If you’re thinking about finding a new job in this improving economy, chances are you’re using your phone or tablet to do it – and you’re definitely not alone.
Nine in 10 job seekers today are using a mobile device to aid in their search for a new gig, says a new survey by Lee Hecht Harrison, a global outplacement firm headquartered in New Jersey. There are specific and important reasons for this as more and more people use their smartphone or tablet to shop, dine, stay connected and stay informed.
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“Landing a new position requires more than a great resumé – it requires speed, connections and flexibility,” said Greg Simpson, senior vice president for career transition at Lee Hecht Harrison. “Mobile technology is profoundly altering the ways job seekers find employers find prospective candidates—enabling companies and job seekers to search smarter, connect faster, and hunt anywhere any time.”
A third of job hunters are using mobile devices to search for jobs, while 22 percent are using them to research companies. Of those who were surveyed, 20 percent say they use mobile devices for online networking, while 15 percent are actually applying for new jobs on their mobile devices.
Job hunters aren’t the only ones who are using mobile devices, however. Recruiters are using them as well. A third of recruiters now use phones and tablets to search for candidates, and more than half have said they planned to increase their investment in mobile this year, according to Jobvite, a social recruiting system for employers.
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A key tip in this rapidly changing environment: To make the best digital first impression, make sure that your resumé is easily downloadable and formatted to be clearly read via a mobile device.
Don’t toss out that laptop just yet, though: More than a quarter of companies say their application process is not yet mobile-optimized, according to Jibe, a company that makes recruiting software.
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