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There’s no shortage of recruiting software solutions out there to help organizations hire better talent more efficiently.

Here I outline all the different types of recruiting software to help you make an informed decision.

What Is Recruiting Software?

Recruiting/recruitment software is a type of HR software designed to facilitate and streamline the recruitment and hiring process for organizations. The primary goal of recruiting software is to help the organization achieve its goals by making the hiring process more efficient, effective, and scalable.

Benefits Of Using Recruiting Software

Recruitment software helps organizations attract and hire the right talent more efficiently. Specific recruitment software benefits include:

  • Efficiency: Automates repetitive and time-sensitive tasks to streamline the hiring process.
  • Improved candidate experience: Helps improve communication and application processes for candidates.
  • Enhanced collaboration: Allows multiple team members to collaborate on candidate evaluations, share feedback, and make collective decisions more efficiently.
  • Data-driven decisions: Collects data and helps represent it in a useful manner to optimize recruitment strategies.
  • Scalability: Be able to more easily handle varying recruitment volumes and high-volume recruiting.
  • Compliance: In-built tools help ensure adherence to legal requirements.
  • Cost Savings: Reduces hiring costs through automation and efficiency.

14 Types Of Recruitment Software

Recruiting software comes in many different flavors and can be either a standalone tool or a feature of another application such as an HRMS.

Here are the different types of recruiting software:

1. ATS (Application Tracking System)

ATSs are the undisputed champions of recruiting software. Fundamentally, they act as central candidate databases with an interface to receive applications and manage candidates through the process. 

They can also help with creating and posting job ads and careers pages and use automation to communicate with candidates and schedule interviews. For more, check out our article on applicant tracking system features and best applicant tracking systems.

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2. Staffing software

Staffing software is a specialized tool designed to assist staffing agencies and HR departments in efficiently managing the recruitment and placement of employees. It streamlines processes such as job posting, candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, and onboarding.

Key features of staffing software include automated job posting and candidate sourcing, efficient resume screening and applicant tracking, streamlined interview scheduling, integrated payroll and billing systems, compliance management with labor laws, robust reporting and analytics, and effective communication tools for interaction with candidates and clients.

For more, check out our choice of the best staffing software.

3. Recruiting CRM software

Recruiting CRM (candidate relationship management) software is used by recruiters to manage and nurture relationships with potential candidates. It helps in organizing and tracking interactions with candidates, building talent pools, and engaging with passive job seekers.

By leveraging CRM software, organizations can maintain ongoing communication with potential hires, personalize candidate experiences, and enhance their employer brand. For more, check out our shortlist of the best recruiting CRM software.

4. Recruitment analytics software

Recruitment analytics software helps organizations to analyze and improve the hiring process. 

HR professionals and recruitment teams use these tools to gain insights into their recruitment strategies and make data-driven decisions. The software assists in identifying trends, measuring the effectiveness of recruitment channels, and optimizing the hiring lifecycle.

Recruitment analytics software comprises data collection, analysis algorithms, and reporting tools (normally recruiting dashboards).

It collects data from various stages of the recruitment process, applies analytical techniques to interpret this data, and provides actionable reports that help make informed recruitment decisions.

For more, check out our shortlist of the best recruiting analytics software.

5. Recruitment marketing software

Recruitment marketing software helps organizations attract and engage potential candidates by promoting their employer brand and job openings.

The software helps create and manage job advertisements, track recruitment marketing campaign effectiveness, and build talent pools, ultimately enhancing the organization's ability to attract top talent.

For more, check out our shortlist of the best recruitment marketing software.

6. Candidate assessment tools 

Candidate assessment tools are used by hiring teams to evaluate a candidate’s skills, abilities, and personality.

These tools include various tests, such as cognitive ability tests, personality assessments, technical skills evaluations, and situational judgment tests. 

They help employers make more informed hiring decisions by providing objective recruitment data on a candidate's suitability for a specific role.

For more, check out our pick of the best candidate assessment tools.

7. Video interviewing software

Video interviewing software is a tool that allows employers and recruiters to conduct interviews with candidates remotely using video technology. 

The software enables live interviews or pre-recorded responses to set questions, making it convenient for both parties, especially when distance or scheduling conflicts are issues. 

It also allows for recording and sharing interviews with other team members, facilitating a more collaborative hiring process.

For more, check out our pick of the best video interviewing software.

8. Candidate sourcing tools

Candidate sourcing tools are used by recruiters to identify, attract, and engage potential job candidates.

These tools streamline the process of finding talent by automating searches, managing candidate information, and using AI to suggest the best fit for open positions.

For more, see our pick of the best candidate sourcing tools.

9. AI recruiting tools

AI recruiting software is any tool that uses artificial intelligence to enhance various aspects of the recruitment process.

They can automate tasks like resume screening, candidate sourcing, and communication, and use algorithms to match candidates with job requirements more effectively. This software can also assist in analyzing data to provide insights into hiring trends and candidate behavior.

Their capabilities can extend to predictive analytics for assessing candidate fit and future performance.

For more, see our shortlist of the best AI recruiting software.

10. Interview scheduling tools

Interview scheduling tools help streamline the process of arranging interviews between recruiters, hiring managers, and candidates. 

These tools facilitate scheduling by offering features like calendar integration, automatic time slot suggestions, and reminders.

They can also coordinate multiple participants and handle rescheduling, making the interview process more efficient and reducing the likelihood of scheduling conflicts.

For more, check out our pick of the best interview scheduling tools.

11. Background check software

Background check software is used by employers to verify the credentials, history, and background of job candidates. 

This software automates the process of checking criminal records, employment history, education, credit reports, and other relevant information to ensure that candidates meet the organization's standards and legal requirements. 

By streamlining and enhancing the accuracy of background checks, this software helps organizations make more informed hiring decisions and maintain workplace safety and compliance.

For more, see our shortlist of the best background check software.

12. Job board software

Job board software helps organizations to create, manage, and operate online job boards where employers can post job openings and job seekers can search for and apply for jobs. 

This software typically includes features for job posting, resume database access, candidate management, and search engine optimization to attract more applicants. 

It helps streamline the recruitment process by providing a centralized platform for connecting employers with potential candidates.

For more, check out our shortlist of the best job board software.

13. Employee referral software

Employee referral software is designed to streamline and manage employee referral programs.

It allows employees to refer potential candidates for job openings easily and tracks the referral process from submission to hiring. 

This software often includes features such as automated communication, reward tracking, and integration with other recruiting software to make the referral process efficient and effective, ultimately helping companies leverage their existing workforce to find and hire top talent.

For more, see our shortlist of the best employee referral software.

14. Reference check software

Reference check software automates the process of gathering and verifying references for job candidates. It facilitates collecting feedback from a candidate's previous employers, colleagues, or other references by sending out standardized questionnaires or surveys. 

This software helps streamline the reference-checking process, ensuring consistency, reducing time and effort, and providing valuable insights into a candidate's past performance and suitability for a role.

For more, see our pick of the best reference check software.

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Finn Bartram

Finn is an editor at People Managing People. He's passionate about growing organizations where people are empowered to continuously improve and genuinely enjoy coming to work. If not at his desk, you can find him playing sports or enjoying the great outdoors.