Mobile Job Search – Tips and Tricks

In their Jobseeker Nation 2015 report, Jobvite found that 47% of job seekers are using mobile in their job search – in restaurants, during their commute, at work, and even from their bed.

Recruiters are busy on mobile as well. The 2014 Jobvite Social Recruiting survey showed that 51% of them planned to increase their investment in mobile recruiting.

Have you joined this mobile revolution? Your smartphone is always with you, so reach for it during those otherwise wasted minutes waiting for appointments or standing in line. Instead of aimless distractions, focus on the following five activities that will advance your job search and your career.

Connect with your network

Use LinkedIn’s main app to browse content your network has created or posted, and add your own comments (or a quick “thumbs up” with the Like button). LinkedIn also has a separate app called Connect that displays people’s news, accomplishments and anniversaries so you can congratulate them.

Check your email frequently so you can respond quickly to any follow-up communication about jobs you’ve applied for or people you’ve contacted about your job search and career goals.

Be careful you’re not tempted to be using “text-speak” just because you’re on the smaller keyboard on your smartphone. Be professional, maintain your brand, and proofread everything carefully before you send.

Email a copy of your resume to yourself and keep it in your Inbox or a folder so you can easily attach it to a new message if you’re catching up with someone who could be a potential referral source for new opportunities.

Tip: Be sure your resume, cover letters, list of references, and thank you letters all use a font that can be read on mobile devices, such as Calibri, Cambria, Arial, Trebuchet or Verdana.

Make new connections

As you’re browsing the LinkedIn app you will come across new people that could be influential in future hiring decisions. Perhaps they’ve commented on a post you’re reading, or in a group discussion.

While you can send invitations to connect via mobile, proceed with caution. Skip LinkedIn’s one-click option because that sends a generic invitation that won’t set you apart or make a positive impression. Here’s what to do instead:

• Click on the person’s name to open their profile page, and then look for the three horizontal lines at the top-right of your screen.
• Choose “Customize invite,” if you see this option (it only appears for people with whom you have mutual connections).
• If you do not see “Customize invite,” then choose “Forward profile” to email the profile to yourself so you can send a customized invitation later from your desktop computer.

Search for jobs

Start with the companies you’ve targeted, and check their websites and career pages for postings.

LinkedIn’s Job Search app for iPhone and Android have a variety of helpful tools for tailoring your job search. You can even apply with your existing LinkedIn profile, customizing it for each specific job.

Apply for jobs

Ideally you’ll use your mobile devices to find and save jobs to apply to later, when you have more time and space to properly think through and type out your responses. Those tiny keyboards don’t leave much room for typing, but they do leave much room for error!

Another concern about applying for jobs via your mobile device is that you may be sending highly personal and confidential information over public Wi-Fi. You may want to look at using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Here are VPN tips for Apple devices.

Research

Your mobile device is also a vital tool for conducting research about prospective employers, and keeping up with industry news and trends.

Bookmark sites for the companies where you want to work, and follow key influencers on LinkedIn so their latest posts show up in your newsfeed.

Mobile job search is the way of the future so you need to embrace it. Applying even one of these tips could help you use your time more efficiently and advance your job search.