The Dos and Don’ts of Mobile Recruiting
Mobile recruitment is no longer a nice-to-have strategy — it’s a must.
Among today’s job seekers, 89 percent see their mobile devices as critical to the job hunt, and 45 percent use their phones to search for jobs daily. It’s clear that candidates now expect to be able to research, find, and apply to jobs from a mobile device, and that means any recruiter without a solid mobile recruiting practice is missing out on a huge swath of excellent talent.
As an added bonus, a mobile-first recruitment strategy doesn’t only benefit the candidates. It can also shave time off of lengthy recruiting cycles, putting your team members in a better position to engage and win over top candidates. Tools like real-time mobile chat allow communication to move faster, cutting out the typical lag time between emails. Additionally, features like one-click apply provide simple and speedy ways for candidates to join your talent pipelines.
Whether you are a mobile recruiting veteran or just dipping your toes into the mobile recruiting world, you need to understand some key dos and don’ts in order to successfully attract, engage, and hire candidates via mobile devices. Here’s some advice, based on our experiences implementing mobile strategies for LOCALiQ clients:
DO Optimize Your Site for Mobile Devices
Your mobile site must be more than a miniature version of your desktop website. An effectively mobile-optimized website should function and feel like it was made for on-the-go devices. Simplicity, speed, and usability are key.
Like consumers, job applicants are notoriously unforgiving when it comes to their online experiences. Case in point: If a website takes more than three seconds to load, 53 percent of users will abandon the site. Similarly, mobile navigation has to be intuitive, with compelling visuals and clickable buttons so candidates can easily get where they need to go on your site.
Remember: Your candidates expect a mobile job-seeking experience akin to popular social media and gaming apps. Design your mobile recruiting site with this in mind.
DON’T Force Candidates to Leave Their Mobile Devices to Apply for Jobs on Their Desktops
If you list a position on a mobile-friendly job board or careers site, then you should also allow candidates to apply to that position on their mobile devices. Consider implementing a one-click apply feature. Sixty percent of job seekers will fail to complete a job application if it is too lengthy or complex. Avoid this problem by giving job seekers a simple way to apply without much effort.
For more expert recruiting insights, check out the latest issue of Recruiter.com Magazine:
DON’T Assume Mobile Recruiting Only Attracts Young Candidates
While 92 percent of millennials own smartphones, Gen. X-ers and baby boomers are right behind them, with 85 percent and 67 percent of those generations, respectively, owning smartphones. Gen. X-ers and baby boomers don’t lag far behind in social media use, either.
The takeaway here is that job seekers of all ages use mobile devices. Rather than tailoring your mobile recruiting strategy for one generation, make it inclusive. The more demographics you can connect with, the better your chance of finding the best candidate.
DO Incorporate Real-Time Chat, Text, and Short-Form Communications Into Your Mobile Recruiting Program
As with applications, on-the-go candidates want quick and easy methods to connect with employers and recruiters. Companies benefit from the use of such channels as well: They are able to capture a prospect’s attention more quickly and guide them to the next step of the recruiting process.
Don’t stop at text messages. Make popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger part of your recruiting lexicon as well.
DON’T Overlook the Significance of Social Media
According to a survey conducted by LOCALiQ Recruitment, active job seekers are likely to visit social media sites like LinkedIn when researching a prospective employer. That means your mobile recruiting strategy should include social media as a key channel for sourcing candidates and boosting your reputation as a desirable employer.
DO Leverage the Right Mix of Digital Tools to Make Your Mobile Recruiting Strategy a Success
Each organization has its own unique recruitment needs and is looking to attract a specific audience. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to recruiting, especially not when it comes to mobile recruiting. You’ll need to determine which specific tools work best to achieve your recruiting goals. When used in the right combination, the tools and techniques outlined above can help you connect with today’s best candidates and get the right people through the door.
Dan Dugan is vice president of sales at LOCALiQ Recruitment.