Running a staffing agency means dealing with a flood of applications—and sorting through them fast.
If you want to stay ahead and make the best hires quickly, you need an applicant tracking system (ATS) that can handle the load.
We’ve done the research and tested the tools, and here are the top ATS options that will streamline your recruitment process and save you time.
How to Choose the Right ATS for Your Staffing Agency
Choosing the right ATS isn’t just about picking the one with the most features; it’s about finding a system that aligns with your agency’s needs.
Start by evaluating your team size and growth plans—will the platform scale as your agency expands?
Next, consider your budget: some systems offer essential features for small teams, while others provide advanced tools at a premium.
Don’t forget integrations: does the ATS work seamlessly with your existing CRM, HR software, or job boards? The last thing you want is a standalone system that can’t connect with the tools you already rely on.
Pro Tip: Always take advantage of free trials or demos. Seeing how the system works with real candidates can help you avoid buyer’s remorse.
Common Mistakes Agencies Make When Choosing an ATS
Selecting an ATS might seem straightforward, but there are common mistakes that can slow you down.
One of the biggest? Overpaying for features you don’t need.
Just because a system offers 25 pipeline stages doesn’t mean your agency requires that complexity.
Another frequent error is ignoring the learning curve. A flashy interface is no good if your team finds it cumbersome to use. Always choose an ATS that’s user-friendly for the people who’ll be using it day-to-day.
Finally, don’t underestimate growth. Even if you’re a small agency now, opt for a platform that can scale with you. Switching systems down the line can be a costly, time-consuming endeavor.
Pro Tip: Ask vendors about how their platform handles growth—both in terms of candidate volume and additional features.
Here are the 9 great ATS solutions to consider.
Recruiteze: Best for Effortless Online Applicant Tracking
If you’re looking for a tool that covers all your recruitment needs in one place, Recruiteze is the perfect fit.
It’s a two-part solution designed to simplify the hiring process and let you focus on what matters—finding the right talent fast.
Recruiteze Features:
- Job Broadcasting: With one click, publish jobs to major boards like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor. Reach thousands of candidates instantly.
- Custom Workflows: Tailor the system to match your agency’s hiring process, ensuring seamless tracking from the first application to the final hire.
- Candidate Management: Organize resumes, tag candidates, and filter applicants for precise search results in seconds.
- Personalized Candidate Communication: Send custom responses and automate your outreach to keep candidates engaged without extra effort.
- Resume Parsing: Upload resumes in bulk, and let Recruiteze parse them for easy sorting.
- Team Collaboration: Sync with your team, assign tasks, and keep everyone on the same page throughout the hiring process.
iReformat (complementary to Recruiteze):
- Automated Resume Reformatting: Set your custom template, upload resumes, and iReformat will do hours of manual work in seconds.
- Resume Customization: Create headers, footers, watermarks, and even style fonts with ease, ensuring every resume meets your client’s needs.
Why Recruiteze?
- Cost-Effective: Reduce hiring costs while improving the quality of candidates.
- Accessibility: Fully cloud-based—access your hiring platform anywhere.
- Integration: Connect with Gmail, Outlook, or any email server, and keep your communications streamlined.
Best ATS For Staffing Agencies #1: Recruiteze
Finally, let’s discuss some of the best recruitment software for staffing agencies we have in 2021.
Yes, this is our software, but hear us out. We will let our benefits and features tell why Recruiteze is a great recruiting software for staffing agencies.
Here’s a list of features that Recruiteze offer:
- Customizable Forms – Customize forms for different jobs so that they match the company and job role.
- Career Pages – Let visitors know what job openings you have with straightforward career page widgets that automatically stay up to date.
- Bulk Emails – Need to send dozens or even hundreds of emails at once? No problem, with Recruiteze, you can send personalized emails to multiple candidates at once.
- Tags and filters – Our advanced tagging system allows you to sort candidates and resumes in a systematic way that will allow you to filter them later on with ease.
- Email Address Integration – send and receive emails through the platform from your own account and stay updated.
- CRM – We know that managing candidates, clients, and vendors can be a handful task. Our CRM makes this process easy and straightforward. Keep all your communications and notes in one place and share them with your teammates.
- Job Broadcasting – Share jobs on multiple platforms at once, including ZipRecruiter, GlassDoor, Indeed, and many more.
- Resume Formatting with iReformat – Parse resumes, add them to the candidate database, and reformat the information however you like. You can create however many templates you need.
- Customizable workflows, reports, and many more.
Recruiteze is an excellent choice for staffing agencies that want to have all of their recruitment efforts handled by one software.
You can try Recruiteze and iReformat out for free right now. Hiring was never easier.
Workable: Best for Candidate Tracking
Workable makes managing candidates a breeze with its advanced tracking features and powerful search capabilities. Whether you’re handling a few dozen or a thousand applicants, Workable helps you find the right talent faster.
Standout Features:
- AI-Generated Job Descriptions: Save time by letting AI write job descriptions and interview questions.
- Advanced Candidate Search: Find candidates by job title, location, or any specific detail. With custom tags and filters, it’s easier than ever to manage large candidate pools.
- Mobile App: Manage your recruitment on the go with a fully functional app.
Breezy HR: Best for Small Businesses on a Budget
For smaller agencies, Breezy HR offers a solid ATS solution with a free plan and affordable paid options. You get the core features you need without breaking the bank.
Standout Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Pipelines: Easily track candidates through the hiring process with an intuitive pipeline view.
- Automated Emails and Scheduling: Set up automatic communications and scheduling to save time.
- Branded Careers Page: Build a custom careers page without coding skills.
Pinpoint: Best for a Premium Experience
If you want a luxurious ATS that emphasizes user experience, Pinpoint is a top contender. It offers customizable workflows, gorgeous UI, and unlimited job postings.
Standout Features:
- Customizable Candidate Tracking: Build the workflows you need with up to 25 stages in the hiring process.
- Bias Reduction Tools: Anonymized screening hides demographic information, ensuring candidates are judged purely on merit.
- Equality Monitoring: Track diversity metrics with detailed reports.
Zoho Recruit: Best for AI-Powered Recruiting
Zoho Recruit brings AI into the hiring process with its intelligent assistant, Zia, that scores candidates based on how well they match your job postings.
Standout Features:
- AI-Powered Candidate Rating: Zia compares candidate data against job requirements for quick filtering.
- Automation Tools: Set up workflows to send rejection emails or update candidate statuses automatically.
- Career Site Integration: Build and customize your career page easily.
Greenhouse: Best for Reporting and Analytics
Greenhouse is the ATS for data-driven staffing agencies. Its reporting capabilities go beyond the basics, giving you deep insights into every aspect of your hiring process.
Standout Features:
- Advanced Reporting: Over 40 pre-built reports, including pipeline history and candidate quality.
- Custom Dashboards: Create custom reports with interactive visualizations.
- 500+ Integrations: Connect seamlessly with a range of job boards and HR tools.
BambooHR: Best for Full HR Integration
If you need more than just an ATS, BambooHR combines applicant tracking with full HR integration. Perfect for agencies looking to manage hiring, onboarding, payroll, and employee records all in one place.
Standout Features:
- Candidate Filters: Quickly sort through applicants with detailed filters.
- HR Features: Move new hires straight into payroll and benefits management.
- Custom Candidate Pools: Organize candidates and send targeted communications.
JazzHR: Best for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses
For smaller teams that need an easy-to-use ATS, JazzHR is a great option. It’s affordable, packed with features, and built to help HR teams work smarter, not harder.
Standout Features:
- Guided Job Posting: The system flags incomplete fields before a posting goes live, ensuring accuracy.
- Task Automation: Automate repetitive tasks like emailing candidates and scheduling interviews.
- Candidate Watchlist: Easily keep an eye on top candidates with a watchlist feature.
Lever: Best for Engaging Passive Candidates
Looking to build relationships with top talent before they’re actively job-hunting? Lever is perfect for engaging passive candidates with its CRM-style approach to recruitment.
Standout Features:
- Nurture Campaigns: Send personalized outreach campaigns to passive candidates.
- Chrome Extension: Easily source candidates directly from the web.
- Analytics Dashboard: Get real-time insights into candidate engagement.
Ashby: Best for High-Growth Organizations
For agencies that are scaling fast, Ashby is a powerful all-in-one recruiting platform. From tracking candidates to scheduling interviews and generating reports, Ashby has it all.
Standout Features:
- Custom Dashboards: Track your recruitment metrics with customizable reporting tools.
- AI Assistant: Build custom candidate searches with AI support.
- Structured Workflows: Create detailed hiring processes with up to 25 stages.
Top Features Every ATS Should Have in 2024
With so many ATS options available, here are the features to look out for:
AI-Powered Automation: Save hours by letting AI handle candidate screening, resume parsing, and even auto-rejections. The time you save can be spent on high-level strategy.
Customizable Workflows: No two agencies operate the same way. You need an ATS that allows you to create custom pipelines and adjust the system to match your hiring style.
Advanced Candidate Tracking: In 2024, it’s about more than just tracking applications. Look for systems with tagging, filters, and detailed candidate profiles that let you search by any criteria you choose.
Mobile Accessibility: Recruitment doesn’t stop when you leave the office. Make sure your ATS has a fully functional mobile app so you can manage candidates on the go.
FAQ
How long does it take to implement an ATS? Most ATS platforms can be up and running within a few days, but full team adoption might take a couple of weeks, depending on how familiar they are with similar systems. Training is key here.
Do I need technical knowledge to use one? No! The best ATS platforms are designed to be intuitive. If you can navigate a web browser, you can probably manage an ATS. Plus, many systems offer tutorials and customer support.
How secure are ATS platforms? Top ATS tools comply with industry security standards, ensuring that sensitive candidate data is encrypted and protected. Always check for features like two-factor authentication and data backups.
Will the ATS replace my current CRM? Not necessarily. Many ATS platforms are designed to complement your CRM, not replace it. Check for integration options that allow seamless communication between the two systems.
How customizable are the workflows? Most modern ATS platforms allow for fully customizable workflows, meaning you can create the exact stages that match your hiring process without any compromise.
Conclusion
Finding the right ATS for your staffing agency can be the difference between a chaotic hiring process and a streamlined, efficient system.
Whether you need the cost-efficiency of Recruiteze, the AI-powered insights of Zoho Recruit, or the in-depth reporting of Greenhouse, there’s an ATS here for every agency.
Get started today, and watch your recruiting process transform into a well-oiled machine.