From streaming movies to checking the weather, people are glued to their mobile devices these days.
In fact, 44 percent of people sleep with their phone next to their bed because they don’t want to miss any calls, text messages or other updates during the night, according to a Pew Internet Project survey.
Many recruiters are using this obsession with mobile technology to their advantage. And you can too, even if you’re not super tech savvy.
Here are three simple ways you can make your recruitment strategies more mobile-friendly.
Make your website mobile-friendly
Even before candidates apply for a position, many will visit your website to find about more about your company.
In a 2013 study, 83 percent of candidates consulted a company’s website when evaluating a potential employer, according to CareerBuilder.
If the design and content on your site isn’t responsive – doesn’t adjust to fit the screen on your users’ devices – applicants will likely have a hard time searching and applying for jobs.
The CareerBuilder study found that 65 percent of candidates said they would immediately leave a company’s website if it was difficult to read or use on their mobile device.
If you don’t have the budget for creating or redesigning an entire site, you should at least ensure your career section is mobile-friendly and easy to use to improve your recruitment strategies .
Correspond with candidates via email or text immediately
In today’s world of emails, text messaging and social media, the attention span of your job applicants is much shorter than it used to be. As a result, timely follow-up and feedback is essential if you want to keep your applicants interested and engaged.
Whether it’s a follow-up email or even a text message, most people expect you to respond to their application within 24-48 hours. But don’t worry; you don’t have to commit to an interview at this point. Just let them know you received their application and you’re reviewing it.
To make recruitment strategies a little more manageable, many professional recruiters are using SMS messaging, or text messaging, to interact with candidates.
A recent survey found that 78 percent of recruiters think that text messaging is an effective tool when scheduling interviews; over 76 percent said they’ve found it useful when confirming an interview appointment, according to a Bullhorn blog.
But before you start firing off messages, be sure to ask your applicants if they want to receive texts. Generating unwanted cell phone service fees for them won’t make a good first impression.
Consider mobile video conference interviews
With video technology available on most mobile devices, you can now easily interview candidates outside your city, state or even country, without the inconvenience and cost of travel. This can dramatically increase the number qualified candidates you have to choose from. The odds of finding your dream employee are more in your favor.
Because it’s quick and convenient, you may find that candidates who are being courted by multiple companies or currently employed are more apt to agree to video conference interviews versus traveling to your office. These type of recruitment strategies give you the opportunity to connect with highly-sought-after candidates who might have ruled your business out had they had to travel to meet with you.
Skype is a widely-used app for video interviewing. But recently, Google+ Hangouts video conferencing is growing in popularity. It’s completely free. Moreover, the easy-to-use interface has multiple functions that make video calling simple and convenient, even if you’re not tech savvy.
Before arranging video interviews, make sure your candidates are comfortable with the technology and applications you’ll be using. If they’re unfamiliar, it may be more of a distraction and source of frustration, which can make it difficult for you to judge them fairly. In this case, you may decide that a phone or face-to-face interview is in your candidates’ best interest.
If they’re able to video conference, be sure you’re familiar with the equipment and applications involved. Two key components to video conferencing are good lighting and good audio. Complete a few practice runs with the app you plan on using to avoid errors that could complicate the interview process.
Looking to take your recruitment strategies to the next level? Whether it’s in the way you do business, the technology you use or the people who make your business what it is – your company is evolving all the time. So, how can you effectively manage change? Get our complimentary resource, The Insperity guide to managing change, and learn about a variety of recruiting solutions that can help you find people who will transform your business.