Recruitment Tech 101: What is a Resume Database?

resume database

Welcome to Recruitment Tech 101. This series will capture some frequently asked questions about recruitment technology and its benefits for agencies. Next up: what is a resume database?


One of the essential items to the recruitment process is the resume – whether you’re the job seeker submitting and sending your resume to prospective employers or you’re the recruiter or manager sourcing or reviewing resumes for an open position. The resume is often the first step in the recruitment process, and as such, the methods used to submit and store resumes are vital. 

When it comes to finding and managing resumes, recruitment agencies often use resume database software to streamline the sourcing, interview, and hiring process. For job seekers, submitting your resume to a resume database can help ensure your resume is seen by as many hiring managers and recruiters as possible. 

Read on for more details on why both types of resume database software are crucial to the overall success of the candidate recruitment or job search process:

Resume Database Software

A resume database for recruitment companies operates similar to an applicant tracking system (ATS) in that it provides a central repository for candidate data, resumes, and applications. This tool is built to help you better manage the candidate sourcing, intake, and hiring process, providing a single source of truth for recruiters, hiring managers, and the operations team.

Recruitment agencies who utilise a resume database where candidates submit their resumes for prospective employers gain access to candidates they might not otherwise find using traditional sourcing methods. Using software that integrates with your ATS streamlines the candidate sourcing, application, and intake process even further by reducing the manual effort involved with inputting candidate information. 

Key features to look for in a resume database include cloud-based access to allow for working remotely or on the go, visibility across the team and organisation to ensure multiple recruiters on the same team don’t contact candidates, or that you are not working with outdated information. A resume database that utilises resume parsing or has other automation features can further help your team streamline candidate sourcing and engagement.

Resume Database for Job Seekers

For job seekers, it’s vital to get your resume in front of as many recruiters and hiring managers as possible. A straightforward way to do this is to submit your resume to a resume database where those hiring can search and match qualified candidates to their open roles. This also saves time spent on manually submitting a resume to an individual job posting. 

Recruitment agencies often look at resume databases to find qualified candidates they would not usually be able to see, helping both candidate and client have a more positive recruitment experience. This ultimately helps job seekers find a new role quicker, and clients fill their open positions in less time.

When using a resume database for job seekers – whether you are the job seeker or the recruiter looking for candidates – it’s essential to use the search and filter options to better match the candidate to the role, especially when special skills or qualifications are needed. Most options allow for tagging of soft skills or certifications, so be sure to look out for those features to help find the best role or candidate.


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