…ideas from Jeffery Giesener – SourceMob.com – CEO
Over 70% of active job seekers are using their mobile phones to find jobs, according to Simply Hired’s Mobile Outlook Study – 2013.
So why is everyone ditching the PC for the phone? It’s the simplest of reasons. While at work, those who are miserable and want to look for jobs on their lunch break can’t because of firewalls and IT poking around in their browser history. So job seekers are using private mobile phones to browse pages such as job boards and career sites.
Mobile sites tend to be a lot easier than job boards to navigate. Fewer ads, less clutter, and a simplified interface make them user-friendly. Mobile career sites are also integrated with applicant tracking systems, and applying via phone is easier than ever. In fact, three out of ten job seekers have applied for a job directly on their device.
Another reason people apply for jobs on their phone is because they are always on or by their phone. They’re busy connecting with friends, browsing sports scores, checking the weather, and reading news or books. It’s natural to include applying for jobs on this list of capabilities. Just ask any of the 114 million people who own smartphones.
Almost 87% of job seekers said they would use their phone to search for jobs. About 55% percent said they like to receive alerts via text message, while 45% would gladly use their phone to track a job application. For employers, that’s a big invitation.
While employers continue to scratch their heads about mobile initiatives, job seekers are telling them, “This is what I want.” The report shows that 72% of job seekers want to get career opportunities on their mobile. And almost 85% of job seekers think every company should have a mobile-friendly site – not just the big companies.
If companies want to keep their workforce freshly stocked with the best talent, they’ll need to make sure millennials (20 somethings) get a seat at the table. According to the report, By 2018, this generation will make up 50 percent of the workforce. Millennials are heavy social media users and are trending towards using smaller more portable devices, such as tablets and smartphones, to satisfy technological needs.
In stark contrast of the demand is the supply side of mobile. Only 7% of employers have a mobile version of their career site, while a mere 3% have a mobile job app, Simply Hired reports.
The takeaway from this report is that you should have developed mobile-optimized sites yesterday. If you haven’t already started, you should be in the process. Once you’ve developed a site, allowing candidates to apply, track their application, and share jobs is essential, all while providing a consistent brand message.
For more tips and ideas give me a call at 612-349-2740 or email me at jeff@sourcemob.com
Best
Jeffery
Jeffery Giesener
CEO/Founder
SourceMob.com
612-349-2740
Twitter: @sourcemob
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jefferyjeffgiesener
Adapted from post by Vanessa Bostwick