Kiwis seeking new jobs are increasingly using their mobile devices to find available positions.
According to a survey of 550 New Zealanders by recruitment company
Hays showed 62% of respondents said they do their job searching mostly by desktop but sometimes by mobile, while 36% said they search mainly by mobile and sometimes by desktop. Only two per cent search for jobs only on their mobile device.
Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand said most job seekers submit their applications via a desktop computer as the larger screens and keyboards enable the user to sit comfortably while applying online. However, a growing number of job seekers now prefer to use a smartphone for job search activities because they can search for jobs anytime, anywhere.
“When job seekers find a job of interest on their smartphones, they will often wait until later to apply via a desktop computer,” Walker said. “This is because one of the current hindrances to applying via a mobile device is that most people do not have a copy of their resume stored on their smartphone. Furthermore, many job seekers are deterred from applying for a job if a company’s career site or job listings are not mobile optimised.”
Walker however warns that with demand growing for mobile services those companies without the ability to receive applications by mobile are increasingly at a disadvantage when competing for talent.
“Our research has shown that most job seekers have yet to make the shift over to doing their job searching mainly by mobile. However, once job seekers believe it is no longer difficult to apply for jobs on a mobile device, searching and applying for jobs on a smartphone is likely to become the new normal.”
