The Covid-19 pandemic has caused organizations to take action in how they manage their workforces and recruitment processes. The free research report, The State of Applicant Tracking Systems 2020, is now available for download. The HR Research Institute, powered by HR.com, conducted the third annual study of HR professionals to better understand and track the state of recruitment and applicant tracking systems (ATS), especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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In response to the pandemic and related events, the majority of respondents (78%) say their organization has prompted changes to their recruitment and talent acquisition action, with the most common being adopting virtual conferencing (89%) and virtual interviews (79%). Organizations made a number of other adjustments as well such as implementing new technologies to handle remote hiring, modifying assessment processes, and reconfiguring their ATS.

Despite the utility of ATS, many HR professionals still say that their systems suffer from a number of weaknesses. Just 46% indicate that their ATS is good or very good at automatically matching candidates to the right job postings, and only 47% perceive their company to be good or very good at gathering and integrating employee referrals. At the other end of the spectrum, ATS are considered most effective at tracking candidates as they move through the recruitment process (81%).

“It’s critical right now that employers understand how talent acquisition is changing with the phases of the pandemic so their business can stay agile and resilient,” stated Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator and CEO of HR.com. “Ensure your ATS can adapt to the changing trends such as compliance changes and video-interviewing, and be prepared for different scenarios with your hiring processes.”

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