With 50 million users in the UK, mobile represents a massive engagement opportunity for recruiters. According to a Teletext Survey,  17% of people searching for a job online used mobile internet and 4% used apps 

-  there is also a longer term trend for people to spend more time on social networking sites on their mobiles than on their desktops (Some time in 2013, according to some industry experts – Morgan Stanley)

- more anecdotally, at a recent social recruitment conference in London one of the presenters asked who in the audience of approximately 500 did not have a smart phone…four hands went up

The Role of the mobile

- people are not overly concerned with how the content gets to them

- most people just want quick and simple access from wherever they are, when a candidate is looking for their next role the mobile will have a big role to play

- the main reason being a mobile handset is a ‘personal’ object and most people keep it close to hand…“Keys, Wallet…Mobile

- the convenience and accessibility compared to a fixed line, information/content can be accessed all the time not just when you are at home or at your desk, but at a time that best suits you.  For example, on the way to work, in front of the TV, even in the bathroom

- privacy. This gives the individual the ability to browse jobs anywhere without the danger of being ‘caught out by your employer as this method bypasses permissions and firewall restrictions that may be imposed.  The  importance of privacy cannot be overstated in job search.

Technology (Power, Mobility & Personalisation)

- handsets and tablets are become more powerful than PCs & laptops. Mobility and personalisation are driving the change

- the technology and adaptation of mobile is similar to that of the desktop, currently you need to build products for each different mobile platform (i.e. iphone, Android, Windows, Palm).

- the development of apps  has now taken the power back from the  manufacturers.

- the speed at which open source and cloud technology is developing will only enhance the pace of development.

Functionality

Mobile will allow users to make use of innovative functionality such as:

- location services, allowing users to pin geographies where they wish to work and outlining the geographical job outlook

- customised, user friendly applications and sites to make the process clear and simple and secure

- seamless – PC, Table or phone all connected and data delivered in a way that is ‘standard’ with little or no difference in the user experience

Adoption

There has been a relatively slow and cautious adoption of mobile recruitment solutions by in-house recruiters and agencies.

There also seems to be a lack of information/education on what can be achieved with mobile, pretty similar to the time when the job boards first came into play.

However, with the experiences gained from the internet and technology innovations (job boards, ATS systems, LinkedIn) recruiters and organisations are likely to adopt ‘mobile’ now the momentum has started to build.

They will develop a better understanding of mobile integration not just in terms of recruitment but as part of the whole business strategy and linking with social media much more quickly over the next two years as more and more information will be made available through case studies and data.