Have you ever used your mobile phone to apply for a job? Have you ever filled a position using mobile recruiting tools?
Both scenarios are the way of the future according to my friends Chris Hoyt and Michael Marlatt. With four billion mobile devices in the world, job seekers and potential candidates are everywhere — and there are always jobs to be filled. It’s becoming clear to companies that candidates and future employees don’t need to sit at home and send PDF copies of their resumes.
There’s a new way of recruiting out there. It’s mobile.
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So, okay, life is going mobile. What does this mean for you as a job seeker?
Well, companies are starting to make their career sites mobile-friendly. As a job seeker, you can use mobile apps for the iPhone (and other devices) and apply for a job in an instant — without fancy documents or widgets. Furthermore, once a company captures your information, the possibilities are endless. Businesses can send you text messages when they are hiring, they can contact you and ask if you’re still interested in a future opportunity, or they can text you and ask for a referral for a tough-to-fill job.
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So I have some questions for you.
- Have you ever applied for a job through your phone? What was it like?
- Does your company care about mobile recruiting?
- Are you interested in applying for a job through your phone?
Here’s my most pressing question: does a mobile-enhanced career website mean anything to you as a job seeker?
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Check out this SMS text to apply marketing position in the UK courtsey of the HRD: http://people-everyday.blogspot.com/2009/07/r-u-4-real.html
It’s a mobile world.
I’m not actively looking for a job but I did download a few iPhone apps last night related to job search. I love that some companies are embracing mobile recruiting. For me it shows they are aware of the current trends and are willing to step up and do something new and different. Careerbuilder, Beyond.com and Mjobs are the iPhone apps I downloaded last night. Job searching from the bed in my pjs was awesome
I’ve never applied for a job via a mobile phone. My company doesn’t care (that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t). I would be interested in applying for a job via mobile – should I be looking.
I think the biggest advantage would be to those who are not actively seeking a job. By enabling a mobile recruiting, you can target talent that may not be looking. For instance – imagine a company with a great employee brand – let’s call them Goggle. If I could sign up to get notified of openings at Goggle that were matched to a job agent I set at their career site, have them send me a notification when a job met my request, then seamlessly send them my CV via direct link to my LinkedIn profile, that would be sweet. However, if I didn’t want to apply, I could ignore the txt altogether.
I admit, I’m not a cellphone user for a variety of reasons, but even still…I don’t get this. Can it really be more convenient to type on those little screens rather than simply doing it when you get home?
I have a really nice desk chair, an ergonomic keyboard, a great big monitor…why would I want to apply for a job while I’m in line at Qdoba when I could do so far more comfortably when I get home?
Plus, this is geared toward posted jobs…and posted jobs are not the best way to get a job (at least for white-collar professional types).
I want an iPhone (someday)…but not to apply for jobs. That just seems goofy to me.
@Teresa I don’t know about you, but it’s tough to think about applying for a professional-level job in 160 characters.
@adowling Do your eyes adjust to the screen? Is it easy to read the job descriptions (which usually suck) and discern which jobs are for you? Are the job descriptions better because they’re more concise?
@HRputer Exactly. Or what if you’re at the mall and a store sends you a message via Bluetooth that they’re hiring? Maybe you’d apply. Maybe you would recommend the job to a friend. Possibilities are endless, I think.
@Kerry I know what you mean about the comfy chair. Maybe we’re old? I dunno. What if your device stored your SMS resume and you could just hit one button on your iPhone and apply for a job? The follow-up on the recruiter’s end still needs to happen — just like when a recruiter gets a resume in a more traditional fashion — but it’s a fast & easy way to express an interest on the job seeker’s end.
Thanks for the mention, Laurie – love the reference and ask of your readers their opinion on mobile for recruitment. While HR/Recruiting departments are starting to realize the value of the tracking and return on mobile marketing for recruitment, we can’t forget or ignore the job seeker experience.
In reference to the comments above, I think that a few things should be remembered when we talk about mobile recruiting for job seekers… it’s not just about job postings and searching for jobs.
The big wins related to mobile recruiting revolve around communication and the speed in which it can happen. Being notified of job opportunities via a quick text versus email is much easier for many. Since mobile updates are completely opt-in they can be much more convenient for active job seekers – not to mention much more customized/catered to skills and interests.
As my friend Michael Marlatt loves to point out… the majority of us leave the house every day with at least 3 things.
1. Keys
2. Wallet/Purse
3. Mobile Device
Imagine a job seeker that’s constantly on the move but not always sitting in front of their desk for email. If they’ve opted in for notification from a recruiter when something comes up that’s a match or potential interview… it’s immediate no matter where they are.
And if you’re staffing jobs in today’s economy and job market – response time is a HUGE factor in who lands that open job.
Thanks for pushing the topic to your readers… always good stuff here.
Chris Hoyt
aka: RecruiterGuy
http://www.RecruiterGuy.net
This holds no appeal to me whatsoever, as a hiring manager or an applicant.
Mobile recruiting is only useful if someone has a job alert and they need to fill in the position immediately or they have nothing to do. I think it’s a great internal tool for employers, but not for job seekers.
Tehre are a number of reasons this could be helpful. Cell is a protable PBX. You can be reach nealry anywhere. Resume on the cloud or Mosnter boards can be sent immediately. SMS, and all sorts of other applications. I agree with you Laurie. This is the future.
Ok, I haven’t applied via phone, my company needs to catch up with the times, in more ways than just this, and I would like to apply via mobile device just to see how it worked. To me, it seems as though a person applying for a position via mobile device is just applying on the fly. Laurie, I know you say when you’re looking for a job don’t seem desperate or needy, but I also want to know the applicant cared enough about their application submission. I want to know the applicant took the time to check out the company and the position they were applying to and not just sending their resume just to send it.
“What if your device stored your SMS resume and you could just hit one button on your iPhone and apply for a job? The follow-up on the recruiter’s end still needs to happen — just like when a recruiter gets a resume in a more traditional fashion — but it’s a fast & easy way to express an interest on the job seeker’s end.”
The follow-up needs to happen on the job seeker’s end too. If people are just pushing a button and applying and then waiting…well, they are going to have a long wait. After they push that button, they need to reach out to their networks and say, “Who knows someone at this company?” Then they need to get in touch with that person.
People who job hunt by just applying to postings are the same as people whose retirement fund consists of buying lottery tickets. You have to apply, but the work of getting the job begins AFTER you hit “apply online.” Too few people get that, and then they whine that they’ve applied for hundreds of jobs and nothing happened. I mean, duh. If it were that easy, everyone would do it…and everyone does. That’s why you have to do better.
That said, I can totally see why alerts to your mobile phone would be helpful if you’re out and about all the time. Some jobs are posted and then disappear within hours, because there are so many applicants that the recruiter has plenty within a few hours. In those situations, if you’re not a desk jockey, you’re going to miss out. So yeah, there’s some value there, I think.
Yeah, I really don’t know about this. I don’t see quality applications coming out of my blackberry. The only way this would work is if everyone used the same or at least compatible) programs. Each field would have to mean the same thing for everyone concerned, or everyone will get garbage in their databases.
Given how poorly software extracts information from Resume’s, I am not all that confident that we can pull this off right now. Maybe in a few years…
If apply means provide contact information and career history a mobile hand held might just fine.
Robust pre-employment simulations and highly interactive apps would be challenging for the designer and the candidate. Device incompatability is a barrier.
Getting hooked up to a text exchange is not quite the same as really applying.
No doubt, we will see some pretty fascinating evolutions in the hand held space and recruiting. It is only natural. Convenience rules. However, the quality of data exchange has a way to go.
Resume spam is a real problem for recrutiers now. Career text spam will provide an even bigger challenge to finding the wheat from the chaff.
Joe Murphy
Shaker Consulting Group
Developers of the Virtual Job Tryout®
I’m always on the go and the beauty of mobile recruiting is that my job search doesn’t have to wait until I get home in front of the computer. So YES, I have applied for jobs using my mobile. The experience was no different than doing so from my netbook or notebook. If anything, the benefit is it is a ubiquitous option. I can access job information and respond anytime, anywhere.
I do come from the mobile industry and yes mobile recruiting is something these companies care about if for no other reason than it is the nature of the beast and fits well when recruiting a mobile workforce. However, this certainly extends to other industries.
As you noted, there are plenty of apps available to job seekers today. I just did a quick search using Indeed and mJob and found 3 potentials. These apps typically let you search and find job opportunities and then send them to your email. I subscribe to TheLadders. Outside of email notifications for jobs meeting my saved search criteria and reminder notifications for follow up, I can also access the site from my mobile browser, scroll through the list and save jobs to apply. I follow a few recruiters and microblog job lists all of which I can easily get to from my mobile.
Every job seeker should research prospective employers. Who I work for is just as important as what I do. These searches I can easily do from my mobile. One job of interest meant a relocation for me. I found info on the company and also a great video about the new city. All of which I did outside from my mobile while my son played tennis. I can also use my contacts list or access my social networks to see where I might have a viable connection.
I like the location-based capabilities you also mentioned. This could be quite useful. Let’s say I have a preference to find companies close to home. I’ve signed up for a job board that knows to send me an SMS if something fits my criteria and profile. Another light use case but how about this one. Your daughter wants a job at the mall, using her mobile she can use an Augmented Reality (AR) app on her iPhone to find which stores have jobs, and what jobs they have available. She could even apply, if enabled by the employer. Can you say time saver! vs traditional method of going into each store, finding a clerk or manager, asking if hiring and requesting a paper application to take home, fill out and return to do all over again and wait for feedback.
Face-to-face networking is just as important for the job hunt. I’ve used BeamMe Pro and BeamMe CV from my mobile device when I meet a new contact. I can easily send them my contact information or resume via email, to mobile or even a Twitter account. And yes, I’ve had a savvy recruiter do the same, Mr. Chris Hoyt, http://www.recruiterguy.net/ who also offers SMS notifications, microblog job board and mobile access to his recruiting site.
All-in-all these are just additional tools and channels to the job market. But for someone like me who has never been a desk-bound employee, works in high tech and never lets grass grow under foot, this is the way to reach me and the best way for me to reach employers.
The screen on my iPhone (still advocating your purchase of one) is easy to ready and I can zoom with ease. I can see how, if using a similar app on a BB Pearl would be difficult. The search functions for the CB and mJob are wonderful; I havent tried Beyond.com’s app thoroughly yet. The job descriptions are more concise, there are no adds, drop down menus or any of the other fluff that usually drives me crazy on major job boards.
@RecruiterGuy Whoa, that’s an awesome response. Thanks for taking us through multiple perspectives. I’m a novice at this stuff. I know you take a big-picture view of mobile, but I like how your blog offers practical recruiting news and tips, too. Good stuff!
@Mary Ellen I know, the cynic in me feels the same way. I’m trying to be open to new possibilities & stuff.
@Tracy Well I’m pretty sure that someone will find a way to make it successful. Frankly, I’m sick of carrying around my laptop. I want one small device, and I want GPS, mobile phone, camera, email, text, video, and I want it to find me a job.
@MVDT The future scares me because I’m 20 years behind!
@Sara I hear you about the quality of the candidate and the seriousness of intentions. What if we stopped thinking of mobile devices as ‘phones’ and started thinking of them as small laptops. Does that make a difference?
@Kerry You are so right. Mobile is just a technology. It’s no different than the phone, the fax machine, or mail. Matches happen when people meet & talk.
@George I think any tool that can possibly help a job seeker find a job is a worthwhile endeavor. You’re right about crazy/inconsistent platforms and technology. Oy.
@Joseph Resume/text spam is a big problem for recruiters, and job posting spam is a big problem for job seekers. Why aren’t we more thoughtfully addressing spam? Isn’t this America? We can do it.
@Rhonda This is a blog post. Awesome. Thank you. I’m amazed by how technology touches our industry. Everyone else — go follow http://unhub.com/shegeek!
@adowling I know a guy who knows a guy who sells iPhones. I’m committed but I want to talk to someone about which one to buy. How much memory do I need?
Mine is a 16gb 3Gs. The husband has an 8gb 3G and is running out of space. It depends how many apps you download, how much media you want to store on the phone etc. 16gb should be enough I would think unless you want to store multiple movies on top of apps/music.
Don’t mess around. Just get the 32 GB iPhone 3GS.
It will:
- Find you a job
- Direct you to the interview location
- Eliminate world hunger
- Play your favorite punk rock music to pump you up for the interview
- And record you when you vlog about it
@jesse I like that list. I must confess I use a Nokia E71 but it can do all that too
especially direct me to the interview location! I get absolutely nowhere without Nokia Maps (which gives navigation) and Google Maps. It’s true, I admit it.
Pretty soon, you’ll be able to apply for a job with your mobile, get an instant phone call from the recruiter/HR/HM, switch it to live video feed for an instant interview—- Dammit!! I was on the toilet AGAIN??? When am I gonna stop doing that!!!
@Jesse – love it! My iPhone is in the process of eliminating world hunger by pointing me to the nearest Starbucks – those new donuts are the shiz!
I think the more important question here is: If I don’t have a job, how can I afford the iPhone? I have a full time job and a part time job and I still can’t afford one with 2 kids and a rental payment. Where are all these jobless iPhone users, and how can they justify the contract on that badboy if they aren’t making any money?
@Kiwi Some people use mobile phones instead of landline phones. I guess it’s all about choices.
@Jesse you are a bad influence on me.
What an interesting but far-fetched idea. The thought that you can use your mobile device to apply for or manage your job search/acquisition process is way in the future. We’re hearing these enormous numbers about application downloads and SMS messaging. However the predictions, there’s still a long way to go. How in fact would you use your mobile to apply for a job? I can’t imagine how you’d type your employment history or personal history into the device, even from the i-Phone. The user experience factors are simply too unfriendly. I’d never use this feature.
@Letitia – with a little bit of homework you’ll find that it’s already going on – and isn’t far-fetched at all.
“How would you use your mobile to apply for a job?”
It depends on your mobile device, of course. With CV apps and media storage options on mobiles, uploading a resume to a savvy ATS is a snap – no need to tap, tap, tap out history from a phone, which I agree could be maddening on some.
The user experience is indeed a factor – you should keep in mind that it’s the USERS that are driving this change. Not wishful recruiters.
@Rhonda – Thanks!
@Laurie – It’s awesome posts that drive good comments and create the dialogue. Thanks for the forum.
Chris Hoyt
aka: RecruiterGuy
http://www.RecruiterGuy.net