Skip to main content
job searching

A European survey revealed 96 per cent of recruiters considered social media to be a key tool to reach out to candidates.iStockphoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

As social media and mobile technology continue to change the way in which firms recruit their talent, so too have job seekers been forced to consider new and diverse ways of seeking employment.

A 2011 survey by European online job board StepStone Solutions revealed that 96 per cent of recruiters considered social media and e-recruitment to be significant tools in terms of reaching out to a global audience, which in turn encouraged job seekers to embrace the same methods in order to establish themselves as viable candidates for work.

With this trend set to continue as remote and real-time interaction becomes increasingly crucial to the hiring process, it is important that job seekers utilize the very best in new and existing recruitment apps to maximize their chances of success.

LinkUp

Finding and applying for suitable roles of employment can be a time-consuming practice, with numerous individual job sites and recruitment agencies accessible online. To help resolve this potential issue, has created a job search app that details vacancies and opportunities across many different organizations and industries. In addition to this, it has subsequently partnered with the Android feature "Hire a Droid" to share these vacancies with a wider target audience. By utilizing this app, job seekers can view nationwide employment opportunities in a single online space, and by streamlining their search they can invest more time and consideration into to each individual application. LinkUp has dedicated Canadian, American, and British websites.

Craigster

For anyone who wishes to create a more tailored job search and target roles based primarily on their locality, the iPhone application Craigster is an extremely useful tool. As one of the more established mobile applications, allows users to search for opportunities primarily across the U.S., but also outside the country, while also giving them access to the thousands of classified advertisements and listings available on Craigslist. It also boasts a map feature that allows job seekers to view locations and evaluate which jobs are logistically viable for them to consider, so that every opportunity that they pursue is suitable to their circumstances.

Pocket Resume

With any number of viable job opportunities identified, the next challenge is make a strong application. Now, while the résumé may no longer be the only tool with which potential employers assess a candidate's suitability for work, it is still an important document that provides a clear representation of an individual and their capabilities. for the iPhone allows users to create, manage and distribute their details from anywhere, and utilizes PDF rendering technology to make the editing process as easy as possible for those on the move. When those last-minute résumé changes and improvements are required, the app ensures that job seekers do not lose vital time during the application process.

Dropbox

In terms of sharing documents and information with recruiters in a time-sensitive manner, the evolution of cloud technology has also helped to revolutionize the contemporary job search. With free personal accounts available that offer up to 2GB of storage, Dropbox provides a resource where individuals can store their résumés, references and any other necessary documentation within a single online space. Given the increasingly competitive nature of the job market, jobs seekers cannot afford to ignore any tool that allows them to make an instant application for employment from their smartphone or tablet.

LinkedIn

Networking is also a key practice in enabling job seekers to emerge from a bustling crowd, and to do this effectively it is important to understand the behaviour of social recruiters and which resources they use. In a recent social recruiting activity report conducted by online recruiting software company Bullhorn, it was revealed that professional media site LinkedIn was used exclusively by nearly 50 per cent of all e-recruitment bodies, with an average network of 661 connections, dwarfing the numbers recorded by Facebook and Twitter. With this in mind, the free for the iPhone is of significant importance to job seekers in 2012, and a tool that gives them access to a growing number of professional opportunities and contacts.

The bottom line

With these apps available either for free or at a minimal download cost, adapting a job search to suit contemporary recruitment techniques is now as affordable as it is productive. Not only this, but these apps have the potential to drastically reduce the amount of time that an individual spends out of work, by streamlining the application process and improving the way in which job seekers interact with recruiters and future employers.

Interact with The Globe