An average job opening receives about 250 applications. If your hiring team were to manually sift through all of these resumes, it could take hours and sometimes even weeks.
This delay could result in potential candidates dropping out of the process. A quick and effective solution is to get a resume screening software. This HR technology helps hiring managers shortlist the best resumes based on defined selection criteria.
In this article, we’ll touch upon the best resume screening software and the criteria we considered to make this list. We’ll also share tips on how to use this software to avoid costly errors and get a chance to hire the best talent.
What is a Resume Screening Software?
A resume screening or candidate screening software is a technology that scans, analyzes, and filters resumes to shortlist qualified candidates for a particular job opening.
It shortlists resumes based on certain keywords that you want the resume to showcase. These could be:
- Key positions held and duration. For example: business development representative for two years.
- Educational qualifications. For example: a graduate degree in sales or marketing
- Skills and knowledge. For example: sales and communication skills
The main purpose of using this software is to save time by filtering hundreds of candidates who are not the right fit for the role.
Why is a Resume Screening Software Important?
You want your hiring managers to spend more time on high-value activities like interviewing and making a selection. A resume screening software makes this possible by automating screening tasks. Other key benefits are:
- Avoid human errors and inconsistencies: Recruiters likely spend just a few seconds reviewing each resume, especially when there are a lot of applicants. Manual errors, in this case, can make you lose out on great candidates or result in a costly mis-hire.
- Save money: Automating the resume screening process decreases the need for additional staffing resources in the recruitment phase, helping cut hiring costs.
- Standardized selection process to reduce bias: Resume screening technology follows rules to shortlist candidates. This means there’s no chance of bias or favoring a candidate over others.
- Use past hiring data: Advanced resume screening software uses AI to learn from previous hiring patterns, leading to better identification of qualified candidates.
- Improved candidate experience: Candidates are notified more quickly about the status of their application. This creates a positive overall experience.
10 Best Resume Screening Software
Whether you’re looking to hire based on set criteria or need a quick solution to screen applicants in high-volume hiring, you need a powerful resume screening solution.
To make your decision easy, we have created a list of top 10 resume screening software after ranking them along five parameters – core features, integrations, ability to scale up and down based on needs, user-friendliness, and customization options.
Here’s a quick summary before we review each tool’s unique features and pricing.
| Tool Name | Best For |
| Peoplebox | Best for AI-driven screening |
| Freshteam | Best for deep resume parsing |
| Lever | Best for collaborative recruiting |
| Pesto Tech | Best for replacing resume screening with instant matches |
| CVViZ | Best for contextual candidate tracking |
| Manatal | Best for diversity screening |
| SmartRecruiters | Best for screening internal talent |
| Skeeled | Best for data-backed recruiting |
| Ideal | Best for screening and filling on-demand jobs |
| EndorsedAI | Best for customizable screening solution |
1. Peoplebox – Best for AI-driven screening
Peoplebox offers AI resume screening software that helps you find top talent in seconds. It is designed to streamline recruitment processes, particularly for performance-driven organizations. With our software, companies have successfully reduced their applicant review time by 90%.
Key resume screening features of Peoplebox
Identify key strengths and gaps: Based on the candidate’s resume and insights available in the public domain, get a detailed brief of their strengths and weaknesses. You can get this data quickly organized for each applicant with AI.
Get scores and shortlist recommendations: Each candidate will be given a relative score based on their skills, competencies, and experience. This score is based on key matching and missing attributes. At the end, an automated shortlist recommendation will be provided for quick progress to the next stage.
Match applicants against openings: Peoplebox uses AI-powered precision to find the best role for each applicant. It does this by seeing the open positions and thoroughly checking resumes that fit those roles.
Integrations
- Workday
- Taleo
- SAP SuccessFactors
- ICIMS
- Greenhouse
- IBM Kenexa
- Smart Recruiters
- Jobvite
- Lever
- UKG Pro Recruiting
- Paycor
- Cornerstone
Pricing
2. Freshteam – Best for deep resume parsing
Freshteam is an applicant tracking system that offers resume screening functionality for hiring teams. It creates a candidate’s 360 profile tab by scanning the resume, parsing it, and using that data to fill the tab.
Key resume screening features of Freshteam
Set up customizable screening filters: Recruiters can define custom filters based on job-specific requirements such as experience level, education, skills, or location. The platform then screens resumes against these criteria and prepares a shortlist.
Push knockout questions to filter candidates: Knockout questions are mandatory questions that the applicant must answer. Responses can automatically disqualify candidates that don’t meet basic requirements. For example, “Do you have a work permit?”
Tag resumes: Screened and qualified resumes can be tagged with labels like “interview ready” for better organization and prioritization.
Integrations
- Freshdesk
- Freshservice
- BambooHR
- HackerRank
- Codility
- Checkr
Pricing
3. Lever – Best for collaborative recruiting
Lever offers fast resume review functionality to screen applicants at the top of your funnel. It lets you see all responses on a single screen so your team can swiftly advance, skip, or archive applications.
Key resume screening features of Lever
Collaborative screening: Lever allows teams to add notes to applicant profiles. Team members can then review, comment, and share feedback within the platform. By allowing multiple stakeholders to participate in the screening process, the right decisions can be made.
Nurture recommendations for future roles: Lever helps recruiters build talent pipelines by suggesting candidates for future roles, even if they aren’t the best fit for the current position. This feature keeps candidates engaged for upcoming opportunities, optimizing long-term hiring efforts.
Resume database search: Recruiters can easily search through existing candidate database using filters like experience, skills, etc.
Integrations
- ADP Workforce Now
- Ceridian Dayforce
- Oracle HCM
- SAP SuccessFactors
- UKG Pro
- BambooHR
- Screened
- Checkr
- HackerRank
Pricing
Available on request
4. Pesto Tech – Best for replacing resume screening with instant matches
If you’re looking to hire developers on your team, Pesto Tech specializes in helping you make quick hires. Its algorithms ensure the best candidates are shortlisted, making the hiring process quick.
Key resume screening features of Pesto Tech
Pre-vetted tech talent: Peso Tech offers access to a vetted pool of developers and engineers. They screen candidates on their technical abilities, problem-solving skills, communication skills, and remote work readiness, ensuring companies receive high-quality candidates.
Assessment-based scoring: As you are hiring for technical roles, you can set up a short assessment instead of resume screening to filter candidates based on their scores.
Dedicated candidate profiles: Each candidate on Pesto’s platform has a detailed profile that showcases their technical expertise, portfolio, past work experience, and completed projects. This gives hiring managers a clear view of candidates’ qualifications before initiating interviews.
Integrations
- Greenhouse
- Lever
- BambooHR
- Workable
- HackerRank
- Codility
- GitHub
Pricing
Available on request
5. CVViZ – Best for contextual candidate tracking
CVViZ goes beyond simple keyword matching. It contextually understands resumes and learns from your previous hiring process to identify the best candidates. It also helps with relative ranking based on predefined criteria like experience.
Key resume screening features of CVViZ
Use Boolean search operators and filters: Recruiters can use Boolean operators to search for candidates with specific combinations of skills, qualifications, or experiences. For example, a recruiter can search for candidates with “Java AND Python” skills or exclude candidates with “NOT PHP.”
Relative resume ranking: CVViZ’s ranking lets recruiters see how candidates fare against each other in real-time. This ranking is based on parameters like the kind of work done, years of experience, etc.
Identify duplicate resumes: The platform scans new resumes and compares them to existing entries in the database. If it detects duplicates (based on details like name, contact info, or resume content), it flags or merges the resumes, preventing multiple copies from cluttering the system.
Integrations
- GitHub
- StackOverflow
- Dice.com
- G-suite
Pricing
6. Manatal – Best for diversity screening
Manatal is an applicant tracking system that also scans, analyzes, and filters resumes. Its AI-powered recommendation engine recommends suitable jobs for candidates and the most suitable candidates for jobs within minutes. You can ensure diversity while selecting these candidates by setting up specific criteria.
Key resume screening features of Manatal
Parses candidate information: The platform identifies important information in a resume, such as experiences, skillsets, education, etc., for each candidate. This information is then presented in an easy-to-browse format.
Customize filters for rankings: You can use customizable criteria to display rankings according to the most important elements. You can further leverage custom fields to personalize and organize this data.
Advanced filtering and search: Use complex search operations to pinpoint the required data.
Integrations
- Codility
- Sprout solutions
- Humaans
- WorkDigital
- Omni HR
- Melioris
- Power BI
- BambooHR
Pricing
7. SmartRecruiters – Best for screening internal talent
SmartRecruiters is an applicant tracking system that offers SmartAssistant– its resume screening software. While it helps screen new resumes, it also scours through existing resumes to match employees for internal job switches or promotions.
Key resume screening features of SmartRecruiters
Surface top talent: Whether you’re engaged in high-volume hiring or you get hundreds of applicants for an entry-level role, SmartAssistant helps you find top talent in an instant. It checks through the resumes and filters according to your criteria.
Explore the database of current and past candidates: If you have resumes for existing employees in your ATS, you can match this database to current open roles. You can even get recommendations from the previous applicant database.
In-depth review of applicants: Each candidate profile shows you key details in a digestible format. The platform also takes past hiring data and shows how a candidate fits that criteria and would make a great hire.
Integrations
- Gem
- Zinc
- BambooHR
- Greenhouse
- Workday
Pricing
Available on request
8. Skeeled – Best for data-backed recruiting
Skeeled uses an algorithm to screen resumes in bulk. You can quickly search candidates from the database and even anonymize applications to reduce bias in the recruiting process.
Key resume screening features of Skeeled
Automated CV screening: Skeeled’s candidate screening technology automatically filters profiles according to your requirements and criteria. It also shows previous qualified candidate resumes that you can consider.
Get a variety of assessment tests: You can test candidates not only on core skills for the job but also other factors like personality, cognitive ability, and motivation. This ensures you get an overall fit, not just a job fit.
Utilize one-way video interviews: Allow candidates to record videos where and when suitable. It helps you see the person behind the CV and gather qualitative data.
Integrations
- AssessFirst
- Microtis
- VONQ
- ADEM
- Zapier
Pricing
Available on request
9. Ideal – Best for screening and filling on-demand jobs
If you want to fill entry-level roles, Ideal offers a pool of vetted professionals. The platform screens candidate resumes and gives you a shortlist. It allows you to access untapped talent pools such as gig workers and your alumni network.
Key resume screening features of Ideal
Get a pool of vetted workers: Ideal is a marketplace where you can get vetted workers with completed I-9s and background check updates.
Filter unqualified candidates: Even with vetted workers, you might still want to get focused resumes that fit your company. By selecting the required criteria, you can easily filter candidates.
Reconnect with previous candidates and employees: Ideal allows you to temporarily work with alumni, retirees, and seasonal workers. These profiles are stored in the platform for quick onboarding.
Integrations
- Asurint
- BridgeVMS
- Equifax
- GHRR
- Jobvite
- HireRight
- SAP
- Workday
Pricing
Available on request
10. EndorsedAI – Best for customizable screening solution
EndorsedAI is a recruiting assistant that claims to screen thousands of resumes while your coffee gets brewed. You can also get explanations of why a particular candidate was rejected or moved to the next stage.
Key resume screening features of EndorsedAI
Train the assistant according to your criteria: You can evaluate candidates based on different criteria like years of experience, whether they worked at a similar company, or were in a similar role.
Get top applicants first on your list: Stay competitive while hiring by advancing the best candidates to the next stage by getting their resumes at the top of the list.
Comprehensive analytics dashboard: Get key hiring and resume screening metrics on the dashboard for quick analysis.
Integrations
- Workday
- Ashby
- Cornerstone
- Greenhouse
- ICIMS
- JazzHR
- Jobvite
- Lever
- SAP
- Workable
Pricing
Best Practices for Using Resume Screening Software
Now that you have a tool list ready, here are some best practices to get you the most out of these tools.
| Best practices for using resume screening software | Key points |
| Get inputs from hiring managers | Ask managers the problems they would like the screening tool to solveYou can use that criteria to guide the tool selection processInvite the recruiting team to sit in during demos |
| Create a screening checklist | Define the criteria you’re looking for – work experience, education, technical skills, similar experience, etc.Give weightage to these parameters and create a scoring/prioritization system |
| Train the software on historical data | AI tools can use historical hiring data to see which applicants succeeded in the roleThis criteria is then considered to understand hiring preferences and improve recommendations |
| Check for keyword stuffing | Check if keywords are stuffed just for the sake of selectionPriortize criteria other than these keywords to filter such candidates |
| Look beyond preferred requirements with assessment tests | Remove degree requirements except where it is strictly necessaryComplement with assessment tests to check for core skills and personality traits |
Pick the Right Resume Screening Software for Your Business
With the number of applicants growing for each job posting, you need a tool that makes screening quick and effective. Before you finalize a resume screening software for your business, ensure it fares well on features, scalability, user experience, and customization options.
Peoplebox’s AI resume screening software reduces applicant review time by 90%. This means your hiring team can spend more time creating perfect job descriptions and interviewing candidates.
Book a demo to see the product in action.
This ebook offers a deep dive into how AI can help you attract, assess, and hire talent more effectively.
FAQs
What software is used for resume screening?
Resume screening software is an additional feature or tool in most applicant tracking systems or HR tech tools. Some tools offering resume screening capabilities are Peoplebox, Lever, Manatal, and Freshteam.
How does resume screening software work?
Resume screening software uses algorithms to analyze resumes and pick out relevant keywords that match the job description requirements. Some screening software even use AI to understand past hiring decisions and identify keywords and attributes that would make for successful hires. Based on this score, the software recommends accepting or rejecting candidates.
How to choose the right resume screening tool?
To find a resume screening tool that works for you, consider these factors:
- Core functionalities: Does it integrate with multiple job boards and hiring platforms? Does it use AI or relevant technology to filter candidates and learn your hiring processes?
- Key features: Be on the lookout for these three features–keyword matching, analytics, and customization options
- Pricing: Does it fit your budget? Can you get a trial or demo first?
- User experience: Is the tool easy to use? Are the features complicated to understand?
- Scalability: Can the tool handle screening of 50 resumes as well as 1000 resumes?
