All About Pre-Select With Ben Heacox

We have already told you that Pre-Select is your one-stop shop when it comes to recruitment and the hiring process; Pre-Select is an affordable, cloud-based hiring software that allows you to organize, track, and review applicants. You can even view hiring data reports and complete onboarding right from Pre-Select!

But today, we want to get a little more personal with Pre-Select and learn some behind-the-scenes information. Who are the individuals behind the platform? Why do they personally recommend Pre-Select? What are their short-term and long-term goals for the software? We dove a little deeper and interviewed one of the faces operating Pre-Select on a daily basis, Ben Heacox.

Below are the questions we asked Ben, and his responses:

What is your official title?

“Client Support and Talent Acquisition Leader”

What are your main responsibilities and duties under your title?

“I am responsible for managing software support services related to Pre-Select’s signature Applicant Tracking System along with general oversight and development of Pre-Select's talent acquisition program, Smart Hire.”

What is Pre-Select, and what is its purpose?

“Pre-Select is a Cleveland based HR consulting firm made of three parts: our signature Applicant Tracking System and Online Application Software, Smart Hire Talent Acquisition, and the Pre-Verify Platform.

Pre-Select began as an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) – cloud-based software that intuitively organizes the hiring process. Through the ATS, our clients can easily track job candidates’ applications, resumes, and even onboarding documents all from a customized website. We also offer a simple Online Application for clients who simply need a digital version of the traditional paper process.

With Smart Hire, we aim to help our clients find the best, most qualified job candidates before the first interview. This saves both time and money. We take care of job posting and advertising; sourcing candidates into your customized career website. From there, we qualify applicants with our “special sauce,” only forwarding you the best for your company. Once hired, we offer one-click background check requests and on-boarding from our sister company Pre-Check: a 25-year premier provider of pre-employment background screening services.

The newest addition to the Pre-Select’s service portfolio is a system called Pre-Verify – a digital background screening platform available directly through the Pre-Select ATS. Instead of relying solely on Consumer Reporting Agencies for background checks and investigations, hiring managers will be able to order and track background screening services directly.

All of these tools are designed to make the hiring process simpler and more effective. Our ultimate goal is to help businesses hire the best people while maintaining a price point that remains accessible to small businesses.”

Who can benefit most from Pre-Select’s services?

“Any business looking to hire the best people! The tools developed by Pre-Select empower organizations to take control of their recruiting process at a price point that is attainable. Our services were designed with small business in mind, but whether it’s a non-profit, small business, or large corporation, all of our clients enjoy the many benefits of what we do.

In which direction are you planning to take Pre-Select this year? What are your short-term and long-term goals for the company?

“Pre-Select is always looking to enhance our features and grow our client base. This year, we’re experimenting with new advertising options and will be utilizing more real-time data to refine the Smart Hire process. We’re also pioneering what the ATS can do with the addition of Pre-Verify. There’s never been an ATS that includes a full background-screening platform like Pre-Verify, and we’re excited to see where this takes us. We already offer great services, now it’s time to take it to the next level.”

How do your visions of Pre-Select factor into accomplishing your goals?

“I see Pre-Select as a unique and necessary service with the potential to transform how Cleveland businesses hire. With this in mind, I have the drive each day to grow this company and apply my own talents to help Pre-Select reach its full potential and better support our customers. Each 8-5 is an opportunity to not only serve our clients, but to also grow and perfect what we do. We’re capable professionals, and we’re also pioneers with a vision to be the very best in Cleveland.”

How does working at Pre-Select compare to other positions you’ve held?

“When I was an Administrative Intern at The Cleveland Orchestra, I would ask the workers there what made their business special. Surprisingly, the answers I got were never about the music or the glamour of the world-class arts foundation. The individuals there would cite the benefits of working with a great team. From the acclaimed Music Director Franz Welser-Möst to the volunteer ushers, the individuals putting on the show were the driving force behind the success of each production. Pre-Select’s services have very little to do with making music, but the same qualities are found here – we have a team of exceptional people who truly want to provide world-class service to our clients.

Our business is all about people, and our own people are simply the best you can work with. Pre-Select’s staff knows their stuff, and coming from a few years working in IT support at Best Buy’s Geek Squad, I have to give this team a lot of credit for their level of expertise and great attitude when it comes to providing world-class support to our clients. There’s a level of personal investment in our customer interactions that just isn’t there when seeking support from a larger corporation. I think our small business atmosphere allows our team to better connect with clients. This personal connection better enables us to empower our customers with the tools to better utilize our services – you can actually look forward to asking for help knowing someone who cares is on the other end.

Why would you recommend Pre-Select?

“There are a lot of reasons to recommend Pre-Select. I cannot praise the people behind the service enough. I think that’s the biggest reason to recommend it – Pre-Select is built upon a fantastic team!

Beyond working with a great support staff, we offer innovative and intuitive software at a fraction of the cost similar services would charge. We’re a small business ourselves, so we set our prices to be accessible to other small businesses. This comes from a genuine desire to serve our small business community. We strongly believe in the services Pre-Select offers and we want anyone to be able to use them.

Finally, we’re a business that’s innovating in an area that many are content to remain stagnant. The integration of Pre-Verify – a fully customizable background screening platform – into the Applicant Tracking System is a brand new concept that’s never been done before. Also, it’s an innovation with purpose. Predatory lawsuits are targeting employers who utilize Consumer Reporting Agencies to conduct pre-employment background checks. To protect our clients, we want to put the tools necessary to conduct pre-employment screenings directly into the hands of hiring managers. For years, our parent company, Pre-Check, has been developing a digital platform for background checks. Now, we’re ready to let our customers access this powerful tool.

It’s not often that you find a company that’s so dedicated to their clients. For 25 years, Pre-Check has been helping companies hire the best people. Pre-Select was commissioned in an effort to expand on that mission, and today we’re still innovating to fulfill that promise. When you choose Pre-Select, you’re choosing a service that’s refined, intuitive, innovative, and accessible. We’re driven by a central mission – to better help our clients. For these reasons, I cannot recommend our services enough!