Consider the following three scenarios. Which one saves the most time for both the candidates and the employers?

1) A job seeker sees a job listing in a newspaper and applies in person; from there, the employer must sort through the stack of other applicants and narrow the pool down.
2) An employer posts a job online. Job seekers apply during their free time and when they have access to a private PC, often after work hours.
3) A new job becomes available and gets posted online. A job seeker receives an alert, then takes a few minutes out of their day to submit their credentials through a smartphone application or mobile website.

The obvious answer is the third one—in this example, the employer’s mobile recruitment strategy and the candidates’ preparedness for mobile job applications give both a time-saving advantage and a jump on the competition. While the first scenario is becoming all but obsolete, we seem to be making a slow but definite transition from the second to the third. But what are the benefits of this change?

The Benefits of Mobile Recruitment

In scenario three, the employer now has resumes within the same workday, and the candidate has the opportunity to be one of the first resumes in the pile. In other, more traditional methods of job searching, candidates can only apply when within reach of a computer or when they have time to communicate their credentials in person. While both approaches have their benefits, mobile offers a number of improvements on the overall process for both candidates and employers.

Aside from saving time and getting a leg up on the competition, mobile recruitment provides job seekers and hiring managers alike with yet another evaluation tool. For example, candidates may prefer to work for more technically-savvy employers, and having a mobile app or mobile-friendly responsive website are great ways for employers to communicate  that quality. Likewise, employers may be seeking potential employees who are quick and up-to-date on technology, or who simply want the job enough to be one of the first applicants.

Of course, there are risks to mobile applications, especially on the candidate’s side. In order to make mobile recruiting work for you,  it’s important to be prepared.

Making Mobile Recruitment Work for You

If you’re a job seeker looking to amp up your job search, the first thing to do is set up your credentials in a mobile-friendly format. Google Drive, for example, provides an easily accessible location. From there, you can share your resume, download copies to attach to emails, and even edit and save it directly from your mobile device.  This is also a great place to keep your cover letter, as it’s important to carefully tailor your letter to the position and the employer you’re submitting it to before applying.

Note: When editing your documents and applying from a mobile device, be careful. There is no room for error on any job application—mobile or otherwise!

Once you have your information ready, set up email alerts and make sure your email is synced to your phone. That way, you get a notification whenever a new job of interest is added, wherever you are. Apply, then make a note of your application to add to your master job list later—or, if you’re especially savvy with your mobile device, sync your spreadsheet to Google Drive and edit it on the spot!

Ultimately, the key is to stay organized. For more information on how to organize a job search of any kind, as well as how to track your applications with a master job list, refer to our article How To Stay Organized During Your Job Search.