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ATS Recruitment Guide

How ATS Helps Attract the Talent You Need

February 10, 2022

12:33 am CST

The ongoing nationwide labor shortage means the talent pool to draw from is extremely shallow, and the competition to draw from that pool is at an all-time high.

With the resulting understaffed shifts leading to employee burnout (i.e., turnover) and reduced restaurant throughput, the labor shortage represents a major threat to growth and competitiveness. It is now more imperative than ever that you stand out from the crowd and get your share of the diminished labor pool.

Right now, the restaurant, retail, and hospitality industries are candidate-driven markets where jobseekers have much greater choice and leverage when determining where they work. If your hiring process is too long or complicated, you’ll lose your candidates to someone else that provides a quicker, more convenient, and intuitive process.

The people you hire will become your brand’s ambassadors, so creating a climate they can immediately buy into is vital. Regardless of whether a candidate is hired or not, a good Applicant Tracking System will provide a professional experience they may recommend to others.

Impact on the Restaurant Industry
What Is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
Key Stats to Consider
Speed of Hire Is Critical
Why an ATS Makes a Difference
Ways an ATS Speeds Up Recruitment
Benefits of an ATS
ATS Supports Key Recruiting Functions
Learn More About Fourth’s ATS

Impact on the Restaurant Industry

The ongoing nationwide labor shortage has left the available talent pool extremely shallow, while competition for that talent is at an all-time high. Understaffed shifts lead directly to employee burnout, increased turnover, and reduced restaurant throughput.

As a result, the labor shortage represents a significant threat to growth and competitiveness. Standing out and capturing a share of the diminished labor pool is more critical than ever.

What’s the Background?

Restaurant, retail, and hospitality are now candidate-driven markets. Job seekers have more leverage and choice than ever when deciding where to work.

If your hiring process is too long or complicated, candidates will move on to employers who provide faster, more intuitive experiences.

The people you hire become your brand ambassadors. Even candidates who are not hired can walk away with a positive impression if the experience is professional and well organized.

Industry Impact

71% loss of gross revenue per store due to unstaffed demand
25% of restaurants operating with reduced hours or understaffed shifts
Operating levels more than 20% below normal staffing

What Is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software designed to help recruiters and hiring managers simplify and automate the entire recruitment process.

A strong ATS receives, stores, and processes all candidate data while providing tools to search, filter, and evaluate applicants based on predefined criteria.

ATS platforms allow recruiters to sort, categorize, and screen resumes using keywords tied to education, experience, or skills.

Advanced systems can also scan job boards, social media platforms, and career websites to proactively identify candidates.

Through templated workflows, approval signoffs, and integrated calendars, ATS platforms improve key hiring KPIs:

Time to hire
Quality of hire
Cost per hire

Key Stats to Consider

42% of job seekers say employers are unresponsive
48% struggle to find the right jobs to apply for
The average job opening receives 250 resumes
Only five candidates are interviewed on average
75% of recruiters have used an ATS
94% say ATS software improved hiring processes
51% of restaurateurs say hiring and retaining staff is their biggest challenge
69% of employees are more likely to stay if onboarding is positive
61% of applications are submitted via mobile devices

Speed of Hire Is Critical

Hourly workers drive front-of-house operations, from cleanliness to guest satisfaction. Turnover and unfilled roles reduce revenue and increase hiring costs.

Costs associated with separation, recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and lost productivity can exceed $6,000 per entry-level employee.

Reduced staffing directly impacts revenue by forcing shorter hours and reduced throughput. Fourth estimates that restaurants lose between 10% and 25% of top-line revenue due to staffing mismatches.

Why an ATS Makes a Difference

Most operators have endured staffing shortages for years. Slow and complex hiring processes cause top candidates to abandon applications and accept offers elsewhere.

Candidates prioritize streamlined applications and timely follow-ups. An ATS empowers recruiters to collaborate in real time, schedule interviews efficiently, and move faster without sacrificing candidate quality.