impression of your virtual interview process, standardize the virtual interviewing process and troubleshoot your software before diving into an interview. Remember: candidates are assessing you as much as you’re assessing them.

3. Employee Pulse Surveys

Listen: from a talent retention standpoint, we need to change our employee surveys. 74% of companies still use detailed surveys to analyze employee engagement, but large-scale surveys just don’t cut it anymore. They’re time-consuming to both create and orchestrate—and not to mention an absolute pain to analyze. Instead, opt for employee pulse surveys. 

Pulse surveys allow leaders to solicit feedback and benchmark their employee satisfaction “health” by asking the same questions every survey. They’re designed to be short-and-sweet, so you can expect a high response rate with simplified, actionable feedback. 

Similar to virtual interviewing platforms, employee pulse surveys are what you make them. Pulse surveys can measure anything and everything, and the question types are up to you. Most companies use these surveys on a monthly basis, but there’s no one-size-fits-all survey cadence.

4. Candidate Relationship Intelligence

Throwing more candidates into the top of the funnel simply isn’t an effective way to hit your hiring goals and snag the best talent. The real secret to recruitment success lies in forming connections with candidates in the middle of the funnel, all while moving them through the process as quickly as possible. That’s why companies like Slack and Box now use Candidate Relationship Intelligence as the solution to their hiring.

GoodTime Hire is the only platform that harnesses Candidate Relationship Intelligence to win the best talent. Hire’s success comes from three pillars: automation, relationships, and insights. The magic happens by automating coordination to reduce time to hire, building genuine connections between recruiters and candidates, and gathering actionable insights to continuously optimize the entire process. 

And the results: companies hire up to 70% faster and impress more candidates than ever before.

Ready to learn more about how Hire can transform your recruiting process? Let’s do it.

About the Author

Rachel Heller

Rachel is passionate about creating and distributing powerful, engaging, and expert-vetted content. As the former Content Specialist at GoodTime, she covered the latest trends, insights, and expert recommendations for all things talent acquisition and recruiting.