It’s time for your organization to invest in public sector recruitment software. But which one should you purchase? This review of these recruiting software examples will help you decide.
Article Highlights
- How software can improve your entire recruiting process
- Seven recruiting software companies for the public sector
- The best recruitment software for your organization
You’ve been handling your recruiting the old-fashioned way: entering candidate information into an Excel document, checking the status of your job listings on a popular job board, and maybe even sifting through paper applications.
But as your organization grows larger and your responsibilities broaden, you just can’t maintain these slow and mistake-prone processes any longer. It’s time to invest in recruiting software.
And yet you’re feeling overwhelmed by the numerous public sector recruitment software options to choose from. How are you supposed to find the best recruitment CRM software for your organization when you’re already stretched so thin?
Have no fear. In this post, we’ll discuss exactly how HR recruitment software can benefit your organization. Then, we’ll dive into the specific pros and cons of popular public sector software options. We’ll wrap up the post with a few suggestions about choosing the best software for your organization’s needs.
Importance of HR Recruiting Software
If you’ve done any research on HR recruiting software already, you likely learned about the wide range of benefits it can provide your recruiting process. A good recruitment software:
- Makes it easy for candidates to apply to your organization
- Reduces the time you spend on administrative tasks like sorting, ranking, and tracking candidates
- Integrates with existing software systems in your organization (no more data entry!)
- Provides key analytics to help you monitor your entire hiring process
- Reduces errors and helps your organization scale
Let’s dig a bit deeper with some examples of how recruiting software platforms can help.
Right now, your recruiting team might be reading through every application you receive and manually sorting them into different categories (“to interview,” “maybe interview,” “definitely don’t interview”). These repetitive tasks can take hours. But not when you have recruiting software.
One of the key features in many recruitment softwares is the ability to autoscore and autorank candidate profiles. This enables you to quickly choose the most qualified candidates to interview – without having to keep dozens of applications straight in your head.
After reviewing applications, you might then spend time entering candidate tracking information into spreadsheets. When a candidate is ultimately hired, you re-enter this information into your human capital management (HCM) system. A good HR recruitment software will integrate with existing HCM and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, reducing the time you spend on this mindless data entry.
Human resource software integration can save you time in other ways, too. For example, NEOGOV’s Insight reduces time spent conducting background checks by up to 35%. And in addition to candidate management, software systems also compile analytics about your recruitment process, including how many views your job postings are getting, so you can adapt your marketing strategy as necessary.
Now that we’ve established how recruitment software can make your hiring process more efficient and effective, let’s dive into the best recruitment software available to public sector organizations.
The Best Recruiting Software for Public Sector Organizations
Not all recruitment tools are created equal. While you may be tempted to choose the cheapest public sector recruitment software, it pays to do your research on its core features and compare them to your list of must-have features.
Since we know how overwhelming it can be to sift through all your options, we’ve compiled a list of some of the popular recruiting software for the public sector. Below we’ll dig into the pros and cons of each so you can identify the best type of software for your organization.
Enterprise ERP (formerly Munis)
If you’ve worked in the public sector for some time, you’ve no doubt heard of Enterprise ERP (formerly Munis), a Tyler Technologies product. In addition to its well-known financial ERP, Tyler offers HCM software for the public sector, including Enterprise ERP. This software includes a job site, applicant tracking system, and self-service portal.
Government employees appreciate that this single platform offers a product package that includes both HCM and ERP systems. Its “all-in-one” nature means employees don’t need to spend time learning multiple products.
Enterprise ERP software provides a self-service portal where candidates can schedule interviews and move through the onboarding process. Upon hire, candidate data can be integrated with its other products, such as payroll.
Pros
- “All-in-one” solution that enables organizations to use one company across administrative functions, including finance, budget, and human resources
- Tyler Technologies primarily serves the public sector
- Information from applicant tracking systems and onboarding modules can be easily integrated with ERP systems
Cons
- Product was originally built for finance, so not as user-friendly for human resource professionals
- Lacks some critical government recruiting functions, including minimum qualification (MQ) screening and personally identifiable information (PII) blinding.
- User interface is outdated and not as intuitive as other products on the market
- Given package approach, can be more expensive than other products that only sell recruiting software
iCIMS
iCIMS has traditionally served the private sector and small- to medium-sized government organizations. This talent acquisition software company offers several human resource products, including an applicant tracking system, career site, self-service portal for applicants, candidate relationship management software, and HR onboarding solutions.
While a bit less well-known compared to other companies on this list, iCIMS provides a line-up of products that public sector organizations may find attractive. Its “digital assistant” (self-service portal) provides interview management capabilities that facilitate a positive candidate experience, allowing interview scheduling for candidates. Additionally, its highly-customizable products allow organizations to adapt their recruiting processes as they scale.
Pros
- Hosted career page with good search capability and integration with many job boards
- Integrates with many payroll providers and other third-party recruiting tools (like agencies that perform background checks)
- Provides a candidate self-service portal that includes interview self-scheduling
Cons
- No auto-scoring and auto-ranking of candidates, just knock-out questions
- Reporting options can be cumbersome and difficult to navigate
- Not strictly public-sector focused
- Not a full-service Human Capital Management system
CivicHR
Another recruitment software option, especially for smaller local governments, is CivicHR. This product was created by CivicPlus, a web development company that specializes in building websites for public organizations.
The CivicHR suite includes software to track applicants, onboard new hires, and conduct performance reviews. As such, organizations can use this product for employee management too. Organizations that use CivicPlus for web development can also easily integrate the company’s online job application module into their existing web pages.
Keep in mind, however, that there is no central portal for job applicants to check on the status of their applications. Similarly, CivicHR does not mention any interview self-scheduling options. As such, other products on this list may provide a better candidate experience.
Pros
- Budget-friendly option
- Easy to integrate with your website if you also use CivicPlus for website development
- Includes a job board where applicants can apply for open positions
- Good user experience and user interface
Cons
- CivicPlus’s “bread and butter” is web development, so it’s unclear how long Civic will continue to support and enhance its human resource products
- The applicant tracking system lacks some more core features that other HR recruitment software companies provide, including comprehensive reporting options and candidate portals
- Unclear how well this product integrates with other third-party HCM systems, so may not be as scalable as other products on the list
BambooHR
BambooHR sells human resources software to small and medium businesses, enabling organizations to track employee information from recruitment to onboarding and beyond.
BambooHR has a base package that includes its candidate tracking, recruitment, and HR onboarding solutions. Organizations that want additional functionality can also purchase performance and talent management products from this company. But keep in mind that these products incur an additional cost and are not included in the primary HCM software.
BambooHR’s applicant tracking system has a job board that applicants can use to apply to open positions. Additionally, the company’s mobile-friendly user interface makes it easy for members of a hiring team to collaborate on the go.
Pros
- Serves agencies that have a very small number of employees
- User-friendly and attractive interface
- Can cross-post job postings to third-party job boards like Indeed
- Allows users to create customized job application questions (though limited in number)
- Efficient software set-up process
Cons
- Does not have personally-identifiable information blinding option for candidate screening
- Not focused on public sector
- Does not offer interview self-scheduling for candidates
Workday
Workday primarily serves larger businesses but has begun to make a splash in local government in recent years. Workday Recruiting is included as part of the company’s human capital management system. Organizations must purchase the entire Workday HCM system to use Workday’s Recruiting functionalities.
Because its recruiting function is integrated with the HCM, this software gives organizations employee management capabilities across the entire employee lifecycle in a single platform, from recruitment to onboarding to employee performance. Additionally, Workday Recruiting has an employee referral leaderboard, which allows existing staff to refer candidates for open positions.
Pros
- Great user interface and user experience for employee engagement, including on mobile devices
- Easy to collaborate with hiring team to see upcoming tasks and manage candidate pipeline
- Robust reporting and analytics capabilities
- Job board integrations with popular platforms that can advance social recruiting, like LinkedIn
Cons
- You must purchase the entire Workday system to gain access to their recruiting solution (you can’t use Workday Recruiting with an existing, third-party HCM system)
- Because you can’t purchase individual components of the system, this software is more expensive than many other options on this list
- Not public-sector focused
ADP
ADP is another company that provides talent acquisition software to help organizations automate their recruitment processes. While the company has a private-sector focus, ADP also serves government and educational institutions.
The company particularly prides itself on its mobile-friendly approach to the entire process. Its recruiting software features a user-friendly and attractive job board, making it easy for candidates to find and apply to open positions. Its software then screens candidates according to an organization’s set criteria.
In addition to its recruitment tools, ADP also has performance management software and HR onboarding solutions. Its recruiting software works alongside its other HCM products, including payroll, benefits and insurance, and time and attendance software, enabling organizations to use the same company for many human resource needs.
Pros
- Good job search functionality for online application process
- Mobile-friendly user interface
- Robust reporting options, including one-click reports
- Works in tandem with its other HCM systems
Cons
- Job search functionality is not as great on desktop as it is on mobile devices
- Autoscoring and autoranking may not be comprehensive (ADP’s website only mentions compliance with regulations as part of its screening services)
- Not specifically designed to serve public-sector clients
NEOGOV
Last (but not least!) on our list of best recruiting software for the public sector is NEOGOV’s Recruit – you didn’t think we’d leave our products off the list, did you? We serve public organizations of all sizes and offer complete solutions for every stage of your recruitment process. The Recruit module is a cloud-based system that includes the following products:
Our candidate relationship management software, Attract, helps organizations cultivate a talent pool with thorough candidate sourcing capabilities for both active and passive candidates, nurturing leads, and automating recruitment communications. Not only can you track applicants as they move through your talent pipeline – candidates can also make use of our attractive, easy-to-use job board, GovernmentJobs.com, which is 177% more likely to deliver qualified candidates than Indeed.
After receiving applications, Insight automates your hiring process by autoscoring and autoranking these potential candidates, taking some of the heavy-lifting off your team in the interview management stage. Insight also provides comprehensive reporting and data visualization, allowing you to monitor job board postings and analyze your recruitment timeline.
Seamlessly continue your hiring timeline with Onboard, where new hires can complete their onboarding paperwork. With Onboard, you can automate, assign, and track onboarding paperwork, provide access to a self-service portal so new hires are ready to go day one, and easily meet public sector compliance requirements for new hires.
Each of these products can be purchased individually or as part of a package. In addition to our Recruit module, we offer additional human resource products, such as talent management and performance management software, so you can effortlessly manage your entire employee lifecycle.
Pros
- 20 years of public-sector experience (exclusively!), so our software solutions specifically address public sector recruitment challenges
- Provides high-quality, user-friendly software that facilitates a positive candidate experience
- Organizations can purchase whatever products they need at the time and add modules as needed, rather than purchasing an entire package they may not need or use
- NEOGOV’s products can integrate with many existing software systems, including third-party HCM and ERP systems
Cons
- More expensive than some other government-focused software solutions
- Public-sector-focused, so not as great an option for private organizations
What’s the Best Recruitment Software for Your Organization?
Now that we’ve completed our best recruitment software review, you have a better idea about the different types and features of popular recruitment software. But you may still be wondering: what is the best recruiting software solution for your organization?
Since every organization has unique needs and their own list of must-have features, we can’t definitively answer this question. We can, however, let you know what to keep in mind as you narrow down your options. Any type of software you purchase should:
- Align with your organization’s budget
- Improve candidate experience
- Be scalable
- Integrate with all of your existing systems
Additionally, public sector organizations will be best served by working with companies that prioritize their relationships with public agencies. These companies understand the needs of your target candidates, your human resource team, and your organization as a whole.
And when it comes to meeting these criteria… NEOGOV delivers! While we can’t claim to be the best software company for every organization, the 7,000+ public organizations we serve demonstrate that we’re the best recruitment software for many.
Final Thoughts
There are ways to streamline your recruitment team’s repetitive tasks and make your entire process more efficient and effective (not to mention less stressful!). Recruiting software platforms automate key parts of your hiring process, making it easier to find and hire quality candidates. The right software depends on your organization's specific needs, so be sure to understand your unique challenges and how the recruiting software solves them before selecting solution.
