Assessing the Utilization of Applicant Tracking System and Recruitment Process in Niger State Civil Service

This paper assesses the utilization of Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and recruitment process in the Niger State Civil Service in addressing the critical need for modernizing the civil service recruitment process. The paper used mixed method techniques for data collection and analysis. Data obtained from 338 respondents was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Similarly, interviews were conducted with 5 respondents who were purposively selected in the Directorate and General Executive Cadre of the Niger State Civil Service Commission. The qualitative data were analysed using NVivo 15 software. The results revealed that, utilization of ATS has a significant effect on the civil service recruitment effectiveness with positive coefficient value of β = 0.205 and a p-value of 0.035. The qualitative findings not only corroborate, but also enrich the quantitative results, highlighting the essential role of integrating ATS in enhancing recruitment effectiveness in the Niger State Civil Service Commission. The paper concludes that the implementation of ATS significantly enhanced recruitment effectiveness. The paper recommends that, the Niger State Civil Service Commission should prioritize the implementation of ATS to streamline recruitment processes, enhance candidate management, and improve overall civil service operational efficiency and effectiveness.