Recruitment is hard. You’re juggling deadlines, budget constraints, and the never-ending quest to find the perfect candidate.
Lever ATS wants to be your lifeline, promising to simplify everything from tracking applications to nurturing candidates over the long haul.
Does it deliver? Let’s dive in—with some honesty—into what Lever gets right, what it doesn’t, and how it stacks up in today’s hiring landscape.
What is Lever ATS?
Lever is more than just an applicant tracking system. It’s a hybrid—part ATS, part CRM (candidate relationship management).
If you’re someone who likes keeping tabs on potential hires long before they’re ready to apply, this tool might be your jam.
It’s designed to track candidates from first interaction to onboarding, offering workflows that fit both active and passive recruitment strategies.
Why teams look at Lever
Lever’s a bit like a Swiss Army knife for hiring. It’s flexible, powerful, and comes with a lot of digital recruitment tools, though not every feature will fit your team perfectly.
If you’re focused on long-term talent pipelines or diversity metrics, Lever shines. But—and there’s always a but—it’s not perfect.
Use cases worth mentioning:
1. Scaling hiring for rapidly growing teams
2. Building and nurturing long-term candidate relationships
3. Tracking diversity efforts without extra spreadsheets
What makes Lever stand out
Relationship-first recruitment
Lever’s CRM-like features mean you can keep tabs on passive candidates who aren’t job hunting yet. Maybe you met someone at a conference, loved their energy, but didn’t have an opening. Lever helps you stay connected so you can circle back when the timing’s right.
Custom workflows without headaches
Tailoring your hiring process is straightforward here. You can tweak stages to match how your team works without needing an IT degree.
Collaboration that’s not clunky
Hiring is a team sport, and Lever’s shared scorecards and feedback tools make it easier for everyone to stay on the same page (literally).
Metrics that matter
From time-to-fill to diversity tracking, Lever provides insights to help you tweak your strategy. It’s not the most in-depth analytics tool out there, but it’ll cover most of your bases.
Lever pricing
Lever does not share pricing on its website but according to Reddit it's a relatively expensive option.
Where Lever stumbles
Let’s not sugarcoat things. Lever has a few areas where it falls short:
Price tags that sting
Lever isn’t cheap, and for smaller teams, it might feel like a stretch.
Limited customizations
While workflows are flexible, templates and reports don’t offer as much wiggle room.
Performance under pressurs
When handling massive volumes of candidates, some users report slower performance.
Integration gaps
Lever works with many tools, but not all. If you’re using niche or legacy platforms, double-check compatibility.
How to get the most out of Lever
Treat it like a crm
Segment your candidates. Keep those pipelines warm with personalized check-ins. Lever’s strongest suit is helping you stay in touch over the long haul, so use it.
Watch your metrics
Lever’s data can reveal bottlenecks and show where your sourcing efforts are paying off. Keep an eye on diversity metrics to ensure your hiring stays inclusive.
Lean on the team tools
Encourage hiring managers to use scorecards and feedback options. Decisions get clearer when everyone’s input is in one place.
Monitor performance
If you’re scaling fast, keep tabs on how Lever handles the load. Regularly audit its performance to ensure it keeps up.
Burning questions about Lever
Is it small-business friendly?
It depends. If you value CRM features, it’s a great fit. If you’re on a tight budget, the cost could be a sticking point.
How does it help with diversity?
Lever’s analytics let you track metrics throughout the hiring process. It’s a solid start for teams focused on building inclusive pipelines.
Can it play nice with other tools?
Mostly. Lever integrates with many popular platforms, but not all. Double-check if your current systems are supported.
Is it good for high-volume hiring?
It’ll work, but it’s not perfect. Some users report performance dips with larger candidate pools.
Wrapping it up
Lever ATS is a solid option for teams that value relationship-driven recruitment and need an intuitive platform to manage their hiring process. Its strengths lie in CRM capabilities, flexible workflows, and basic analytics.
That said, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Budget constraints, high-volume needs, or advanced customization requirements might push you to explore other options.
Know your team’s priorities, test the tool, and make sure Lever fits your hiring playbook before diving in.
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