The entry channel indicates the method through which an application entered the system. This information is a central element in the application process—for tracking, reporting, and strategically managing recruiting measures.
1. What is the entry channel?
The entry channel describes the technical source through which an application was recorded in the system. It is automatically set by the system and cannot be changed.
Typical entry channels:
External job boards (e.g., StepStone, Indeed)
Internal posting
Email (agency send-in)
Manually added
Agency
❗Important: The entry channel is a fixed, system-defined field. Subsequent changes are not possible—neither by system users nor by softgarden technical support. This restriction serves data integrity and complete traceability in the application process.
2. Entry channel "Manually added"
When an application is manually recorded by a user in the system (e.g., via "Add Application"), the entry channel is automatically set to "Manually added".
Typical use cases:
Applications via email or mail
Resumes from career fairs
Subsequent recording of unsolicited applications
3. Entry channel "E-Mail (Agency Send-In)"
This channel is automatically set when applications are submitted to the client system via the send-in function by email—such as by external agencies.
Notes:
The channel is system-defined and not adjustable.
For further differentiation, individual tags can be set in the applicant profile under "Tags" (e.g., agency name, campaign). These tags can be filtered both under "Applications" and in the applicant snapshot report.
4. Entry channel "Internal" – When is it set?
The "Internal" entry channel is used when an application originates from within the company environment. This can happen in several ways:
Possible scenarios:
Application via internal posting (e.g., intranet)
Manual recording of an internal application
Importing an application with internal designation
Application via internal referral link (depending on configuration)
5. Difference from the "Origin of the Application"
In addition to the entry channel, softgarden has the separate field "Origin of the Application". This serves for content categorization—e.g., to indicate whether it is a referral, unsolicited application, or campaign application.
Features:
Can be manually maintained
Is independent of the technical entry channel
Allows differentiated filtering and evaluation
Example: An application may technically have come through "E-Mail (Agency Send-In)" but be classified as a "Referral."
6. Entry Channels Report
The entry channels report provides a detailed overview of the performance of the various channels.
Included information:
Number of applications per channel in the selected period
Breakdown by status groups:
In progress
Canceled
Confirmed
Comparison with click and view data from the job posting statistics
Jobs without applications are not listed in the report.
7. Can custom entry channels be created?
No, creating custom entry channels is technically not possible. For individual categorization, however, you can use tags and the "Origin of the Application" field.
Conclusion
The entry channel is a system-defined field that documents the technical origin of an application. It is unchangeable and forms the basis for a transparent, audit-proof, and evaluable applicant history. For additional content differentiation, the "Origin of the Application" field and freely definable tags are available.