Resume Parsing: Staffing Tech 101
Welcome to Staffing 101. In this series, we answer some frequently asked questions about staffing technology and its benefits for firms. See previous entries about mobile recruiting and applicant tracking system basics here.
In the hyper-competitive staffing industry, speed is everything. Speaking as a former recruiter, I know that the faster you respond to an email or call a client, the better your chances are making that placement or picking up that new client. Simply put: the faster you are, the more opportunities you have for success.
A huge blocker to speed and efficiency is time-consuming and manual tasks. One of these tedious tasks is the manual data entry of candidate information into the ATS. While getting new information into the ATS is vital in ensuring you are continuing to grow your business, the process can take time away from other revenue-generating tasks, such as contacting clients or candidates.
For recruiters who are working with hundreds of resumes each day, incorporating technology to automate and accelerate the candidate intake process can be a game-changer to productivity and overall candidate and client experience—and that’s where resume parsing comes in.
Read on for more information about resume parsing and why a resume parser should be including in every recruiter’s toolkit!
What is Resume Parsing?
Resume parsing is the process by which a resume is automatically converted and imported into your ATS. Specific candidate information—name, email address, phone number—is imported from the resume file into fields within your ATS, allowing you to search easily, filter, and access that specific information about a candidate in just a few clicks.
Most resume parsers operate by the user uploading the resume file into the parsing tool (some even feature a drag-and-drop interface) and confirming which fields or data should be imported. Once these steps are complete, the candidate now exists as a record in the ATS!
Resume Parsing Benefits
What matters most when it comes to resume parsing? Staffing pros cite these three qualities as their top reasons for using a parser.
1) Increased Speed
Resume parsing saves time and resources by automating the entire candidate data import process. Rather than manually entering each piece of information, the resume parser does it all at once. Additionally, using a resume parser to parse data into the ATS makes it quick and easy to match qualified candidates to jobs. Their information and skills are also parsed from the resume and can be searched and viewed easily.
2) Improved Candidate and Client Experience
The faster candidate information is added to the ATS, the quicker the recruiter can contact them about an open job! Using a resume parser to expedite the data entry process ensures recruiters can focus their time on providing a positive experience to candidates, which will provide a great experience to the client who is eager to have their open roles filled.
3) Better Data in Your ATS
Manual data entry is prone to human errors, which can compromise the integrity of your database. If a recruiter incorrectly enters a phone number or email for a candidate, the candidate will likely not receive your phone call or email. Resume parsers are extremely accurate—most advertise being accurate 95-99% of the time—which means that by automatically parsing resumes into the ATS, the data will be imported without errors, ensuring you have the best and most up-to-date information.
What should I look for in a Resume Parser?
What matters most in a resume parser? You should be able to answer these three questions in any prospective solution.
1) Can I parse a resume in any format?
Your resume parser should allow for any resume format, whether that is .doc or PDF, so that no matter what type of resume the candidate provides, you can easily parse it into the ATS. Having to circle back with the candidate to reformat the resume could lead to a negative experience, so ensuring your parser can work with various file types is a must.
2) Does the resume parser seamlessly integrate into my ATS?
A resume parser’s main benefit is to save time on adding candidate information directly into the ATS. Therefore, for the most efficiency gains, your resume parser should integrate directly with your ATS to reduce the number of clicks it takes for the candidate information to be imported into the database.
3) Can I import more than just the name and email from the resume?
When it comes to parsing data from the resume, more is always better. Your resume parsing tool should allow you to import as many fields as possible, not just email and phone numbers. Importing information such as work history, special skills, and education can help you easily sort and find candidates that are the perfect matches for your open roles.
As the staffing and recruiting industry continues to grow, so too will the need for increased efficiency and automation. Utilizing a resume parser ensures information can be quickly and easily added to your ATS so that your team can continue to offer a great candidate and client experience!
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