A senior HR executive of a leading hotel chain, with locations across North America who also happens to be a customer of ATS, told one of our account executives, during a recent conversation, that the “Application Tracking System is one of the best business management software that has ever been created.” She went on to say “it took us a while to get the system to work according to our needs, along with help from our vendor. However, in the initial setup the system, it had too many questions and potential candidates would start the process of the online job application but halfway through just abandon it altogether.”
Let’s fast-forward to a recent survey by CareerBuilder which is referenced in an article, by Dave Zielinski, Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) titled Most Job Seekers Abandon Online Job Applications. Some of reasons citied for candidates abandoning an online applications reads, in part; “The fallout for organizations from this persistent issue is the loss of top talent, poor word-of-mouth from candidates frustrated with the process and the higher costs associated with abandonment in cost-per-click recruiting models.”
The article goes on to say “Traditional thinking holds that lengthy applications will screen out apathetic candidates and good talent will be dedicated enough to fill out more information.” Unless a candidate is applying for a job with NASA or some other high profile job like the CEO of a public company, there is likely no need to have 50 or more questions on an online job application.
At some point it might be best to remove some of the generic and mundane questions that are not germane to online application, including decreasing the number of screens applicants have to go through. And, yes, you also need to make sure that the questions on the application are relevant to the job. However, —if these questions are causing candidates to exit out of the application process before its completed at an alarming rate—it might be time to review your application tracking system, with your provider, and come up with a process that’s inline with your corporate philosophy—while taking into account the changing attitudes and expectations of today’s job candidates.
To learn about ATS time and attendance solution TimeWork OnDemand or, to register for one of our bi-monthly webinars go to our website. And, to reach an account representative, call: 866.294.2467.
