Jul 20 2021
According to a recent study by Pew Research 85% of U.S. adults own a smartphone while only 77% own a laptop or desktop computer. Their research also shows that 15% of U.S. adults are “smartphone only” internet users, which means that they do not subscribe to a home broadband service in addition to their cell phone data plan. With many U.S. adults going without laptops and home internet it’s time to take a critical eye and think about just how mobile-friendly your recruiting process is.
Does your applicant experience account for those without computers or those with lifestyles that may not allow them the time to sit at a laptop for hours?
Here are 3 reasons why creating a mobile-friendly application process should be priority number one for your recruiting team:
Connecting with the Under-connected
Despite a large improvement in technology access between 2015 and 2021, the proportion of lower-income families that are under-connected, meaning that they have inconsistent home broadband access, has remained stagnant. Because many Americans struggle to maintain reliable computer and internet access, it’s imperative that HR teams build recruiting processes that accommodate under-connected people.
With inconsistent broadband internet, smartphones are an essential tool for under-connected job seekers. It is absolutely critical that companies that embrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) implement recruiting practices that accommodate those without consistent broadband internet access. And while the amount of under-connected Americans is still staggering, the good news is that by creating an equitable application process your organization can play a role in closing the digital divide.
Meet Candidates Where They Are
Due to the nature of hourly work, many job seekers do not have the time or flexibility to apply for new roles during the work day. While paper applications were table stakes for hourly positions not too long ago, that is no longer the case. Companies must embrace a mobile-friendly strategy to meet candidates where they are, whether that’s on the bus on their way to work, on the couch after completing a late-night shift, or in their car during their lunch break. Mobile recruitment equipped with features like one-way video interviewing and SMS are critical when trying to attract and accommodate those who don’t have the time to pick up a paper application or sit down in front of a computer.
Screen Time
The average US adult spends 3 hours and 43 minutes on their phone a day, a number that continues to rise year-over-year. With people on their phones for what amounts to about 50 days per year, it’s time to make sure that in addition to checking Tik Tok and Instagram folks can also use their phone to apply to a job at your organization! Why disrupt their flow of swiping and scrolling by expecting job seekers to apply using a computer? Remove friction from your application process and create a hiring experience that can be completed on the screen that people stare at all day anyway!
A mobile-friendly recruitment experience means job seekers have greater access to new opportunities and companies can grow a much broader talent pool– now that’s a win-win!
