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OpenSource Freeware ATS - SmartRecruiters - http://www.smartrecruiters.com/static/
Anybody try this or use this?
I worked for a couple companies that had no ATS...I wonder how good this ATS is as an option.
10 replies
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If you haven't heard of them, I'd recommend Jobscore http://www.jobscore.com ...they offer a FREE ATS version. Full disclosure..they are a partner of ours...but still, we've heard good reviews from companies that have tried the product. Might be worth a try.
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I also don't think they are OpenSource, or at least not what we understand to be OpenSource. I don't think smartrecruiters code is published and you can change anything there...which is good for security.
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They say on their website how they make money - http://www.smartrecruiters.com/static/faq/
Seems like they do not charge their clients but get a commission from partners. It sounds interesting and they haven't asked me or anyone I know to pay yet, looks like it really is free.
What caught my attention about smartrecruiters was this: http://www.ere.net/2009/05/07/free-ats-gaining-ground-with-smbs-despite-recession/
They also recently announced that have more than 1,000 clients already - http://hrchitectvendornews.wordpress.com/2009/05/08/1000-small-businesses-switched-to-smartrecruiters-in-less-than-seven-months%E2%80%A6from-mrted/
They seem to have basic functionality but say that more features are coming and this seems to be enough for a lot of people.
What I would advise is to go and check them out for yourself.
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Hi, I'm a competitor ATS vendor so take my reply with a truckload of salt.
If it's free to use how do they make money? IMHO, they are working for whoever is paying the freight, not you. This is like your recruiting services are "free" to candidates, but you don't work for them.
If I were a recrutier, I wouldn't want to be anyone's beta tester & put my database on the line if I had a business to run. And if I were looking for another job selling an ATS, freeware or beta products (or anything less than 5 yrs old) would not be on my list of prospective employers.
ATS is a volatile industry, so the points in previous posts about data security are well taken. Buyer beware - you usually get what you pay for.
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The free/open version of cats (note NOT the hosted version) is still available for demo & download at opencats.org. This allows you to host the app on your own server, customize the code, participate in enhancements the community has developed etc.
However it WILL NOT bulk import resume's as that relies on a feature of the hosted service.
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I haven't used smartrecruiters. Any other feedback on it?
Very interested in this discussion and the Open Sourcing Solutions.
Recruiters and ATS service providers are sharing on social networking news, tools, techniques, and trending discussions on the growing "Linked In to Recruiting Professionals Group" http://arunaurl.com/33d3
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PJ,
You might notice that the site is not secured and you are requesting SSN, Place of Birth, Date of Birth, Name and all other contact info.
I'm not sure how people with security clearance would feel about using an open system like CATS.
Two other points about CATS
Under their terms of service - general conditions: #5 - "may be transferred unencrypted"
Under Privacy Policy:"if CATS Software, Inc. is acquired by or merged with another company..."?
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Hi Aaron, Sorry for the late response...i appreciate your advise and of course am concerned now about my ATS. I know just enough to be dangerous when it comes to open source and security. Can you elaborate? Is this ATS truly easily breached by someone from outside of my organization?
PJ
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I use CATS as my ATS and CRM tool. It has a free version and a paid version (just $29 per user per m) and is highly customizable and easy to use. Check them out.
http://www.catsone.com/index.php?cap=ABC907
PJ
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Eric,
I've tried it, and while its still in beta version, there are some aspects I noticed that are worth pointing out. First, entering candidates is a process in which several fields need to be filled manually, including First Name/Last Name and email (if you don't have an address you must enter one regardless), throughout the first stage of the entry process.
One must then enter additional data once the subsequent screen is opened, and open an additional screen to parse a document. This can turn out to be quite time consuming, taking up to about 1 minute per entry.
Second, once you have entered a set of candidates for a position and want to view all applicants attached to a particular requisition, only their names come up, not their current title, current contact info, etc.There are still no reporting functions, they will soon be available. For TPR's, there is option to segment the open job requisitions by client company, they are all simply entered into the system indistinctively, so the differentiation would have to be made manually in the actual name of the position.
I see a lot of potential in it, but right now I don't believe it would be worth the savings on an existing on demand ATS, but its worth visiting to draw one's own conclusions.Hope this helps,
Hans Guiscardo
Managing Director
SourceImpact International
+1 210-209-9233
hansg@sourceimpact.com
www.sourceimpact.com
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