Shopping for a Candidate Management System? Remember, a stitch in time saves nine.

A good Candidate Management System will put in the hard yards for you.

If you’re looking to improve your recruitment process, make sure your CMS is in it for the long haul.

You’ve done well to implement a strong recruitment strategy. You’ve got your advertising sorted. And now, you are ready to consider bringing on some shiny, new recruitment software to keep things as streamlined as possible. But remember, chances are there are more things that your soon-to-be new recruitment system can do than just resume management. And if not, then don’t settle.

We believe that when it comes to getting the most out of your recruitment software, the old adage is true: a stitch in time saves nine. Finding a system that will allow you to track data over a long period of time will prove invaluable to you in the future. Trust us.

If you are looking to improve your recruitment outcomes – and if you are, congratulations! – a solid understanding of your candidate database is essential. We’re not just talking about your job seekers’ work histories and what they might feel is their potential value-add to your business. What we’re talking about is applicant tracking: how they heard about you, or where they saw your vacancy advertised. What kind of skills they have that may help should you wish to hire in the future – because correctly identifying these at the outset can save you time and money next time you recruit. Which, at the end of the day, is what we want. Right?

So, how do we keep tabs on this?

Let’s use our own Candidate Management System as an example.

With fully-customisable online application forms, our recruitment software has the power to gather whatever candidate information you deem likely to help you in the long-term. So if you’re prepared for a proverbial single stitch – in this case, setting up your questionnaire with a few easy clicks - then you’ll be laughing when it comes to reviewing and screening your candidates.

But we’re not done yet - we promised nine stitches saved, after all.

The details submitted in a job seeker’s application form can be used to search through your total candidate database down the track. Looking for somebody with a particular skill or qualification? Simple. And if you can make a hire without actually advertising your vacancy, you’re saving both time and money - which, as far as we’re concerned, is a win.

And finally, if there’s one thing you can do to dramatically improve your recruitment process, it’s to get some applicant tracking going. Ask job seekers to record where they heard about your vacancy as part of their application. The answers might just surprise you!

Using our Candidate Management system, applicants can be categorised (shortlisted, longlisted, hired, declined…) in just a click. Doing this as you go means that you’ll be able to go one step further in your analysis, seeing the comparative value of each advertising medium and, crucially, refining your strategy for next time. If you’re shopping around, making this feature a priority will pay dividends when it comes to the bigger picture.

Especially now. Today’s fragmented media landscape (and the rise in social media) makes placing a single ad on one job board much less likely to gain enough traction. So it’s never been a better time to keep your finger on the pulse, and know which options serve you best for which role.  Needless to say, when it comes to CMS shopping, don’t be tricked into adopting any recruitment software that requires you to limit yourself solely to one medium – you’ll regret it.

Needless to say, this is just the tip of the analytics iceberg. And if there’s one thing we love to do, it’s talk strategy. So if you’re using our Candidate Management system already but want to make sure it’s doing as much of the hard yards for you as possible, then don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

And if you’re new to our system and are keen for more info on what it can do for you, then let’s talk.

Talent Propeller New Zealand | Australia