Applying for jobs using mobile devices is becoming increasingly common. According the Pew Research Internet Project, 58 percent of Americans own a smartphone and 32 percent own a tablet. With the increasing proliferation of mobile devices, recruiters need to develop online application processes that are mobile-responsive.

If an interested candidate is unable to navigate your company's job application on their device of choice, you're likely to see an increase in application abandonments and candidate frustration.

Here's a closer look at the factors you should bear in mind when choosing a mobile solution for your online recruiting.

Applying for jobs online increases

Searching and applying for jobs online has become one of the most common methods for viewing available positions and finding new employment. Mobile device usage is transforming how online recruiting processes and technology is deployed. TalentHQ estimates that 60 percent of candidates view recruiting pages via mobile devices, and 40 percent abandon non-mobile friendly processes. Having what candidates view as a non-functioning or low-functioning recruitment application can damage your brand equity and cause more tech-savvy candidates to look elsewhere for jobs. When choosing your online recruiting solution, it's important to select an application with strong mobile functionality.

Compatibility with a range of mobile devices

Basic mobile solutions aren't enough. With the wide range of devices on the market today, including Apple® products and a variety of Android^TM models, businesses need to ensure that their mobile presence is optimized for each potential device. The more you anticipate a range of devices and choose a solution that works with them all, the better results you'll get with mobile recruiting initiatives.

The benefits of social integration

Another important component of mobile recruiting is seamless social media integration. Social media promotion can be one of your most effective strategies for reaching networks of qualified candidates. Whether its industry groups on professional sites such as LinkedIn or groups of connected individuals in the same profession, social media is an important mechanism for sharing information. Selecting a recruiting solution with an integrated social component enables your employees to more easily participate in referral programs, and makes it simpler for your job listings to be quickly shared with receptive audiences.

A mobile content strategy

It's helpful to keep in mind the limitations of mobile devices when creating your recruiting content and designing your process. For example, does your company background material run for several pages or leverage formats like PDFs that may not work with all mobile devices? Consider the length and format of your supporting documents, and consider offering excerpts with links to more detailed information for candidates browsing on smaller screens. Mobile recruiting goes beyond technology; it's important to pair the best technological solutions with processes and collateral designed with the mobile context in mind.