> Guide · Free ATS. Workflow, example and practical criteria.

Source: https://hice.ai/en/blog/how-to-manage-free-ats-and-recruiting-software-with-candidate-databases
# How to manage: free ATS and recruiting software with candidate databases

- Steps and checks
- Define the outcome and records
- A pilot on the complete workflow
- Rules, exceptions and work cost
- Apply the workflow in HICE
- Choose the next step

A process works when the second user can continue without reconstructing the context. This guide starts with one record and ends with a reviewable result, assigning an owner to each handoff.

## Steps and checks

Record vacancy requirements and criteria, link a candidate, assign the interview and save feedback and next action on the application. Test two vacancies for one profile: history must distinguish the decisions.

- Define the source record, owner and expected outcome.
- Prepare a sample with complete records, a duplicate and an exception.
- Run the workflow with two roles and record steps, corrections and authorization.
- Export the output and reconcile counts, relationships and values with the source.
- Repeat after a change and assign an owner to open exceptions.

## Define the outcome and records

For this topic the control starts with included CVs, users, open jobs and free-plan limits.

Record steps, retyped information and reasons for exceptions. Repeat with a second user in a different role. Reconcile the exported output with its source: totals must agree and access must follow the role. One successful run shows the path; a working week tests ownership.

## A pilot on the complete workflow

Open a vacancy, compare two applications and record a scorecard. Can a colleague see requirements, feedback and the next action without searching emails?

Before the demo, write three required outcomes and one acceptable tradeoff. Value recovered time only after measuring on the same basis. Have the actual owner complete a cycle and retain errors, corrections and final output. If the pilot stops halfway, identify the missing module, integration or step in the quotation.

## Rules, exceptions and work cost

Define who enters, corrects and approves records. Test an incomplete record, a duplicate and a change after closure. The decision changes when records can be exported with relationships rather than manually reconstructed. Count licenses, onboarding, team time and integration maintenance separately.

## Apply the workflow in HICE

In HICE, profiles, CVs, vacancies, interviews and feedback stay connected to the client and team. Semantic search and matching help retrieve candidates from your own database; the recruiter retains shortlist review.

## Choose the next step

Open the related solution, review pricing for your market and test the case on your records. Keep the template as a workflow reference and use the country ranking to explore other category options.

Free ATS · Reference rate · ATS / CRM / PSA

## Continue with another format

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