Hiring the right people for your business is one of the most important things you’ll do as a leader. And the truth is, your recruiting process sets the tone for the kind of team you’ll build. From the very first interaction, potential candidates are forming an impression of your company—one that can either reinforce your credibility or send them running.
That’s why consistency, professionalism, and organization in your hiring process matter. A clunky, confusing, or slow hiring experience can turn off top talent before they even reach the interview stage.
The best way to streamline this process while preserving your sanity? An Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
What Is an ATS, and Why Do You Need One?
An ATS is software designed to help businesses manage the entire hiring process, from posting job openings and collecting applications to tracking candidates and streamlining communication.
Without an ATS, you’re likely relying on emails, spreadsheets, or even paper applications (yikes!)—all of which create bottlenecks and increase the chances of losing track of great candidates.
Here’s how an ATS helps you:
1. Creates a Professional First Impression
Candidates expect a smooth and efficient hiring experience. An ATS ensures that your job postings are clear, applications are easy to submit, and communication is timely. This signals to applicants that you’re an organized and professional company—qualities that attract top talent.
2. Keeps You Organized
Instead of sifting through hundreds of emails or Excel rows, an ATS keeps all applications in one place. You can track where candidates are in the hiring pipeline, take notes, and ensure no one slips through the cracks.
3. Saves Time with Automation
Manually reviewing applications, sending follow-up emails, and scheduling interviews can take hours. An ATS automates these tasks, allowing you to focus on evaluating candidates instead of drowning in administrative work.
4. Enhances Collaboration
If multiple team members are involved in hiring, an ATS allows them to leave feedback, share notes, and collaborate on candidate evaluations without back-and-forth email chains.
5. Improves Candidate Experience
A frustrating application process can cause great candidates to abandon ship. An ATS ensures the process is seamless, with clear steps and timely responses, making your company stand out in a competitive job market.
6. Provides Data-Driven Insights
Want to know where your best hires are coming from? How long it takes to fill a position? An ATS tracks key hiring metrics so you can improve your process over time.
Top ATS Options for Small and Growing Businesses
There are many ATS options out there, but the right one for you depends on your budget, hiring needs, and company size. Here are some of the best:
1. Breezy HR
Best for: Small businesses and startups
Breezy HR is an intuitive, easy-to-use ATS with automation, scheduling, and team collaboration tools. It also offers a free plan for smaller teams.
2. Workable
Best for: Growing companies that need scalability
Workable offers AI-powered sourcing, one-click job posting, and advanced reporting features, making it ideal for businesses that want to scale their hiring efforts.
3. Lever
Best for: Companies that prioritize candidate relationship management
Lever combines ATS features with a customer relationship management (CRM) approach, helping businesses nurture relationships with top talent over time.
4. JazzHR
Best for: Budget-conscious small businesses
JazzHR is a cost-effective ATS with customizable workflows, making it a great choice for smaller companies that need a flexible but affordable solution.
5. Greenhouse
Best for: Mid-sized to large companies focused on data-driven hiring
Greenhouse is a robust ATS with structured hiring features, diversity and inclusion tools, and strong analytics, making it ideal for companies with more complex hiring needs.
6. iCIMS
Best for: Enterprises and high-volume hiring
If you’re hiring at scale, iCIMS offers a powerful platform with AI-driven automation and deep analytics to help large businesses manage high applicant volumes.
7. Monday.com
Best for: Businesses that want a highly customizable, visual workflow
Monday.com isn’t just a project management tool—it also offers Monday Recruit, an ATS that provides automation, pipeline tracking, and seamless integrations. It’s a great option for teams that want a flexible, visual way to manage hiring.
The Bottom Line
Your hiring process isn’t just about filling roles—it’s about setting the foundation for your team’s success. An ATS helps you stay organized, communicate consistently, and provide a professional candidate experience from day one.
If you’re still managing hiring through email threads and spreadsheets, it’s time to upgrade. Investing in the right ATS will save you time, reduce stress, and help you attract top-tier talent—without losing your mind in the process.
But having the right tools is just one piece of the hiring puzzle. Who is actually involved in the hiring process? Many companies leave hiring entirely up to HR or a single decision-maker, but the truth is, hiring should be a team effort.
In our next blog, we’ll dive into why everyone—from leadership to front line employees—should have a role in hiring and how involving the right people at the right time leads to stronger teams, better culture fit, and long-term business success.
Stay tuned!
Black Creek Business Coaching 