Recruitment software demonstrations are important; they’re your chance to view the functionality of a system and see how easy it is to use.

These demos are a great chance for you to sit down and talk about your initial thoughts and queries with a potential supplier. As such, it’s important to get the most value from them as you possibly can.

At Webrecruit, we also believe that it’s vital to avoid making the following mistakes, all of which could hinder your chances of investing in the right applicant tracking system (ATS):

 

1. Not asking enough questions

Don’t just sit there quietly during the demo. Grill the supplier, query anything that doesn’t make sense and ask any questions that pop into your head.

It’s important to be prepared, particularly if you already have a few questions that you’d like to ask. Make sure you write these down and take them into the demonstration with you; it’s amazing how quickly they can slip your mind when you’re absorbing so much other information.

If your supplier hasn’t covered any features that are on your ‘must-have’ list of requirements, make sure you ask them about this; don’t leave the demo with more questions to ask. It’s important to learn everything you can about the software before making a final, informed decision.

 

2. Not taking your team’s technical ability into account

You’ve just seen a really impressive system and you’re excited. The system is pretty technical and advanced but you pick up new technologies quickly, so you’re sure it will be fine.

Okay, so you might be amazing with computers; but what about the rest of the team who will be using it? Chances are, there will be someone who’s not as confident or even a complete technophobe.

When participating in a recruitment software demo, it’s a good idea to show the system to a couple of team members with varying levels of ability. This way, you’ll be able to truly gauge how easy the system is to use.

Don’t forget, the team will be the people using the system on a day-to-day basis, so it’s important that they feel confident.

 

3. Not making the vendor aware of your requirements

Some companies can be guarded when it comes to openly discussing their budget and requirements.

However, we feel it’s important to let suppliers know your requirements at the beginning of (or ideally before) your demo. This is so they can fully tailor the demonstration to meet your needs and focus more on what will be the most relevant parts of the system.

Be realistic and honest about your budget – this will save you wasting your time and participating in a demo for a system that is way out of your budget.

 

4. Being won over by functionality you don’t need

When suppliers are showing you their system in action, they’re likely to try and dazzle you with fancy features and their system’s most impressive functionality. It’s all too easy to get carried away and be swayed over something that you don’t currently need (and probably wouldn’t use).

However, it’s vital that you make sure your core requirements are covered.

At the start of your search, we recommend making a list of five pieces of functionality that your system needs to have. These are the deal breakers. Make sure you take this list to all your demos and never allow yourself to be won over by a system that doesn’t have these features.

Obviously, if you fall in love with an ATS which has your core requirements covered, perfect. But don’t pay over the odds for an advanced, hi-tech system which doesn’t give you what you need.

 

Currently assessing your ATS options? Book your demo of Webrecruit’s recruitment software, Webrecruit ATS.