We all know the benefits of your average applicant tracking system: candidate screening, posting to job boards for you, and helping you to easily search through hundreds of applications.
The benefits of using an application tracking system don’t stop there: when it’s calendar connected, it can also help with the interview booking process.
This process is laborious and repetitive and can lead to hours wasted during each hiring process just trying to find a suitable time for an interview panel to meet an interviewee.
Employees use their workplace calendar to organize their time, but human error can lead to double-bookings, cancellations, or no-shows.
That’s why the most efficient applicant tracking systems work with employees’ calendars to help prevent all of these things from happening.
Create a positive candidate experience
When hiring, many companies only focus on creating a positive experience for their new hire. They don’t factor in the difference that creating a positive experience for every job applicant can make. Neglecting job applicants damages employer brands and could even cause loss of business. It may even mean that the person they want for the role turns it down.
When application processes are long-winded or overcomplicated, candidates are more likely to drop out. The more candidates that drop out, the more likely companies are to miss out on the best person for the role.
When the hiring process is more candidate-focused, it creates a faster and more streamlined process for everyone.
One of the key ways a calendar connected ATS can achieve this is by allowing candidates to book their own interviews based on the real-time availability of the interview panel.
Putting candidates in control of their interview may seem like a small detail, but it can make a big difference.
Because it’s connected to the calendars of the interview panel, everything updates in real-time. That means there’s no risk of interviews clashing with last-minute meetings or two candidates booking the same interview slot.
Interview panelists also don’t need to inform the hiring manager of any changes to their schedule – calendar sync means that the hiring manager can see when every member of the panel is free or busy from the ATS. This gives the interview panel and the hiring manager more time to spend on preparing for the interview itself.
Candidates, meanwhile, don’t need to worry about taking a phone call in the middle of the working day. Hiring managers can send them a link that allows them to book their interview in seconds at a time that best suits them.
Because the process is seamless, candidates are more likely to feel positively towards a company even if they don’t get the role. A positive experience means they’re more likely to leave a positive review on a site such as Glassdoor, and may apply for future positions. While someone may not be a good fit for the role now, in a few years’ time they could be the perfect fit. However, if their experience is poor not only will they never reapply, but they’ll try to deter friends and family from applying for the same company.
Speed up the hiring process
On average, the hiring process takes 52 days. That’s 52 days where a line manager’s time is spent focusing on finding the right person to fill a role, and where a role within a company sits empty. It’s up to the rest of the team to fill in for the empty role and their busy line manager. Because of this, they end up with a heavier workload and become at a higher risk of developing work-related stress.
Speeding up the hiring process means that a role sits empty for a less time. Managers spend less time sorting through resumes and finding time to meet every candidate, and therefore have more time to dedicate to working with their team.
Using an applicant tracking system with calendar sync speeds up and streamlines this process immensely. Managers then have more time to dedicate to their team and helping them to fill in for the empty role.
Automate repetitive tasks
UK workers lose approximately 80 days per year on repetitive tasks that could be automated.
Scheduling interviews is one of the most repetitive parts of the hiring process. Using a calendar connected ATS, it can be streamlined and eliminated almost entirely. Hiring managers no longer need to contact dozens of candidates over the phone or via email – they can send one email or link that works for every candidate.
Automating these tasks gives hiring managers more time to spend working towards their goals and higher-value tasks, which helps a company to grow faster.
The less time employees spend on tedious tasks, the happier they are. This reduces employee churn rate and means that new hires are more likely to stick around.
Happy employees are more productive employees
Automating repetitive tasks gives employees more time to spend on working towards their objectives. Connecting their calendars to software further saves them time because they don’t need to cross-check their schedules or worry about double-booking.
The more companies embrace technology, the more they put employees back in control of how they manage their time. Giving employees more control over their schedules and putting candidates in control of the interview booking process means that companies will attract a higher calibre of talent than those that are still stuck in the dark ages. This fresh talent ensures companies grow faster, and that employees are happier and more productive. This then leads to a more profitable business and a lower employee churn rate.