10 Different types of recruiting software in 2024

When it comes to recruitment, the saying "time is money" couldn't be truer. In 2023, it cost an average of $4700 per hire. So, to thrive in this arena, you need top-notch software that streamlines sourcing, recruiting, and hiring, without breaking the bank.

Besides, gone are the days of manual candidate searches. Now, it's all about an AI-driven recruitment process that saves you time and money while boosting efficiency.

Is this what you are striving for? Well, then we wouldn't be wrong to say that investing in recruitment software development should be your top priority. Wondering how to pick or develop the right recruitment software for your business? Or what features to prioritize when building your own recruitment platform? Look no further - this article has all the answers you need. Let's dive in!

What is Recruiting Software?

Let's not beat around the bush: it's any digital tool that can ease the headache of all recruiters: identify and find the right candidates as soon as possible. Isn't it magic? However, such systems are not a magic pill for all HR-related people's ills. They are focused on very specific tasks. What are they? Let's take a look:

Get the best passive candidates to join your team. As you probably know, not all top-notch candidates are standing on the street somewhere with a “available for hire” sign. As a rule, they are all already employed. But are they happy with their working life? So, it's our job to find them and bring them to our team. This is where automated candidate screening comes in handy.

Simplify the life of recruiters who are used to manually sorting through piles of resumes. Now this routine work is done by the resume parsing option. What a pleasure to watch the software collect thousands of resumes and tirelessly check them.

Recruiting software is a godsend for those teams that are fed up with analyzing resume content and comparing it to the company's requirements on their own. If you constantly do only this work, there is a high probability of making a mistake. Especially when you work without a break for lunch or coffee. Do you know about the Hungry judge effect? It's about the fact that judges tend to pass more severe sentences when they are hungry. And vice versa: right after a lunch break, they tend to give more lenient sentences. The human factor, it turns out, is a big deal. Keep this in mind.

All of this leads to an improved candidate experience during the application process, which is critical, especially given that 69% of candidates expect a prompt response from employers.

Top 10 Types of Recruiting Software with Their Functions

Here, we outline the 10 most effective types of recruiting software and provide a brief overview of their capabilities. That way, you'll know which systems can best improve your hiring process in 2024:

1. Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Every self-respecting recruiter should have access to such a system while going through these turbulent digital times. Besides, let's face it: manual candidate selection is a thing of the past. So, if you need to place a bunch of vacancies quickly, schedule interviews, and even catch up with candidates during this time, you should definitely switch to an ATS. This system is like ten recruiters at once. And while it's working, you can do things that are more about empathy, team building, and human relationships. Let the robots work, and in the meantime, we will deal with higher-order issues, don't you think?

Compared to other tools, ATSs stand out for their robust features such as candidate scoring, interview scheduling, and compliance tracking. While there may be concerns about cost or complexity, the effectiveness of ATSs makes them a top choice for recruiters looking to improve their hiring process.

2. Augmented writing tools

Did you know that 89% of hiring managers form opinions about candidates within the first 15 minutes of interviews? The same is true for writing a job description. Avoiding bias in the recruitment process is more than vital.

To navigate this challenge, recruiters often rely on augmented writing tools. These tools analyze vast data sets, including past candidate communications, current industry trends, and compliance requirements. By harnessing the power of these tools, recruiters can save significant time - from posting job openings to finalizing hiring agreements - while ensuring their job postings resonate with the target audience and uphold the company's reputation.

3. Timesheet software

Every action should be measurable. This is what every forward-thinking businessman will tell you. So, why not keep track of how much time recruiters spend on closing one vacancy? Moreover, they spend time writing a job description and communicating with candidates. All actions that go into hiring take time. And this time needs to be counted. Therefore, time tracking software is a must-have for businesses that want to grow, not stagnate.

With AI capabilities built into the timesheet system, you have access to advanced analytics and intelligence. These AI capabilities allow you to analyze data on time spent and the cost of delaying a task, identify common patterns, see bottlenecks, optimize resource allocation, and increase overall productivity.

4. Onboarding software

Communication is essential when onboarding new employees. If something goes wrong, new hires can easily reject you, and then you lose great talent. So, to prevent this from happening, you should think about how to make onboarding more comfortable for new people in your team. And, of course, onboarding software can help.

What's especially cool about these programs is that every new employee can easily download them to their smartphone. This gives them on-the-go access to important job information, chatbots to act as mentors or assistants, and an easy-to-use database with intelligent search capabilities to help your people find what they need quickly.

5. Interviewing software

This recruiting software accelerates candidate communication and allows you to reach candidates wherever they are. Interviewing software breaks down borders and language barriers. Unlike older versions, modern ones come with AI features, which is great news for HR.

Using interviewing software with AI helps recruiters improve the interview process. Features like sentiment analysis, natural language understanding, and facial expression recognition provide deeper insights into candidates. This helps recruiters make better hiring decisions by understanding candidates' enthusiasm, communication skills, and cultural fit.

6. Social media platforms

Managing social media advertising campaigns to attract new candidates is usually a daunting task that requires a lot of time and effort. Keeping track of social media trends and analyzing audience sentiment truly adds to the workload. But you don't have to devote so much time and energy to social media management anymore.

Today, there are all-in-one recruiting software solutions that let you schedule posts, launch and monitor large-scale advertising campaigns, and track candidates, mentions, and job seeker sentiment, all while getting detailed analytics.

7. Payroll management software

Payroll management software makes managing payroll, deductions, and tax filing a breeze by automating these tasks. No more fear of numbers. This software seamlessly integrates with other recruitment systems, such as time tracking and benefits, to streamline your workflow.

Here you can find the next features:

• automatic payroll, which is a godsend for accounting, believe it or not;
• compliance with tax laws, which is essential for a well-run business;
• customizable reports so that you don't waste time on this bureaucratic stuff and quickly get down to business-boosting matters.

Yes, in the beginning, you may think that all these functions and the overall system setup are too overwhelming and hard-to-grasp for you. However, don't rush to judgment. A new thing always seems complicated and not worth your efforts at first. But then, gradually, you will see what its long-term benefits are for your business. Here's a hint: accuracy, compliance, operational efficiency, and as a result, a profitable business. Isn't that what you want?

8. Candidate background check software

This tool ensures that companies hire the right people by verifying critical details such as education, work history, criminal history, and other criteria tailored to your industry and preferences. It enables recruiters and companies to verify the identity of their hires, saving time and providing confidence in decision-making through automated screening. It also helps meet regulatory requirements, streamlining the hiring process and increasing reliability, which is paramount.

9. Job board software

Job board software serves as a central online platform connecting employers and job seekers. Employers can post detailed job listings, screen applications, and communicate with candidates, while job seekers can browse and apply for positions that match their skills and interests.

With features like CV screening and easy communication tools, the process becomes streamlined and efficient for both parties.

10. Candidate CRMs with ATSs combined

Candidate CRM software integrated with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) stands out for its all-in-one functionality and smooth integration. Unlike separate systems, this integrated solution offers a single platform for managing candidate relationships and the entire recruitment process. It simplifies communication, automates follow-ups, and offers customizable pipelines, enabling recruiters to engage both passive (70% of global job seekers) and active candidates efficiently. Plus, the seamless integration eliminates manual data transfer and duplication, saving time and reducing errors.

9 Must-have Recruiting Software Features

The main purpose of using recruitment software is to increase the efficiency of the entire hiring process. Therefore, if you are planning to create recruitment software or if you are looking for an web development team to create one, first of all, pay attention to the features that this system should be equipped with.

The main difference between the recruitment platforms available is just in their features. For example, it can be a straightforward recruitment CRM, or it can be AI-driven recruitment software, which makes them different in terms of cost and time to build.

That's why it makes sense to turn to recruiting software development that could cover your business needs right from the start. To make your choice easier, here are the must-have recruiting software features to look for if you want to get the most out of your recruiting software:

1. Customization

Modern recruiting tools offer customizable forms and workflows based on your specific needs. This means you can customize the hiring funnel so that the recruiting software's search engine can select candidates according to the parameters you specify.

For example, you may be interested in candidates with technical skills only, or conversely, candidates with soft skills, or candidates with well-defined work experience. Thanks to the advanced customization options, you can set the search parameters very precisely and therefore count on the appropriate result.

2. Automation

Recruiting automation options allow you to automate all those workflows - posting job ads, analyzing submitted resumes, screening the most suitable candidates, communicating with job seekers, and analyzing their moods - that were previously done manually.

Recruitment software solutions also help avoid mistakes related to the so-called human factor, when a recruiter may overlook truly valuable candidates due to fatigue, bad mood, or other personal factors. And since mishiring costs businesses a lot of money, it makes sense to approach the recruiting software development process responsibly. Perhaps you should hire software developers with a relevant track record first, create an MVP, and then gradually move on to implementing AI in the recruiting software you need.

3. Analytics and Reporting

Navigating the complexities of recruitment requires more than just intuition - it demands data-driven insights. Analytics and reporting features offer those valuable insights into your hiring process. Wondering which search channels bring in the most qualified candidates, or how long it takes to close a position on average? Analytics and reporting can help you answer these and other questions.

By tracking key metrics such as time to fill, candidate conversion rate, cost per hire, sourcing channel performance, and more, you can identify areas for improvement, make data-driven decisions, and ultimately hire better and faster.

4. Mobile accessibility

For you to get the results you need, it's best to provide your HR professionals as well as candidates with on-the-go recruiting software. Having a recruiting platform available on mobile devices is even more important as remote work becomes the new normal. People don't want to be limited by geography, which means that being tied to the web version of a recruiting system is becoming a burden, a relic of the past.

What's more, 58% of job seekers prefer to use their smartphones to search for jobs on the go and 60% of people surveyed use video interviews.

To attract top talent who are often on the move, your platform should prioritize mobile accessibility and compatibility with various devices and operating systems.

5. Third-party integration

Whichever recruiting software you choose, there should be an option for third-party integrations, such as integration with your website, job boards, email, messengers, social media, AI-powered ATS, or CRM. With an integration option in place, candidate sourcing becomes more manageable, tasks are resolved quickly, and all stakeholders are aware of key milestones.

On the other hand, without a centralized hub to bring together all the recruiting platforms and tools, the recruiting process becomes scattered, leading to more time spent on routine tasks.

6. Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

An ATS can be used as a standalone tool or integrated as a feature to save the day by organizing all those CVs digitally. It helps you keep track of candidates, their applications, and where they are in the recruitment process. This feature is a game changer as it saves you time, reduces paperwork, and ensures that no promising candidate is overlooked.

By the way, did you know that 75% of recruiters use a recruiting or Applicant Tracking System to cut hiring costs? What’s more, 96% of Fortune 500 companies are utilizing an ATS.

7. AI-powered features

Let's start with the facts. According to surveys, 68% of respondents notice that AI is being used more and more extensively in recruiting. What is so good about these AI-based tools? First, they are not human, and this is their biggest advantage. Just kidding. In fact, it means that the tools don't get tired and can work around the clock. Isn't it great?

Second, AI-based tools for recruiting tasks work many times faster than humans. Moreover, they can communicate with candidates as well as a human recruiter! Can you imagine how you can elevate your HR-related tasks if you decide to integrate such a system into your processes?

At the end of the day, anything that doesn't require deep thinking can be done by AI.

8. Customizable job posting templates

Probably the most critical option for HR to have in recruiting software is job posting templates. Why is this important? Because you can create an effective template once and use it over and over again, instead of wasting valuable time rewriting the same ad copy. No matter how many jobs you have or how different they are, customizable templates make it easy to change the details to meet your goals.

9. Security and privacy

These are basic features of recruiting software. They ensure sensitive candidate data is protected from unauthorized access and comply with privacy laws. With robust security measures such as encryption and access control, you can protect candidate data and maintain candidate and client trust.

How to Choose the Best Recruiting Software for Your Business

If you're currently on the decision-making stage of choosing a recruiting platform, that's great, congrats! However, if this choice is too daunting for you - you're already confused about the options and features of the system to consider - take a breath and listen to us.

We have enough experience, and hands-on experience as well, to be able to advise you on the right recruiting platform. So, grab a cup of tea and just check out what we have got for you below.

What to consider when choosing the best recruiting software

Before embarking on web and mobile recruiting software development, which requires significant investment, it is worth answering key questions that affect the features or capabilities of your recruiting software as a whole.

What are your recruitment needs?

Creating the perfect recruiting software solution with seamless integration, robust features, and scalability will streamline your hiring processes, both routine tasks and strategic decisions.

To kickstart this journey, you must first identify the specific recruiting challenges you aim to address. Here are some potential areas to focus on:

• Reach a wider talent pool
• Find the best candidates
• Reduce staff turnover
• Improve your company's reputation
• Reduce your hiring costs
• Hire faster
• Improve the candidate experience
• Streamline the candidate journey, etc.

Which one is true for you?

Alternatively, you may want to shift your focus from recruiting goals to the barriers your team has encountered. What are those obstacles?

1. Lack of a consistent recruiting process across stakeholders

2. Recruiters spend time on tasks that could be automated

3. Poor candidate experience due to unclear communication.

Your recruiters may be struggling with imperfect sourcing and hiring systems that leave little room for cultivating quality candidate relationships. However, integrating a recruiting platform with marketing, candidate screening, and analytics features could not only streamline your recruiters' challenges, it could also boost your company's efficiency to new heights.

What features should your recruiting software have?

Each feature of your recruiting software should serve a purpose tied to specific tasks. If your goal is simply to distribute job postings, complex software development may not be necessary.

However, if your goal is to enhance employer branding, attract candidates, engage with potential hires, schedule interviews, analyze data, and monitor key metrics to gauge the effectiveness of the recruiting process, your platform should include relevant features and even more.

How much does it cost to create recruitment management software?

Every candidate management software provider has its own pricing structure. If you opt to develop hiring software from scratch, the development cost will be impacted by several factors:

• How many and how complex features do you want?
• How many people will use the platform and what can they do on it?
• How many jobs do you plan to fill with the software?

If you are thinking about developing applicant tracking software or another recruiting software solution, you need to consider a few things:

• The makeup of your IT outsourcing development team, including their skills and experience.
• The type of teamwork (staff augmentation or another method).
• An estimation of the software development time and technology you might need. For example, if you need an AI-powered ATS, you may have to hire developers with AI experience.
• Discussing all details with the supplier or contractor before handshakes to avoid potential troubles later on.
• Setting a budget that you're comfortable with and sticking to it, even if problems arise during development.

Now let’s talk about AI-powered recruiting software.

How can AI-driven Recruitment Software Enhance the Hiring Process?

AI-based solutions are currently in high demand, with the global AI-based recruiting software market size of $590.50 billion in 2023. AI is everywhere, and that’s why exploring AI-powered recruitment software is a smart move to enhance recruiting and hiring processes. In today's fast-paced tech world, staying in the loop is key to success.

Let's waste no time and dive right into the benefits of using AI in recruiting software solutions. Here's a compelling fact to kick things off: 76% of HR professionals believe that without implementing AI solutions, especially generative AI, in the hiring process, companies risk falling behind in efficiency.

Now, let's discover the key areas where AI is making an impact in recruiting, both now and for years to come.

Resume parsing

Thanks to AI, recruiting tools can quickly analyze and extract critical information from resumes. This advanced technology speeds up the candidate search process and ensures that no critical skills or experience are overlooked.

Candidate assessment

Gone are the days of manual skill assessments. Now, AI-based assessment tools step in, using tests, games, and sophisticated techniques to assess a candidate's fit for a role. Let the power of AI do the heavy lifting to ensure the perfect match for the position at hand.

Planning and conducting interviews

What's really great about AI-powered interview scheduling tools is that they take care of all the mundane work. Do you need to juggle dozens of tasks at once? Do you have no time to coordinate interviews and agree on a time with all participants? Breathe a sigh of relief, because from now on, such fears exist only in your dreams. In reality, you can fully rely on your recruiting platform. It will coordinate the most suitable time for the interview instead of you, as well as get the approval of all interested parties. All you have to do is show up for the interview.

Talent acquisition

Using AI algorithms as intended, vast amounts of data are meticulously analyzed to find the best talent. Rest assured that every resource is optimized and only the most suitable candidates are attracted. Say goodbye to wasted money and mis-hiring, as AI in recruiting software enables you to target the right people for the right jobs.

Automated CV and candidate screening

Thanks to AI-driven algorithms, resumes, and applications are meticulously screened against pre-defined benchmarks without pauses or downtime. The result? A curated list of top candidates, delivered at lightning speed. This not only streamlines the hiring process but also ensures that the candidate screening process is always consistent and fair.

Employee retention

Recruitment software isn't just about hiring - it's about much more: AI-driven recruitment platforms pinpoint factors leading to turnover and predict attrition risks. This insight is invaluable, enabling organizations to address dissatisfaction and boost retention, fostering greater employee loyalty. Besides, 58% of surveyed firms rely on HR and recruiting technology to find and retain talent.

Background check

Discover candidates' work history, credentials, interests, accomplishments, and most importantly, their strengths and weaknesses with AI-powered recruitment software. Get answers to your questions faster than you can formulate them.

Real-time communication

No need for face-to-face talks with candidates initially. With advanced chatbots powered by GPT-3 and GPT-4, you're covered. They handle inquiries, set up appointments, and crucially, keep candidates engaged, making for a smoother experience.

Predictive analytics for hiring

AI-powered predictive analytics provide data-driven insights into your organization's hiring needs. They identify hiring and retention bottlenecks while predicting candidate success. It's like having a roadmap for strategic hiring decisions.

Onboarding

Let's start with a fact: effective onboarding boosts new employee retention by a whopping 82%. That's where AI-driven onboarding platforms come in. They provide new hires with a personalized onboarding experience, acquainting them with company policies and culture. This streamlines administrative duties and ensures everyone feels engaged right from the start.

Are You Ready to Level Up Your Recruitment in 2024?

So, it looks like it's time to make the choice you've been preparing for throughout this article. It's time to choose the right recruiting software. However, we would like to warn you that if a standardized system is not what you are looking for, consider developing a customized platform for your recruiting needs. You can get a fully configured system that meets your needs by staff augmentation, i.e. working with outsourced IT developers who will be completely focused on your project.

The DDI development team is here to help onboard the development team, recommend effective project management methods like Agile, and ensure you get the recruitment software you need. Have a question? Drop us a line and we'll be happy to help.

FAQ

Let's answer common questions you may have about recruitment software.

What is recruiting software?

Basically, it's software that hires candidates instead of recruiters. Thanks to its extensive features and capabilities, such software can write job ads, receive resumes, chat with candidates, and schedule interviews.

How does recruiting software work?

The way the program operates is not much different from the algorithm that recruiters usually follow in their daily work. And yet, the range of system tasks greatly depends on the set of functionality you selected. Basically, such a platform should create job descriptions and then spread them where you need them to be. Then, the system will be receiving applications from candidates and, based on its settings, will select the most suitable candidates. If you need more out of the system, just use the settings available.

What type of software do recruiters use?

Most often, they use ATS, CRM, and job board software. However, it all depends on the budget and the size of the organization. If the company is small, it might be weird to spend money on a complex and expensive platform. And vice versa: if the business is expanding, it makes sense to invest in technology, because otherwise you could be left on the sidelines.

What is the best recruitment software?

The best recruitment software depends on your company's needs and capabilities. Some popular options include Zappyhire, Zoho, Paylocity, Buffer and Basecamp. To get the best recruitment software, you can also create your own bespoke recruitment software solution.

What kind of AI do recruiters use?

Among the AI tools are predictive analytics, text analysis, machine learning, and natural language processing. They are used both for simple purposes, such as writing job descriptions and analyzing the content of resumes, and for more advanced tasks, such as analyzing candidates' speech and gestures, or initial communication with applicants.

How much does recruitment software cost?

It's all very customized. If there are free versions of such platforms, they are likely to be very limited in functionality. The main thing to keep in mind here is that the more you need to rely on a platform, the more comprehensive it should be, and therefore the more expensive it should be. However, consulting with platform developers will not hurt.