Transforming Talent Acquisition in Local Government

Davis County, in Utah, serves its local community with a realm of diverse departments ranging from law enforcement and libraries to health services and sports parks. With 600 full-time employees and 1,200 total staff, hiring spans multiple specialties, requiring a streamlined recruitment approach. Mindy Adams, HR Business Partner for Davis County Government, shared her experience with implementing isolved Talent Acquisition, formerly Applicant Pro and why it’s been life-changing for Davis County.

According to Adams, serving their community efficiently is what prompted them to modernize their talent acquisition process. With their Human Resources (HR) team including only Adams, one other full-time recruiter and one part-time assistant, this was a challenge. Historically, they had been reliant on paper applications and a simplistic in-house system built by their own IT team. This was not only time-consuming, but not cost-effective.

They needed a comprehensive applicant tracking system (ATS) to improve efficiency, onboarding and the applicant experience. They were fortunate enough to have an increase in budget and so they began the search for a better system. After a rigorous government RFP process, they selected isolved Talent Acquisition which significantly reduced time-to-fill, enhanced hiring manager efficiency and improved applicant engagement.

A Smooth Transition

The previous talent acquisition approach was inefficient, reliant on outdated processes that lacked integration across departments. Paper applications and manual tracking created significant delays. There was no centralized or streamlined applicant experience and hiring managers lacked a seamless method to review, track and engage candidates. Metrics such as time-to-fill and applicant engagement were not effectively tracked as there wasn’t time or the capability to analyze them.

The team evaluated multiple ATS solutions, but isolved Talent Acquisition stood out as it was cost-effective and highly rated by other government agencies. Key factors in selection included robust onboarding capabilities, automation, mobile-friendliness and strong customer support. isolved Talent Acquisition provided a seamless, one-stop solution for job postings, applicant tracking, communication and interview scheduling.

Once isolved Talent Acquisition was selected, Adams detailed that implementation was smooth and well-supported. She noted how isolved Talent Acquisition worked closely with hiring managers to ensure training and adoption, as well as how they provided continuous support and system upgrades—enhancing usability and functionality. Adams says, “This was by far the easiest process with the most support and we continue to receive stellar support from isolved Talent Acquisition. I can go anytime to my contact there and they’re super responsive. I felt like I was on easy street”.

Improved Employee Experience and Rockstar Candidates

After switching to isolved Talent Acquisition, time-to-fill improved significantly, reducing hiring delays across departments. The applicant experience transformed, offering a professional, candidate-and admin-friendly  interface with mobile compatibility. Hiring managers saved time with automated workflows, video interviews and centralized applicant tracking. One hiring manager noted, “I used to dread hiring, now I get excited about it.” The system allowed HR to reduce the administrative burden as well, eliminating the need for additional part-time staff.

Not only did modernizing the recruitment processes significantly improve efficiency, but it also empowered HR teams and hiring managers to make better, faster hiring decisions with automation and digital tools. Hiring managers reported a more seamless process, while applicants felt the system was more professional and responsive, attracting top talent and improving the overall employee experience. Not only is the process better, but it leaves them with more qualified candidates than job openings across all areas and functions. When asked what her ideal recruitment scenario would look like, Adams reported that it’s what they have now, which is quick, seamless and leaves her with what she calls “rockstars.”

A Continued Partnership

isolved Talent Acquisition revolutionized hiring for Davis County Government, aligning recruitment with modern expectations. Strong support from isolved Talent Acquisition and continuous improvements have ensured long-term success. Looking ahead, Adams and her team aim to further leverage data analytics to optimize hiring strategies.

Adams says, “We want Davis County to be the top employer at the government level and to continue to recruit top candidates as we serve our community”. In doing so, they have no qualms about leaning on isolved Talent Acquisition to help them continue to reach their goals. According to Adams, “If isolved Talent Acquisition continues what they’re doing, we will work with them indefinitely—there would be no need to look elsewhere.”