3 Reasons to Make Mobile a Part of Your Hiring Strategy

Today more than 90% of the American population has a smartphone. In 2018, those Americans spent 1,460 hours on their smartphone and other mobile devices (equivalent to 91 waking days). So it should come as no surprise that businesses are putting their best foot forward when it comes to mobile.

Consumers can now buy products, use services, and schedule appointments all with a few taps on their phones. However, despite this upward trend, not all businesses have incorporated mobile into their hiring processes. As a result, they’re missing out on a lot of potential talent (in fact, over 90% of job seekers use their phones to find a new role). If you’re one of them, here are three important reasons you might want to make mobile a part of your hiring strategy.

Most people avoid browsing job ads on work computers, which is why more than half of job searches are done in bed. Meanwhile, other groups of the population simply don’t have regular access to a computer. And then there are those who react to a bad day at the office by exploring what else is out there, which may explain why 30% of job searches happen during commuting hours.

Without a mobile hiring strategy, you may never hear from these potential candidates. When job ads aren’t optimized for mobile, people have problems accessing them. If someone interested in a role they find on their phone can’t apply on their device or upload a resume, they may never complete the application.

Perhaps even more critical is that candidates searching for jobs on mobile devices may not even find your ad, as Google prioritizes mobile-optimized sites for mobile searches.

Having a simple and seamless mobile experience for finding roles and submitting applications will ensure more potential candidates can discover and apply for your latest position, whether they’re on-the-go or lying in bed.

An effective hiring process isn’t just about getting a handful of resumes from candidates with similar profiles and backgrounds. You need a range of applicants with diverse experiences to give you more options.

This includes young people, who overwhelmingly reach for their phones when job hunting. Meanwhile, a significant number of minority groups also depend on their mobile devices for internet access, including 35% of Hispanics and 24% of African Americans. Reaching young people and boosting diversity at your business demands a mobile hiring strategy.

Another way to expand your talent pool is to consider the 700,000 ex-offenders who re-enter the job market every year. Like many unemployed people, ex-offenders are less likely to have access to a computer, so optimizing your hiring for mobile is great way to reach this untapped potential.

Job fairs are also useful for meeting a large number of candidates in a short space of time and building a talent pipeline. A simple and slick mobile hiring process allows your hiring team to help interested candidates submit an application with your business before they move on to your rivals’ stands.

With unemployment rates at their lowest in 50 years, competition for available talent is fierce. Making mobile part of your hiring strategy will expand your pool and help your business land the right person every time.

More applications from a better range of candidates sounds great, but can your business cope with the increase in volume? If your hiring process is too slow, you’ll miss out on the best candidates who are more likely to secure other roles in the meantime.

There are lots of potential bottlenecks from the minute a job seeker submits an application. 43% of recruiters say that hiring managers take too long to review resumes, while it typically takes 17 hours for people to provide post-interview evaluations. Mobile hiring will allow your teams to review resumés and complete evaluations on the go and speed up your process.

One of the most critical blockers is background checks. Any candidate asked to complete one will assume that they’re a serious contender for the role. The traditional cumbersome and time-consuming background check gives your favorites time to move along any other job opportunities they’re exploring. By the time you get the all-clear, you may have missed out or find yourself in a bidding war for their talents.

You’ll want to work with a consumer reporting agency (CRA) who can easily integrate their service to your mobile experience, giving your preferred candidates a simple and seamless way to complete their checks and keep your hiring process moving.

Optimizing your hiring process for mobile will make all elements of the experience, from initial application to final background check, easier and faster for candidates and your hiring team.

As people increasingly move to a mobile-first mindset, your business needs to accommodate this device-specific demand. Otherwise you’ll lose out on the best talent to other companies who have already learned the value of a mobile hiring strategy.