5 ways to use Gmail as an Applicant Tracking System for small business recruiting
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2024 8:23 am
For small businesses, finding perfect new employees is key to keeping your operation afloat. And it’s a difficult enough task without becoming overwhelmed with an inbox full of applications. The good news is that keeping track of applications doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
In the recruiting world, there are software solutions designed for this purpose, but they may not be the best choice for your business. A formal applicant tracking system (ATS) might not fit in your small business budget, for example, as most ATS solutions will run you at least $100/month. And because most are designed for bigger businesses, they might not include the features you need.
Also, few of them are as customizable as a specialized small business guatemala phone number material needs. Even mighty Google, which launched its ATS, Hire, a year-and-a-half ago, found it difficult to provide employers with enough of what they needed. They threw in the towel and closed Hire in September 2019.

Fortunately, there’s a cost-effective solution already at your fingertips that lets you avoid all of this. Thanks to its unique features, you can use Gmail as an applicant tracking system without paying a monthly service fee. Using Gmail as your ATS can save you a lot of the time, money, and headaches that come with recruiting new employees. Here are five tips for setting up Gmail to work as an applicant tracking system.
Tip #1: Use a dedicated Gmail alias for applications
If your small business is super small, you probably use your email address for a lot of different purposes: to communicate with vendors, customers, subscribe to industry newsletters, and for online shopping. Adding a stream of incoming applicants to that mix can seem like a disaster in the making, but there’s a simple solution. Using a unique email alias makes it possible to funnel incoming applications and control the flow of those emails, so they don’t interfere with the rest of your business communications.
Since Gmail offers unlimited email aliases, you can choose one alias for all incoming applications or a unique alias for each position. Here are some examples:
Once you decide which alias(es) will work best, you’ll use these new email addresses on job postings so that all applications are directed to the appropriate email address. But before you start posting, read further and learn how to control the flow of incoming applications.
Tip #2: Set up a filter to capture incoming applications
Whether you’re using a unique Gmail alias for your applications or have set up a dedicated Gmail account, you’ll want to set up a filter to capture those incoming messages and keep them organized. Filtering messages allows you to save time and energy by collecting applications so that they are waiting when you are ready to review them.
To do this, create a filter using the Gmail alias or email address y
In the recruiting world, there are software solutions designed for this purpose, but they may not be the best choice for your business. A formal applicant tracking system (ATS) might not fit in your small business budget, for example, as most ATS solutions will run you at least $100/month. And because most are designed for bigger businesses, they might not include the features you need.
Also, few of them are as customizable as a specialized small business guatemala phone number material needs. Even mighty Google, which launched its ATS, Hire, a year-and-a-half ago, found it difficult to provide employers with enough of what they needed. They threw in the towel and closed Hire in September 2019.

Fortunately, there’s a cost-effective solution already at your fingertips that lets you avoid all of this. Thanks to its unique features, you can use Gmail as an applicant tracking system without paying a monthly service fee. Using Gmail as your ATS can save you a lot of the time, money, and headaches that come with recruiting new employees. Here are five tips for setting up Gmail to work as an applicant tracking system.
Tip #1: Use a dedicated Gmail alias for applications
If your small business is super small, you probably use your email address for a lot of different purposes: to communicate with vendors, customers, subscribe to industry newsletters, and for online shopping. Adding a stream of incoming applicants to that mix can seem like a disaster in the making, but there’s a simple solution. Using a unique email alias makes it possible to funnel incoming applications and control the flow of those emails, so they don’t interfere with the rest of your business communications.
Since Gmail offers unlimited email aliases, you can choose one alias for all incoming applications or a unique alias for each position. Here are some examples:
Once you decide which alias(es) will work best, you’ll use these new email addresses on job postings so that all applications are directed to the appropriate email address. But before you start posting, read further and learn how to control the flow of incoming applications.
Tip #2: Set up a filter to capture incoming applications
Whether you’re using a unique Gmail alias for your applications or have set up a dedicated Gmail account, you’ll want to set up a filter to capture those incoming messages and keep them organized. Filtering messages allows you to save time and energy by collecting applications so that they are waiting when you are ready to review them.
To do this, create a filter using the Gmail alias or email address y