iCIMS Hire Expectations™

I’m afraid to say that the rising internet technology has spoiled us into thinking all we have to do is ‘Google it’ to get the answer to our questions. While this may be true for finding out where to get the best cheesecake or how to lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks, there are still some answers that cannot be found so simply. Every day, HR professionals are trying to learn more about HR software, but unfortunately, they just don’t know where to look. And, while many of these people are aware of what HR software is, there are still too many other questions left unanswered.

‘Why should I implement HR technology when I haven’t in the past?’
‘Which features are most important in an applicant tracking system?’
‘What is a reasonable price for my size company to spend on HR software?’ and most importantly…
‘Which vendor is right for me?’

These are a just a few of the many questions that come to mind when inquiring about HR technology, but where do you go to find these answers? Sure, you can call different vendors and inquire about each one separately, but how do you know you are getting bias-free answers with your company’s best interest in mind?

Many HR Professionals are taking this matter into their own hands and using various social media websites to find their answers. Websites such as LinkedIn and Recruiter.com that have boards for questions and answers are great for neutral answers. Most people are leveraging the answer boards to receive feedback and suggestions from other users who have HR needs similar to your own. Most people who have had either an excellent or horrific experience using HR technology are eager to share their opinions and advice with others. By doing this, recruiters and hiring managers are gaining bias-free answers and also networking and contacting these people for any other HR software questions.

Another advantage of using social media outlets to ask questions is that they generally provide quick turnaround. With LinkedIn having over 100 million members, Facebook having over 150 million active members and Twitter having about 2.5 million members, there is a good chance that your question will get noticed by someone who has the experience to give you a valuable answer.  Here’s an example of someone on LinkedIn who was looking for feedback on the iCIMS Talent platform and received 8 responses from iCIMS clients who had experience implementing and using the system.

Joining recruiting websites is another way to get your HR answers. Recruiters and hiring managers alike are joining websites such as ERE.net in order to stay informed on top HR technology news and join community groups with topics that interest you. For example, one informative community group on ERE.net is ‘ATS Implementation’. In this group, contributors “discuss all aspects [of ATS implementation] from vendor selection to ‘Going Live,’ best practices, and all the issues associated with adding an ATS to recruiting function.” Even without writing questions or posts of your own, simply reading through other questions can give you insight and answer questions you hadn’t thought of.
    
Although these social media sites can facilitate the evaluation process, it is also essential to identify your own specific needs. What sort of processes do you need to incorporate into your ATS? Make sure the vendor you choose is configurable enough to meet those needs. Need more help? Check out this ATS Handbook Whitepaper that can help you find the perfect HR solution for your company!