We’re seeing one of the most competitive hiring landscapes ever, yet there is one big trend of 2015 that HR managers and recruiters are still ignoring - mobile recruiting. An unbelievable 59% of recruiters still aren’t investing in mobile recruiting despite an increase in the number of job searchers who prefer to use their mobile devices. While 43% of job seekers are scrolling through job listings on mobile, 27% expect to be able to apply for jobs from their mobile device. With the introduction of Google’s Mobilegeddon, which gives priority to mobile-friendly websites in the search rankings, the mobile recruiting trend cannot be ignored.

Mobile for Candidates

Why is the demand for mobile from candidates so high? To put it simply, mobile makes job hunting easy and fast. Job searchers receive job alerts and emails on their devices and can look through opportunities at a spare moment, rather than having to dedicate time to sit down at their laptop. They can check new postings while on their commute, or during lunch in a coffee shop. In fact, 7% of job seekers admitted to having a glance at job information while in the bathroom. What’s more, mobile job searching is particularly appealing to the millennials, who will account for 75% of the global workforce by 2025.

Mobile for Employers

It's important to realise that being mobile-friendly broadens your reach. Mobile recruiting apps can notify recruiters of new jobs quicker, send candidates automated updates, quickly check application statuses, and handle any queries which come through more effectively. With social candidates on the rise, job hunters are turning to LinkedIn (23%), Facebook (19%), Google+ (16%), Instagram (16%), and Twitter (13%) for information on potential employers. Posting new job opportunities on social media feeds is a great way for employers to get the attention of candidates who are accessing social media on their devices.

Mobile for Recruiters

When it comes to mobile, the main benefit for recruiters comes when using an applicant tracking system (ATS), which is a software designed to provide an applicant database, store information and even automatically filter applications. Recruiters can also make use of mobile apps to enter notes about candidates after they’ve had a phone call or meeting, and send those over to hiring managers and employers as needed. This can make the recruitment process much more efficient as real-time data can be accessed from any device, at any location and at any time.

If mobile recruiting isn’t high on your priority list, it might be time to rethink. Communication is essential for a successful hiring process and candidates are increasingly wanting that information via mobile. Optimize websites and job listings to be mobile-friendly, make the application process accessible and update social media with new job opportunities to expand your reach to candidates using mobile devices.

About the Author: Ron Stewart has worked in the recruitment industry for 30 years, having owned companies in the IT, construction and medical sectors. He runs the Jobs4Group, and is CEO of Jobs4Medical.