We are a society in love with our smart phones and mobile devices, managing our lives online. Our calendars, communications, social media, and even entertainment, are all available at the swipe of a screen. Many of us use mobile devices to get business done at top speed, too. Calls, texts, Skype; our phones and tablets are in our hands all day. So isn’t it natural that when we apply for our next job that we do it on our smart phones? Of course. Is that wise? Perhaps not.
Customizing documents – Small touch screens and smaller keyboards are just not made for larger jobs such as writing or editing to proofread or customize resumes and cover letters. Smart phones often default to US spelling which can be a detriment when you apply to jobs outside the US. Set your Word language to match the country in which you are applying.- Writing polished responses – While many job search sites and careers pages are mobile-friendly, that often means making those answer boxes shrink to fit on little screens, making it harder to review and proofread your answers before submission.
- Impulse control – The ease of the single click solution is seductive. Click and you’ve added a resume. Click to autofill contact information. The ease of the click leads you away from thoughtful and targeted answers, documents, and choices.
You know that customizing your resume and cover letter is key to highlighting the match between your skills and experience and the desired position. It’s important to research the company before you apply so that you can frame your answers directly around that organization’s needs, and those answers should be well-written. A savvy candidate also checks their network of contacts for hiring influencers at the company before applying. So, no matter how useful our tablets and smart phones might be for so many other tasks, smart phone job applications? Not so smart.
