SortTheStack vs spreadsheets and email
A spreadsheet is free, familiar and fine for small piles of applications. Where it breaks, what it costs you in time, and a free screening spreadsheet if you decide to stay with one.
Alternatives
You don't need a bigger hiring system. You need a smaller pile.
The realistic alternatives to screening software are reading everything yourself or buying a recruiting platform that still leaves the reading to you. Here is the honest comparison.
Side by side
The honest version
| Capability | Screening by hand | Recruiting platforms | SortTheStack |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is built to do | Nothing. It is a person and a stack of resumes. | Track candidates through a hiring process. | Turn a batch of applicants into a shortlist. |
| Time to first shortlist | Hours to days of reading. | After the platform is rolled out, still hours of reading. | Create a role, add the batch, review the shortlist. |
| Setup required | None. | Rollout, configuration, and team training. | Create a role. |
| Consistency across applicants | Varies by reviewer, by role, and by how late in the day it is. | Depends on whoever is doing the reading. | The same stated criteria applied to every applicant. |
| Reasoning you can inspect | In somebody’s head. | Whatever the reviewer wrote in the notes field. | Evidence attached to every candidate. |
| Handles a sudden applicant spike | Not without more people. | Tracks them. Does not read them. | This is the case it is for. |
| Replaces your ATS | n/a | It is one. | No, and it does not need one. |
Head to head
Comparisons
SortTheStack vs Workable
Workable is an all-in-one recruiting and HR platform. SortTheStack only screens applications. Here is how they differ on candidate evaluation, cost and effort, and which one fits which team.
Still deciding?
Screen one real batch. It is a faster answer than any comparison table.