Resources
Practical ideas, real-world stories, and smart strategies for HR tech success.
AI Candidate Screening: How Does iCIMS Compare?
iCIMS has taken a measured, compliance-first approach to AI in hiring—unlike peers rushing to automate candidate screening. While others face lawsuits or regulatory risk, iCIMS stands out for bias audits, transparency, and human oversight. It’s proof that responsible innovation isn’t slow—it’s smart.
Product Deep Dive: Sync2Hire
SAI hosted Brian Sherlock and Vinnie from Sync2Hire for an exclusive product demonstration. Their platform centralizes all post-application communications in one iCIMS-integrated hub, complete with AI-powered compliance guardrails. Designed specifically for hands-on HR tech practitioners, this session showcased practical solutions for real recruiting challenges.
SAI: iCIMS Free Friday Recap: 5/16/25
What’s really behind iCIMS application drop-off? In our latest System Admin Insights Free Friday call, we dug into a real client’s application process and uncovered actionable insights—like how ADA overlays impact UX, when to use save-and-return, and why defining “applicant” should come before optimization. If you’re serious about iCIMS performance, this recap is a must-read.
A Fireside Chat with the Founder of iCIMS
Alex sits down with iCIMS Founder Colin Day for an insider’s look at building an HR tech powerhouse. This candid conversation reveals strategic pivots, sustainable growth decisions, and leadership insights that transformed a side project into an industry leader that thrived by staying focused while competitors chased trends.
iCIMS Integrations and Data Hygiene
iCIMS integrations can quietly break your hiring process. In this post, we explore how to maintain clean data, avoid costly errors, and keep your ATS ecosystem running smoothly—with insights from over 500 implementations.
If Everything’s Important, Nothing’s Important
While updating our website with help from AI, I found myself overusing !important in my CSS—fast, effective, and totally unsustainable. This article explores what that taught me about priorities, documentation, and system admin work in HR tech. Because if everything’s !important, then nothing really is.
Built on Integrity, Not Incentives
At IRD and SAI, we don’t accept sponsorships, referral fees, or affiliate commissions—ever. Our recommendations are based solely on what’s best for our clients and members. Integrity isn’t a slogan; it’s our operating principle. When you work with us, you get vendor-neutral guidance powered by trust, not incentives.
Why Every Good Answer in Begins with Context
In HR tech, the answer to every big question—Which ATS? Full-time admin? AI tools?—is almost always: it depends. Context is everything. This piece unpacks why nuance matters in vendor selection, system administration, and AI adoption, and how asking better questions leads to smarter, more strategic decisions tailored to your organization’s needs.
It All Started with a Stack of Paper
My HR tech journey started with paper—stacks of performance reviews I had to digitize. But the real challenge wasn’t rolling out the system; it was getting people to use it. That early lesson—meet people where they are—still guides my work today, whether it’s embedding training into dashboards or streamlining recruiter workflows.
My Wake-Up Call and the Mission of System Admin Insights
Discover how HR professionals can evolve from system administrators to strategic Orchestration Engineers in an AI-driven world, and why this transformation is crucial for career longevity.
Choosing the Right ATS
At a recent event, an HR leader told me they needed an engineering degree just to understand their new ATS demo—for a 300-person company. It’s a common trap: buying enterprise tech before you’re ready to support it. The right system isn’t the most powerful—it’s the one your team can actually use.
The True Cost of Agency Recruiting
Agency recruiters aren’t the enemy—they’re a strategic asset when used wisely. For niche roles or rapid hires, their deep networks can be invaluable. The key isn’t cutting ties—it’s knowing when to lean in, and building a hiring ecosystem that plays to everyone’s strengths.
Case Study: Regional Healthcare Network
A large healthcare network engaged Integral Recruiting Design to lead its iCIMS implementation across 24 hospitals and 200 clinics. IRD provided full-scope support—integrating career sites, improving compliance, standardizing branding, and enhancing reporting—resulting in faster hiring, cleaner data, and a more strategic, efficient talent acquisition function across the entire organization.
Nobody Knows Their Cost Per Hire
Most talent acquisition leaders don’t know their cost per hire—and that’s more common than you’d think. Despite its importance, this metric is rarely calculated consistently. But getting to “accurate enough” can unlock smarter planning, better ROI conversations, and greater credibility. Start tracking now, even if the data isn’t perfect yet.
Making Sense of Cost-per-Hire
Cost-per-hire is a foundational HR metric—but calculating it accurately isn’t always straightforward. While SHRM offers a standard formula, organizations vary in what they include. From recruiter salaries to job ads and agency fees, knowing what counts—and documenting your method—ensures credible benchmarks, smarter budgeting, and more strategic talent acquisition decisions.
The Art of Creative Embedding
Discover how embedding external tools directly into your iCIMS dashboard can streamline workflows, boost adoption, and save time. From Power BI and project management apps to AI chatbots and custom games, this guide explores creative, secure embedding strategies that turn your ATS into a unified, high-impact recruiting workspace.
Case Study: Regional Power Services Company
A global power services firm partnered with IRD to lead a complex iCIMS optimization and data migration project post-acquisition. IRD streamlined workflows, activated underused features, and improved reporting—unlocking ROI and avoiding $150K in costs. The result: a scalable, efficient iCIMS setup with unified processes and measurable recruiting improvements.
Why Most Implementations Fail Before They Begin
The success of an iCIMS implementation often hinges on the groundwork done before kickoff. Mapping current processes, surfacing hidden workarounds, and gathering honest metrics reveal what truly needs solving. This article explores how early stakeholder engagement and journey mapping can prevent costly missteps and set the stage for long-term success.
Beyond Features: Defining Requirements
Successful iCIMS implementations don’t start with feature lists—they start with clear, outcome-driven goals. This guide explores how to align requirements with real user needs, prioritize must-have functionality, and avoid wasted effort on unused features. With the right preparation, your ATS can solve real problems instead of just showcasing unused capabilities.
Preparing Your Recruiting Data for Success
Data migration can make or break your iCIMS implementation. More data isn’t always better—outdated, inconsistent records create delays, risk, and frustration. This guide explores how to audit, prioritize, and standardize recruitment data to ensure a clean, strategic foundation that supports both compliance and future growth. Smart migration starts with intentional decisions.
Creating Adoption Through Engagement
Even the best iCIMS implementation can fail without stakeholder engagement and change management. Success depends on involving end users early, building a cross-functional team, anticipating emotional responses, and supporting adoption beyond go-live. This guide outlines the human-centered practices that turn ATS implementations into long-term, high-impact transformations—not just technical rollouts.
What Your Vendors Need to Know
Successful ATS implementation depends on more than just software—it requires vendor readiness, internal IT support, and well-defined job data. This guide outlines integration types, resource planning, and data migration strategies essential for iCIMS success. Avoid delays and missteps by aligning stakeholders early and building a solid foundation for scalable, compliant growth.
Why Time-to-Fill Matters More Than You Think
TA teams are under pressure to do more with less—and prove every tool’s ROI. Reducing Time-to-Fill unlocks measurable value: faster hires, lower costs, and stronger teams. With iCIMS, smarter workflows and better training turn your ATS into a growth engine. The right setup delivers speed, savings, and strategic impact.
What You Lose with Bundled Solutions
Bundled HCM platforms promise savings, but often deliver reduced capability. Purpose-built tools like iCIMS still offer unmatched configurability, deeper insights, and stronger ROI—especially when every hire counts. Before switching systems, ask: are you maximizing what you already have? The real cost of consolidation might be efficiency, effectiveness, and competitive edge.
System Admin Insights Newsletter
Real-world lessons from the people who make iCIMS work. Each week, we share insights from system administrators, consultants, and tech leads navigating the realities of iCIMS optimization.
