The Essentials of a Mobile-Friendly Job Application

A mobile-friendly recruitment application can be an essential part of connecting with your talent pool. According to SHRM, nearly 70 percent of high-potential employees preferred organizations with a mobile recruitment option. What's more, three-quarters of high-potential candidates used mobile devices to find and apply for jobs. For companies interested in attracting applicants from the millennial generation, or tech-savvy applicants from other generations, it's important to know that 47 percent of candidates are using mobile devices to find new opportunities. With mobile use rates rising, developing a mobile-friendly job application may be a critical technique for building a successful talent pipeline.

The disconnect between candidate behavior and company delivery

Despite a general awareness of the importance of a mobile-friendly job application, many companies have struggled to keep pace. SHRM referred to one study that showed that while mobile job searching has grown, just 19% of companies have focused on this critical area. Candidates — especially high-demand candidates such as technical talent and executives — may judge a company by the efficiency of its technology and processes. If your recruiting process delivers a great experience, they'll likely trust that the work environment will as well. However, being perceived as "behind the times" could damage your company's employment brand.

Pay attention to technical priorities

Mobile users expect websites to function smoothly and easily on their chosen devices, so load times are critical. SHRM highlighted in a recent piece on mobile recruiting trends that 60% of mobile candidates expect sites to load within three seconds. If sites don't load quickly enough, candidates may go elsewhere to look for new professional opportunities. A mobile recruiting strategy should include some focus on the technical priorities and underlying infrastructure needed for this to happen. For example, have you invested in HR and recruiting technology that can streamline your mobile optimization process? Some software programs offer features that make it easier for candidates to apply on any device, while also creating opportunities for better communication and process management by HR staff.

Customize your forms for the touch screen

The final step when evaluating your job application is to think about basic functionality. Most mobile devices offer small touch screens. Does your application require a lot of data entry, attachments, or other steps that can be challenging from a smartphone or tablet? Simple steps such as integrating with sites like LinkedIn and modifying buttons can help customize applications for mobile users.

It's important to balance the information you need to gather on an applicant with creating a mobile-friendly job application. From committing to a mobile recruiting strategy to rethinking the way that you format questions, a few simple tweaks may help make your company's recruiting process more mobile (and applicant) friendly.