Tag: ATS

In today’s fast-paced business environment, hiring managers are constantly seeking ways to streamline their recruitment and hiring processes while still ensuring they find the best candidate for the job. One tool that is becoming more prevalent in the hiring process is the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). 

Optimizing Efficiencies with an ATS

Did you know the average job posting receives 250 resumes? But less than 25% are seen by human eyes, and hiring managers spend less than 60 seconds reviewing each one.  

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software tool used by businesses to manage and streamline the recruitment process to find the best possible matches more quickly and enhance the client and candidate’s experiences. When used correctly, it can streamline the recruitment process by efficiently managing large volumes of resumes, ensuring that no potential candidate is overlooked. 

Despite its efficiency advantages, hiring managers still need to ensure they’re looking at the big picture of hiring and leverage a combination of an ATS, other recruitment tools, and human relationships to maximize their hiring success. Here are some tips to help you optimize your hiring process. 

Tips for Hiring Managers

Connect with Candidates Personally

As you work with your trusted recruiting partner who is helping you get candidates past the ATS stage, make time to connect with that candidate on the phone or through a video chat. Even a quick 15–20-minute call can make all the difference. 

“It’s really hard to value people’s personalities and work ethic straight from a resume. So really do what you can to take the time to speak with that individual. If they’re checking off, you know, seven of the 10 check boxes, we encourage you to have that conversation.”  – Cameron Little, tenured Creative Circle Recruiter. 

 

Take the time to speak to a candidate and get to know them as a person.

Enter the Search with an Open Mind 

When going into your search for a candidate, keep an open mind and consider transferable skills, or candidates who have experience in adjacent industries.  

“There’s a lot of candidates who can bring value to your company versus really trying to focus on finding the perfect candidate. So, I think obviously the skills and the experience need to be relevant, but I think with the when you’re prioritizing those transferable skills, you can find a lot of great people out there.” – Cody Pickett, tenured Creative Circle Recruiter. 

 

Enter your search with an open mind and consider transferrable skills to expand your talent pool.

Find the Balance 

Relying solely on technology can result in missing the nuanced insights that human interactions provide. By integrating ATS alongside human relationships with industry professionals, recruitment partners, and the candidates themselves, managers can cast a wider net to better inform their decisions.  

This holistic approach ensures that hiring managers not only identify the most qualified candidates but also those who will thrive and contribute positively to the organization.

We Can Help

We’re your trusted partner during the hiring process. Creative Circle’s employees come from the creative industry themselves, so they understand your unique challenges and needs. Here are all the roles we place across freelance, full-time and managed service’s needs, including: 

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About Creative Circle 

💡 At Creative Circle, our human recruiters identify the right candidates and teams, for your marketing and creative projects. We ensure your pain points are solved with top tier talent, backed by deep industry experience. Whether it’s building creative teams, expanding your capacity with the right contractors, or filling that one critical role, we make sure you exceed your goals and drive meaningful results.   

In the past two years, AI innovation has swept through all facets of the marketing world, from hiring to deployment. While AI has always run in the background, now it’s become front and center, raising potential for efficiency and innovation — alongside concerns and frustrations. Employers who prioritize the intersection of human potential and technology will not only keep pace—they’ll lead.

Integrating a Human Touch in Talent Recruitment

Tech tools were supposed to make it easier and more efficient to hire best-in-class talent. And yet, both talent and employers still face frustrations over applicant tracking systems (ATS) which are used by nearly all Fortune 500 companies. LinkedIn and Reddit boards are full of stories from talent and recruiters alike, frustrated that the best talent can sometimes be overlooked, including a viral story of a manager whose own resume was rejected by the ATS, leading him to realize a code error was auto-rejecting all applicants.

Relying on applicant tracking systems alone can also open employers to vulnerabilities: AI platforms can raise bias, fairness, and equity concerns, with one hiring platform even facing a lawsuit alleging the platform’s AI-based hiring tools are discriminatory. And candidates too, can use AI tools to enhance and tailor their resumes for positions they might not be qualified for: According to one 2023 survey conducted by resume services company Standout CV, nearly three-quarters of job candidates would consider using AI tools to “embellish their resumes.”

To address these challenges, organizations should invest in hybrid recruitment models that blend AI efficiency with human oversight. This helps to ensure fairness, reduce errors, and align hiring practices with organizational values.

Having a Strong Tech POV for Maximum Results

Generative AI has significantly disrupted and impacted creative work, from ideation to execution, and the results have hit mainstream conversation. For example, an AI-made update of a classic holiday Coca-Cola commercial generated controversy, and AI integration into the popular Spotify Wrapped has also drawn mixed reactions. Ultimately, the outcome still matters, and the most successful teams in the future will likely be the ones that can integrate AI tools to boost efficiency and innovation, while using a human touch to ensure projects align with core values.

There’s also the concern over “non-authorized AI use;” Creatives who are bringing AI tools into the office without disclosure or approval, raising concerns over privacy, copyright, and more. One 2024 report published by LinkedIn and Microsoft found that 78% of workers — especially those at small and mid-size companies — are bringing their own AI tools into work, and more than half of them are reluctant to admit to using it, due to concerns that doing so might make them seem replaceable.

Employers can mitigate these risks by developing clear guidelines on how and when AI tools should be used. This not only fosters transparency but also empowers employees to leverage AI responsibly for better results.

Building a Holistic Tech-Integrated Strategy for Everyday Tasks

Tech tools can be invaluable — but it’s key that all parties feel confident using them to enhance the KPIs and goals of the department. While AI potential has only increased, new data from Slack’s Workforce Index Study has found that there has been stagnation in AI adoption, partially due to lack of training.

Marketing departments also face the problem of too much tech, not enough talent. One 2023 study found that marketers only use about one-third of their stack, partially due to a skills gap within their teams.

To bridge this divide, organizations can continue to prioritize ongoing training and bring in outside experts to maximize the stack.

Looking forward, thoughtful tech adoption can parallel alongside robust talent development. By fostering a culture of innovation and integration, employers can transform AI and tech tools into catalysts for creativity, efficiency, and growth.

hand pointing forward towards 2025 graphic

Talent and Tech: The Path Forward in 2025

Our new report, Finding the Human Edge: Where Talent Meets Technology, explores key trends at the intersection of talent and technology. With more tech advancements on the horizon, it’s clear that AI and human talent are complementary. The companies who are poised to succeed will be prepared to integrate AI efficiencies alongside human innovation.

At Creative Circle, our human recruiters identify the right candidates and teams for your marketing and creative projects. By forging transformative relationships, we ensure your pain points are solved with top-tier talent, backed by deep industry expertise. From building creative teams to evolving marketing strategies and maximizing tech stacks, we help you exceed your goals and drive meaningful results.