Choosing the best recruitment software is one of the most important decisions you can make as a recruitment business. It’s pretty much at the core of your consultants’ productivity and can either make or break an agency so if you’re going to change your recruiting CRM, it’s worth doing it properly. There are tonnes of questions and do’s and don’ts but today, let’s focus on seven mistakes you really need to avoid when selecting recruitment software.
Putting someone in charge who doesn’t have much experience
An increasing number of people with limited knowledge of recruitment are being given the power to select a new system. Generally, these are not the people who actually use the system and may not have much experience around the recruitment process so are they really the best people to be doing the job? It’s more beneficial to get key users like senior recruiters and the management team involved who deal with the recruitment process on a daily basis and have greater expertise. They will also be able to help with user buy-in and are in a position where people are more likely to listen to them.
Taking advice or recommendations from any Tom, Dick or Harry
LinkedIn is such a useful platform for asking for recommendations for a new CRM but bear in mind that not everyone will have the same business model or needs as you. There could be 10 people all shouting about the same system but if it won’t meet your requirements then forget about it. Also, be wary of so-called “experts” and the knowledge or advice they share.. You might want to take it with a pinch of salt!
Not giving a clear idea of what they want the system to do
When dealing with potential software suppliers, it is important to provide as much information as you can in order to get the most out of demos. Spend some time beforehand mapping out your processes and working out your requirements so you can give them enough information for them to tailor the system to meet your needs and show you exactly what you want to see. This will make it easier for you to identify early on whether the system will actually be suitable for you or not!
Not getting to know the company or system
You really ought to take the time to get to know more about the supplier and their software. After all, they’re the ones who are going to be supporting your business. Don’t make the mistake of not doing your research and then panicking when you realise they’ve just been bought out or that their support hours aren’t suitable for your business. What you ask will depend on how in-depth you want to understand your potential supplier but if you need some inspiration, here are 101 questions to ask when reviewing recruitment software.
Underestimating costs and timescales
Don’t be naive about how much is involved in the process of reviewing and selecting recruitment software. It can be time consuming and costs can add up quickly if you haven’t factored in things like data migrations, training and hosting. Make a solid plan and stick to it as best you can and be realistic about your budget from the get go.
Ignoring training
What is the point in investing in recruitment software if your consultants aren’t going to use it effectively to increase ROI? Ignoring training completely means that users won’t have a clear idea of how the software should be used and that’s no good is it! Make sure you look at the different types of training offered by each supplier and get your consultants trained in the early stages of adoption so once the software is fully up and running, they can kick things off straightaway!
Rushing data migrations
For recruitment agencies who need to migrate data, it will be an extra cost and inevitably take more time. Be wary of companies who will have a flat fee for a data migration without looking at your data because more often than not, it’s not the best idea!
We know there will be hundreds of questions and thoughts running through your mind when you review your recruitment software but please, don’t make these mistakes. They’re only going to cost you time and money later down the line if you rush the process and end up with a system not designed with a business like yours in mind!
And if the whole reviewing process completely overwhelms or confuses you, we have a no nonsense guide to make things seem a little easier. After all, your recruitment software should be at the heart of your business.
