Just as social media recruiting gained momentum in the HR world, there came a knock at the door:
Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Mobile!
Mobile who?
Mobile recruiting!
That’s right. Mobile recruiting just appeared out of nowhere and stole the show. Although this scene makes for a plausible segue, it’s only partially true. Experts long called for the rise of mobile across all industries, but companies were too focused on social media to heed the call. Fast-forward to 2013, and ‘mobile’ has proven it’s more than a buzzword.
In palatable terms: Mobile recruiting is Batman and social media recruiting is Robin. You can have one without the other, but together they make a dynamic duo. Since 7 out of 10 job seekers are using mobile devices to search for employment, it makes perfect sense for companies to invest in mobile-friendly technology to enhance and strengthen their recruitment efforts. But as you probably guessed, they are hardly paying attention to a trend that can breathe life into their tired hiring process and make them more competitive overall. As of June 2012, roughly 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies didn’t have a mobile-optimized career site. For small businesses, the number is likely even more uninspiring.
Social media has gone mobile
To be fair, social media is a very powerful recruiting tool, but as David Martin suggested in his article, “The Mobile Recruiting Market Is About to Get Very Hot,” mobile has been eclipsed by social media. It’s important to note these channels are not mutually exclusive: they are designed to enhance each other. Mobile is a popular mechanism by which social media, among other apps, can be accessed. Not only do people pay bills, buy clothes, watch movies, read novels, shop for groceries, find a date and make dinner reservations via mobile devices, they also apply for jobs. Not yours? Then somebody else’s. And guess what? You’ve just lost points in their digital books.
Research indicates mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common web access device worldwide. Mobile optimization is quickly becoming the new normal, making user experience paramount. Want to convince those highly sought-after passive candidates they should work for your company? Upgrade your recruitment channels and give job seekers a little something called options. Candidates should be able to view your career site and apply for your open positions via their mobile device. The best way to connect with job seekers is to go where they are.
Aim to be more like the Jetsons than the Flintstones
As recruiters and hiring managers, you already know potential hires are on LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, job boards, etc. You’ve proudly scribbled a check beside social media recruiting on your to-do list and moved on. But how many of you (your company/boss included) truly consider and accept an obvious reality: today’s socially and tech savvy talent does just about everything—including look for jobs—on their smartphone or tablet. Social media sites and job boards no doubt create an opportunity for recruiters and job seekers to connect, but mobile capability takes it a step further. Mobile recruiting allows recruiters and candidates to communicate effortlessly, regardless of their physical location. Rather than being chained to a desk, both parties have flexibility in how they conduct business. In this case, on-trend is better than behind the cultural curve.
USA TODAY posted a highly convincing article about how companies are missing out on the talent they so desperately need largely due to their outdated application process. Check it out here.
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This article originally appeared on our HireFuel blog.
