MOBILE

INDEX

1. Why applying online hurts so much and how this is your chance to change the world

2. Productivity hacks for your job search!

3. Spice up your job search. Tips from creative applications!

4. Looking for jobs? Get more out of your mobile!

5. 5 smart tips for your smartphone: Career search!

WHY APPLYING ONLINE HURTS SO MUCH AND HOW THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO CHANGE THE WORLD

Let’s have a look at why is everything so easy to do with a smartphone, but finding a job is not.

Written by Julian Ziesing Have you ever applied online and used a swear word on the way? If yes, you are not alone. Application forms are among the most outdated, un-user-friendly stone-age technologies you can find on the internet. Now imagine doing the same, but with a smartphone instead of a laptop. Would you even try? Or are you afraid you would end up smashing your phone on the side-walk before long?

So here is my question: what are companies thinking?

Maybe, one could imagine, recruiters have an evil master plan to reduce their work load by making it as hard as possible to apply. Or surviving the application process is the first test you have to pass, like a digital Hunger Game, where only the fittest and bravest make it to the interview.

Or you might assume that people in the HR departments share demographics with your grandparents and still live in the pen and paper age, completely unaware of your struggle.

Here is the answer: in almost every company there is someone sitting at a desk in an office who is just as frustrated about this situation as you are. Their job is called HR marketing, or employer branding, and their mission is a so called “great candidate experience”.

HR marketing – a great idea but a big struggle

Similar to the marketing department next door, promoting the company’s products to consumers or customers, the job of the HR marketing species is to promote this employer to candidates and to look after applicant-friendly processes. So what is holding them back?

This is where it’s getting interesting. Because the answer is: they would love to make applying easier and candidates happier, but they need to fight really hard for it.

HR marketing and employer branding are relatively young disciplines in the corporate world. Only recently did it become clear to companies that you have to

compete for talent, just as you have to compete for customers and market-share. In the old days, applicants would buy the Saturday morning paper, browse the job section with a red pen and start sending application letters.

In the year 2016, the tables have long since turned. Now companies have to make an effort to convince the best and the right talent to send them their CVs.

There is a competition, or as some even call it, war for talent. It is accelerated by digitalization and shortage in skilled labor. Good for you – or is it? You may not have seen the red carpet that companies roll out. You just quit an application form because it crashed on you three times.

CHANGE THE WORLD

The truth is, these HR marketing people are also struggling in their own organizations. In the professional world, you always compete for management attention, budget and support.

Some still fight for permission to open a Facebook career page because there is a corporate policy against social media. Tech projects like implementing a new, smarter application system might take three instead of two years. And when economy cools down, HR budgets are often among the first to be cut.

But there are successes to celebrate, too. Slowly but surely, things are changing. Often HR

departments are by now more courageous and innovative than the company’s corporate communication team. For their job is to attract talent and, figuratively speaking, roll out that red carpet.

How is this an opportunity for you?

Big questions make for interesting jobs. The global energy crisis can be seen as a good reason to join an oil company because now is when they need fresh, new ideas. You may never have thought of HR marketing and employer branding, but these are interesting, challenging and fast-changing fields.

They involve communication, innovation, technology and stakeholder management. And they can genuinely make a lot of people’s lives easier. If this speaks to you, there are more and more jobs like that.

At Potentialpark, our mission is to support these HR marketing teams with data and knowledge. So if you prefer to work in small companies, why not come join us in Stockholm? Have a look at Potentialpark.com/careers, and tell us what excites you about the field of employer branding.

PRODUCTIVITY HACKS

FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH

You probably do your best. You know that you should update your LinkedIn profile or write an intriguing cover letter. Instead you are scrolling through your Facebook feed, following random pop stars on Twitter and watering the plants three times a day. We have collected some productivity hacks for you that will help to keep you focused on your final goal, your dream job!

Written by Teresa Harbeck Here are our tips for procrastination detox:

Inbox Insomnia

You get up in the morning checking your inbox? No wonder you have trouble sleeping. We get it, managing your mail gets harder and harder: discount coupons, emails from professors, university mailings, and your relatives checking on you, it's difficult to keep track.

Instead of relying on fancy tools, you should take your brain functions into consideration.

Having an empty inbox is an illusion for most people, just accept it. Do not waste your time on meaningless mails that only distract your focus.

Try to stick to an easy rule: if you can not answer the mail in 5 min - do it later, label it, or mark it as unread. Take 30 min in the morning or at the end of the day to keep your loved ones updated - in the meantime: focus on your dream job!

Stay agile!

You don't have to create an elaborate backlog or hold scrum meetings with your roommates but you might take

some inspiration from agile project management. Divide your job search to-do list in three parts: To-do, In progress, Done.

Write each task on a post-it and only move your tasks to "In Progress" when you are actually working on it. Only put them under "Done" when they are actually completed. In the beginning your to-do list might feel overwhelming but after adding more and more sticky notes to the "Done" section you will see your momentum grow.

STAY FOCUSED

Work out for your new work!

To write a real good cover letter you need to know your strengths and weaknesses. Clear your mind in between tasks. Go for a run or bike around the block or set yourself an ambitious goal. You will see how great that accomplishment feels and it will make you more aware of your skills.

If you are not the sporty type, do some brain workouts. Try to solve a riddle or play some chess. Sounds fancy? Not really, remember how you loved to do that stuff when you were young? Connect to your inner child or the athlete in you!

Better done, than perfect

Facebook has it as their working philosophy and a lot of great entrepreneurs run by that mantra. Do your best but don't be a perfectionist. For your job

search that means: show your CV to a person you trust and read it through, carefully scanning for mistakes.

Once you are secure and have received feedback from a loved one - send it!

Yes, you heard right - don't look back, don't open the application again, have trust in yourself. Even if you find a tiny mistake later on (did you open the application again?) it is not the end of the world.

The chances are small that the person on the other side will realize. In the end, most recruiters are busy people.

Get the right tools

This tools will help you with your career search, your next exam or just everyday life in general. If you read a lot of blogs and love to procrastinate by having a long list of reading material, services

like Feedly or Pocket help you to collect all articles you want to read or find interesting to forward to friends.

Evernote is a great tool to manage your to-do-lists and prepare presentations. If you use Google Chrome try to install some time-saving apps like TrackingTime, an app that records your time management per task.

https://feedly.com/ https://getpocket.com/ https://evernote.com/ https://trackingtime.co/

Of course, sometimes procrastination is an awesome thing, even watching endless series on Netflix can improve your English skills. Leave out the Netflix trainer, but add to your CV your expertise in English.

References: http://www.inc.com/larry-kim/23-best-productivity-hacks-of-the-year.html http://www.inc.com/jayson-demers/15-instant-productivity-hacks-every-professional-needs-to-know.html

SPICE UP YOUR JOB SEARCH

TIPS FROM CREATIVE APPLICATIONS

Recruiters give a CV less than 6 seconds time to impress. How can you cut through the clutter? The goal of an application is to be invited for an interview, not to get hired. Be creative, but make sure the main message is relevant.

Written by Alexandros Kilmpasanis Product mock-ups, Snapchat, YouTube, AdWords campaigns. They have all been used by excited candidates when pitching themselves to a company. Does your black-and-white CV stand a chance?

1. When challenged by an agency to make an advertisement with her being the one advertised, Leah created a Lego version of herself!

The application was a package including the Lego statue and a poster. Her application for an internship at an agency got a lot of media attention and a few chats with agency directors.

According to Leah: "It'd be silly if I expected to be offered jobs based solely on a Lego set. A full résumé with my education and experience is always included [...] Interviews is where you really win any job."

Tip: Leah's application shows off relevant skills in a detailed and humorous way. It was informative enough to get an invitation for an interview, where Leah can explain what she can offer to a team and what she's looking for.

2. Experienced journalist Dawn Siff is reported to have created the first Vine resume. She got a job at The Economist Group, but through networking!

Tip: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Finding a job is a small campaign of its own, so make sure you are using different channels to achieve your goal.

BE CREATIVE WITH A STRATEGY

3. Elski really wanted to work at Snapchat, which is his favourite app. His hilarious résumé has gotten over 1 million views on YouTube.

He goes through a list of apparently relevant skills with short funny snaps. A second video reveals that he got a chance to talk with Snapchat, but didn't get a job.

Tip: Humor goes a long way in all the creative applications. However, instead of treating the requested skills as a commodity, show real examples of using these skills. And always keeping the job, or employer in mind.

4. Nina had tried to work in Airbnb for a long time. Her breakthrough? Create a detailed plan for possible new Airbnb markets and tweet it to the CEO and CMO of the company.

A lot of influential people liked her proactive and professional approach and Nina got much more than she was hoping for out of her application

Tip: Make your application about the company. Do your research and show what you can bring to the team. Fit your values with the company's culture and try a customized approach. Also, you might be applying to find work at one company, but your creativity might open doors you couldn't imagine.

Bottomline? A manager is hiring to solve a problem and usually, enthusiasm alone can't justify a business decision.

Applying creatively means forging a strategy for your target recruiter or decision maker. Whether through a black and white text or something more "colorful", prioritize on making strong arguments that you fit the position in hand. And in case you get inspired, you might win some media coverage too! That can't hurt…

References: http://mashable.com/2013/04/09/vine-resume-woman-gets-job https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hs0uZthJVk http://uk.businessinsider.com/nina-mufleh-airbnb-resume-2015-4?r=US

LOOKING FOR JOBS?

GET MORE OUT OF YOUR MOBILE

It used to be that you could only search for interesting companies, jobs or exciting career paths on your desktop or laptop, but those days are far behind us. Tablets and smartphones are becoming more and more important in companies’ strategy when attracting new talent. But how mobile-optimized are companies really and how can you get more out of your smartphone or tablet when searching and applying for jobs? Is it really possible to check out employers’ career website sitting on a train or even send in an application on mobile?

Written by Elise van den Berg and Ulrike Weiter Mobile Career Websites

Nowadays 88% of employers in the US have a mobile optimized career website, followed by 82% in Europe and 81% in Asia. Besides offering you more flexibility when and where you search for jobs, mobile career websites are great to run some last-minute checks on your way to a job interview.

Do you need some background information on the company’s history or its products and services? Any last-minute tips on how to perform well during an interview? Check it out on the go.

Most students use their smartphone or tablet to look for open jobs or to gain insights into life at the company (What kind of

business is the company operating in? What is the culture and what are the values? etc.).

The most used career related action on a mobile phone is looking for jobs. More than 47% of students in the EU use their mobile to look for jobs. Also companies recognized this already.

78% of the companies in the EU, 81% in Asia and 86% in the US offer a job search function for the mobile phone. So get out your mobile and find your next career opportunity.

Mobile Apps

Have you ever thought about downloading a career app of an employer?

The purpose of the apps employers are offering can vary from being dedicated purely to job search, to informing you about recruiting events in order for you to get in touch with them, helping to prepare you for interviews or onboarding you for your future position once you have applied.

A nice example is the app from Bayer (chemical and pharmaceutical company) that created an app where you can play a quiz-type game against players around you or random opponents and by doing so you will learn more about the company.

USE YOUR MOBILE

Applying on your mobile

The number of students and graduates who want to apply for a job directly on their mobile, is growing*. But not so many really made this step, although 1 out of 2 companies offer this opportunity already.

Maersk (global trade, shipping and energy company) is one example that makes applying via mobile possible by using a simplified online application form in their Android app.

And Social Media channels such as LinkedIn, XING and Facebook offer an easy solution that makes it possible to use one’s existing profile to parse information to the online application form, sometimes even including an attachment of one’s CV.

Sodexo (Food services and facilities management company) has launched an iOS app where you can apply by re-using your Facebook and/or LinkedIn profile. And more and more companies are offering this functionality!

So keep your LinkedIn profile always updated!

Job Alerts

You searched for a job on your mobile device at your employer of choice but there was no position available that matches your skills and interests? Why not create a job alert? Job alerts are a great way to get notified when a job, internship or graduate program fits your profile and interests. 42% of companies in Asia, 44% of EU and 47% of US companies offer this functionality on mobile.

Tinder for jobs

Beside the apps companies create to attract talent, the number of Android and iOS apps that make life of an applicant easier are skyrocketing. There are apps to make to-do-lists, create resumes, prepare for job interviews, book lunch-meetings, and manage tasks.

Have a look in the App Store or Google Play Store and check it out yourself. Have you heard about Truffls? This app is like Tinder for jobs. Based on your LinkedIn or XING profile and interests Truffls presents interesting job offers to you.

With a swipe to the right you can indicate interest in the position. If the recruiter is interested in your profile as well, you’ll get notified. Pretty simple, right?

Don’t forget…

With the growing number of apps and mobile websites, you might almost forget using your smartphone for its original purpose: calling! Calling a hiring manager when you have a question regarding a vacancy or the recruitment process can be helpful. Before you call, make sure to prepare yourself: write down some relevant questions and explain your interest in the position or company in case they want to know.

How you use your smartphone is up to you, but using it can make your job search a lot more efficient, fun and effective!

Students visited a

career website with their mobile

Students applied already once with their mobile

Companies offer to apply over a mobile

EU 62% 13% 47% US 63% 15% 52% Asia 66% 21% 56%

References: *Potentialpark Online Talent Communication Study 2016.

FIVE SMART TIPS FOR YOUR SMARTPHONE CAREER SEARCH

When it comes to job search and application, don't listen to your parents! They are old and only know how to erase typos that you make with on a typewriter. The following five steps will show you how to become a job search expert without searching the newspaper for open jobs at the local gas station.

Written by Laura Buse 1. Have your CV ready on the go!

Unfortunately, a lot of application forms still require applicants to upload their CV. Since most people probably don't carry their CV around on their mobile, it's a smart move to upload your CV to the Cloud or to Dropbox.

In case you want to apply for a job on your phone, you will be able to do so and you could even download it to your phone if needed.

2. LinkedIn. Just... LinkedIn.

If you keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date, this will give you an advantage both when using the LinkedIn job search (which is a lot better on the LinkedIn app than on the normal browser version), and when a company allows applications via LinkedIn profiles. This is either possible through the job ads on LinkedIn or in the online application systems on company websites. Give it a try!

3. Use ALL the job apps!

As mentioned before, the LinkedIn app is great for the job search. But wait! LinkedIn actually has ANOTHER app, called LinkedIn Job search. They really do like jobs!

Other incredibly helpful apps are Monster and Indeed Job Search.

With these apps, you will be able to look for jobs whenever you feel like it, and especially while you are waiting in line or sitting in a long subway ride. If you feel adventurous, why not try out Truffls. This app recommends jobs to you, depending on your profile, which you can swipe right or left.

MOBILE CAREER SEARCH

4. Download your favorite company's job app!

Some companies actually have their own apps to help you with your job search. These apps either focus on showing you what it's like to work in that company, give you an overview of their open jobs or even help you with the so-called onboarding process, after you actually get the job. A few companies offer apps which give you more general tips for your job search and are less focused on one specific company.

5. Become the master of career fairs!

Career fairs can be really confusing. There are so many companies and you're not sure who to talk to first.

But why not check some companies out on your phone? What kind of companies are they, do they o�er any jobs you find interesting?

This will give you the opportunity to focus on companies you would consider working for. Plus you will already have specific questions to ask and topics to talk about.

Finally, be prepared for any kind of online application by having an updated LinkedIn profile and by uploading your CV to services like Dropbox.

Also, apps such as Indeed Job Search can be useful for specific job searches and looking up information on your mobile about companies at career fairs will help you be more focused on who you really want to talk to.

Start now and good luck!

https://www.linkedin.com/ https://truffls.de/en/