ATS (Applicant Tracking System)
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software employers use to collect applications and move candidates through stages. On LiveRec, the Candidates list shows stages Applied, Shortlisted, Interviewing, Offered, Hired and Rejected. Employers use it to keep every applicant for a role in one place, so recruiters and hiring managers can see who is at each stage.
What an ATS does
- Collects applications from one or many sources into a single list for each role.
- Stores the resume and profile so the team does not hunt through email.
- Tracks stages so everyone sees where a candidate stands.
- Records notes and feedback from interviewers.
- Supports reporting, such as how many candidates reached each stage.
An ATS does not decide who to hire. People review candidates and make the decision.
What it means for your resume
Many systems read your resume into fields such as name, job titles, dates and skills. A plain layout helps that reading:
- Use standard headings such as Experience, Education and Skills.
- Keep dates and job titles in simple text.
- Avoid putting key details in images, text boxes or headers.
- Use the words from the job post where they truthfully describe you.
- Save and upload in a common format such as PDF or Word.
What it means for employers
An ATS keeps a consistent process. Moving a candidate to a stage records the step, so a hiring team can compare roles and see how long each stage takes. See time to hire for one way to measure that.
Example
An ATS may parse your resume into fields, so a plain layout helps. If your last job title sits in a text box, the system may read it as blank.