Why every job search should be a mobile job search.

smartphone cartoon

This is a guest post by Joe Linford of Broadband Genie. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines.

If you don't have a smartphone like the iPhone to job search with, here's what you're missing out on:

Internet access

Imagine this: you're waiting for a job interview when a tough question pops into your head and you start to worry about not having a good reply.

In the past, you would have had to hope that it wouldn't come up in the ensuing interview.

But now, you can quickly go on Twitter and tweet the question or better yet, direct message a few of your favorite job search experts and likely get a reply before going into the interview.

How cool is that?

You could also research an interviewer if you didn't have their name earlier, check the latest news about the hiring company or its industry, and the list goes on.

Memory to go

Smartphones have plenty of room to store files of any type, just like a USB drive.

Use the space to carry around versions of your CV – different file formats, different languages, whatever might be useful – and samples of your work.

Smartphone apps

Have you seen The Longest List of iPhone Job Search Apps Ever or my compilation of 300+ Android Job Search Apps?

There are apps to teach you about job search, apps to organize your job search, apps to find job listings and so much more.

There are apps to display your work samples whether audio/video/photo/text, and there are apps to share those samples with your interviewer (or anyone else) instead of needing to download the files directly to your interviewer's computer through a cable connection.

And there are apps that really let you take advantage of the smartphone's hardware, such as for the…

GPS

It's not unusual to be late to an interview because you couldn't find the place.

However, between GPS, mapping apps and ShowMyStreet.com, you really have no excuse for this to happen anymore.

Microphone

Record your interviews, so you can play them back later and analyze how you did. Or use a digital dictaphone app to capture ideas before you forget them.

Camera

Take pictures of:

  • your work, for your work portfolio
  • QR codes, then use a QR decoder app to quickly visit the website of the corresponding job listing, job fair, or other
  • interview locations, so you can easily recognize the place when you return
  • people who interviewed you
  • contacts you make at local networking events

Record video of:

  • yourself, doing what you do (where relevant, e.g. musician, artist, actor, etc.)
  • yourself, practicing job interviews
  • yourself, being interviewed (but ask the interviewer if it's ok first, and whatever you do, don't let it become a distraction)

Fishing for comments

At what point on your job search were you happiest to have a smartphone? Tell us in the comments.

NEXT, READ 41 Tips for Using Your Cellphone to Find Jobs.

About the author

Joe Linford writes on behalf of consumer advice and comparison website Broadband Genie. They list the best broadband, mobile broadband and smartphone offers in one place and also provide help guides, news and views on everything Internet-related.

Subscribe to JobMob via RSS or email and follow me on Twitter for more ideas on using technology to improve your job search.

Jacob Share

Job Search Expert, Professional Blogger, Creative Thinker, Community Builder with a sense of humor. I like to help people.

This Post Has 13 Comments

  1. Yehoshua Paul

    I think people should own smartphones in general. However, if I did not own one, I would not buy it specifically for job searching. Most of the things you listed don’t require carrying a smartphone around with you. My old Nokia for example had a built in GPS feature.
    Having a smartphone makes your life easier in many areas, buying one specifically for job hunting purposes is a waste of money better spent on bribing HR.

  2. Mike

    Interesting article…however, are you saying record the actual interview or your practice/mock interviews?? I could easily see how whipping out a smartphone to record an interview would completely turn off some (most?) employers.

    But recording yourself as you answer questions in a mock interview is a powerful practice tool.

  3. Jacob Share

    Yehoshua- I’d say that if you don’t have a smartphone already, the job search is a good time to upgrade. And frankly, they’re not that expensive any more. Even a used iPhone from 2-3 years ago can still do almost everything mentioned here above.

    Mike- the best thing is to ask the interviewer first, and explain that you’re always trying to improve. Some interviewers will say no, true, while some will be impressed at the candidate who is constantly striving to do better.

  4. Rich

    You need a smartphone for everything these days, in the not too distant future we will be wondering how we ever coped without them. As a recruiter myself its vital for job seekers to be able to find our jobs by smartphone or we will miss out on a lot of applicants.

  5. josh

    I live without a smartphone. Am I one of those living in denial, like the many people who resisted getting a cellphone so they wouldn’t have to be ‘connected’?

  6. Jacob Share

    Rich- good point

    josh- I resisted getting a cellphone until I could get a smartphone and today, I could manage with keeping the phone app off, if all I cared about was saving money. But if a smartphone costs almost the same as a regular mobile (no one says you have to buy the latest model), why not choose one next time? Look at all you’re missing out on.

  7. Kay Riley

    This is an interesting post. I have a blackberry smartphone, but I never really thought to use if for some of the things you have suggested. It would have been a great tool during my last job search to tweet with others about how to answer touch interview questions. I like the idea of having your Resume and other important documents available at a touch of a button. I especially like your suggest about taking pictures and videos to help keep job search information handy and organized.

    We all live mobile, busy lives and the smartphones are a great way to stay organized on the go while you’re doing your job searches. Here’s a link for some business apps you can use on your blackberry: http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/topfree/category/12/?lang=en. Coming from a generation that didn’t grow up with technology as part of our everyday lives, it’s been interesting to learn how valuable it is to have all these options available in a smartphone.

  8. Rukia Fae

    So many people today use their smart phone or tablets almost in lieu of a desktop or laptop. While I see no harm in looking at it before entering the interview, or while waiting, job seekers should make sure their phone is OFF before beginning the interview.

    It may seem like common sense, but I hear from friends who are in HR all the time, that people are looking at their phone more than the interviewer – and that makes a bad impression VERY quickly!

    If you want to use it to record the interview, you need to have the interviewers permission first (some companies have no cell phone rules). And while I can see it as being a valuable tool for reviewing your interview, I would fear that it may make a negative impression. Instead, I would do practice interviews with friends or family and record/review those. That way, there’s no chance of ‘accidentally’ offending someone.

    And Josh – I don’t have a smart phone either. And my cell phone is an el cheapo one! LOL! And the only time I even have it on and with me, is if I leave my daughter babysitting our 6 year old. Any other time, people can leave a message at home or send me an email. Either way, I’ll respond to it when I return. 🙂

  9. Jacob Share

    Kay- glad this article inspired you

    Rukia- you definitely shouldn’t get distracted by your phone (or anything else) during the interview, good point

  10. Kate

    I’m not buying it. I think having the time and space to concentrate on the interviewer is important too.

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