In the fast-paced world of modern recruiting, your Applicant Tracking System (ATS) should be your greatest competitive advantage. But for many recruiting firms, it’s a graveyard where data goes to die, a Windows 97 relic, or a constant source of administrative friction.
Is your technology stack helping you thrive, or are you just "settling" for a system that acts as a roadblock instead of a growth engine? It’s time to put your tech to the test with the ATS report card for modern recruitment firms.
How to grade your ATS system
To find your true "Report Card" grade, rate your current system on a scenario scale of 1 to 5.
For each subject below, we provide two scenarios: Scenario 1 (The Struggle - lowest grade) represents a system that is failing or outdated, while Scenario 5 (The Ideal - highest grade) represents a high-performance, modern system. Be honest with your self-assessment, and rate your current system on the scenario scale.
Here’s a guide so you know exactly what rating to give your system when you’re going through each Subject:
- Rating 5 (The Ideal): Your system operates at peak modern efficiency in this area.
- Rating 4: Your system works well, but there are minor friction points.
- Rating 3: The system does what it needs to do, but requires significant manual workarounds.
- Rating 2: Your system is a roadblock; you often have to do tasks outside the platform (like in spreadsheets).
- Rating 1 (The Struggle): Your system completely fails or lacks this functionality, costing you significant time and money.
The 10-point audit
01. On a scale of 1 to 5, what would you rate your ATS in terms of it being a source of truth?
- Scenario 1 (The Struggle): You live in spreadsheets, and recruiters are gathering CVs in disconnected folders (Drive, Desktop) with outdated info.
- Scenario 5 (The Ideal): You trust your data implicitly; your ATS is an intelligence engine where you never have to cross-reference LinkedIn.
02. On a scale of 1 to 5, how ready for innovation is your current ATS?
- Scenario 1 (The Struggle): Your system looks like Windows 97 and never updates on its own; you have to chase for manual updates.
- Scenario 5 (The Ideal): Your system evolves automatically. When AI matching or automation hits the market, it appears in your workflow immediately.
03. On a scale of 1 to 5, what would you rate your ATS in terms of workflow speediness?
- Scenario 1 (The Struggle): The team barely uses the CRM because it's just an "admin catcher" that forces you to work in other tabs.
- Scenario 5 (The Ideal): The team wants to use the platform because it removes administrative friction and click-fatigue.
04. On a scale of 1 to 5, what would you rate your ATS in terms of sourcing speediness?
- Scenario 1 (The Struggle): You use a handful of different tools, duplicating efforts and wasting time like finding a needle in a haystack.
- Scenario 5 (The Ideal): You can source candidates directly in your database with a single click, without ever switching tabs.
05. On a scale of 1 to 5, how unified is your tech stack?
- Scenario 1 (The Struggle): Your browser tabs are out of control; you're toggling between job boards, emails, and static PDFs.
- Scenario 5 (The Ideal): You live in one window. Sourcing, outreach, and hiring manager collaboration all happen in one connected place.
06. On a scale of 1 to 5, what would you rate your ATS in terms of it helping with team retention and morale?
- Scenario 1 (The Struggle): You are struggling to grow because the team is tired; you lack the tools to help them be their best.
- Scenario 5 (The Ideal): Your tech stack is a competitive advantage that helps you attract and retain high-billing recruiters.
07. On a scale of 1 to 5, what would you rate your ATS in terms of it also being a revenue engine?
- Scenario 1 (The Struggle): Your ATS and BD tools are separate; sourcing for prospect clients is a manual job you don't have time for.
- Scenario 5 (The Ideal): Your system finds clients, not just candidates. You manage your sales pipeline in the same view as your recruiting pipeline.
08. On a scale of 1 to 5, how good is your ATS in terms of client delivery?
- Scenario 1 (The Struggle): You are still submitting candidates via email attachments and hoping for quick responses from clients.
- Scenario 5 (The Ideal): Submitting candidates is a frictionless digital experience using secure links that allow for instant client feedback.
09. On a scale of 1 to 5, how future-proof is your ATS?
- Scenario 1 (The Struggle): You’ve used the same method for years and feel stuck, but you're too overwhelmed to invest in new tools.
- Scenario 5 (The Ideal): Routine tasks are automated, allowing recruiters to spend 100% of their time influencing people.
10. On a scale of 1 to 5, how good is your system’s support with you and your business?
- Scenario 1 (The Struggle): You have no clue where to find answers about updates and feel lost with no one to help.
- Scenario 5 (The Ideal): You have a dedicated partner who proactively helps you audit and optimize your workflows to hit growth goals.
What’s your final ATS grade?
Add up your scores from all 10 Subjects (max score of 50) and take a look at what your system’s score actually means:
- 45-50 (A+): You have a cutting-edge, future-proof.
- 35-44 (B): A capable system, but significant gaps remain.
- 25-34 (C): Usable but requires extensive workarounds.
- 15-24 (D): You are actively losing revenue and talent.
- Below 15 (F): A major roadblock to growth and due for replacement.
Become a hiring machine
Ready to experience truly modern recruitment — with a platform that’s simultaneously the most simple and sophisticated you’ve ever experienced?
If your system scored on the lower end, you might be looking for help to close the gap
It's time to stop settling – Loxo helps recruiting firms close the gap by replacing administrative nightmares with a unified intelligence hub.
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