Why applicant tracking systems are broken by design
Summary
The article argues that applicant tracking systems are structurally broken due to misaligned incentives and compliance-driven purchasing. It advocates a 3D data architecture (Jobs → JobPostings → JobOpenings) and thoughtful data models to separate concerns (ATS vs CRM), reduce pipeline chaos, and improve usability. It also offers design guidance for builders and discusses market dynamics that perpetuate the status quo.