It’s become a cliché to say, “There’s an app for that,” but with mobile technology so pervasive, and developers quick to capitalize on a willing audience, mobile applications for a variety of job search topics are available to help you land your next opportunity.
Ivan Drucker and Caroline Green are the principals of IvanExpert, a Mac-focused technology consulting firm. They advise small businesses in the New York City area on how to leverage their technology to be more efficient and productive. They’re well-equipped to evaluate technological tools to help job seekers.
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If you’re using an iPhone, Drucker and Green suggest the following as “best” applications to help when you’re looking for a job. “Because job hunters often don’t have extra cash to throw around, we’ve selected only those apps that are $2.99 or less,” Drucker says. “So even if you buy every app mentioned in this article, you’re only out $13.94.”
After reviewing dozens and dozens of job-related iPhone apps, these experts suggest the following for iPhone users (by category):
Networking. There are a variety of great, free recommended applications (also available on other mobile systems). For example, both LinkedIn and Facebook have free applications. (Don’t forget to update and complete your profiles on these sites. Another option: How to use LinkedIn to get a job (free): The most valuable chapter is the last one, “Searching and Applying for Jobs.” If you’re not a LinkedIn expert, read the other chapters, too.
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Job Listings. Monster.com and CareerBuilder’s Jobs (both free) are crucial apps. Drucker and Green suggest Craigslist as a source for job listings in certain cities. “There are tons of Craigslist apps at different price points; for attractiveness and ease of use our favorite is Craigslist Mobile Pro ($1.99),” Green says. “There is a free version, but we advise buying the paid version because you can save and re-use your searches.”
Real-Time Jobs (free) is very innovative. It searches Twitter for job postings based on the job title and location you put in. Even if it doesn’t find you the perfect job, it may help you figure out whom to follow on Twitter for jobs in your field.
Resume writing. “There are lots of iPhone apps for creating a resume on your iPhone, but we don’t recommend this—your resume should be better than what you can build in five minutes on a tiny screen,” Drucker says. “However, there is one category of app that’s incredibly useful for your resume, and that’s a thesaurus. Well-chosen words are a powerful tool for impressing a potential employer, so don’t be shy about using a thesaurus app to help you craft your resume.” Green adds, “Dictionary.com Dictionary and Thesaurus ($2.99) is, in our opinion, the best of the low-cost thesaurus apps.”
The interview. Drucker and Green have several favorite applications to help you with your interview preparations: What Color Is Your Parachute? Job-Interview Tool (free) has vital tips to help you before, during, and after your interview. They suggest using it to master First Impressions and Skills, and to avoid Top Ten Mistakes. “Interview Questions and Answers ($1.99) provides smart interview advice,” Green says. “It includes 150 questions you may well be asked in an interview, ranging from the obvious to the unusual. It doesn’t tell you what you should answer for each one; instead it makes you think about what the interviewer may be looking for in your response.” Finally, they believe Monster.com Interviews (free) offers valuable tips and also manages your job search process. You can let your iPhone keep track of your interviews and also do your reconnaissance web research.
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Body language. A category you may not have considered turning to an application to evaluate, body language can be the difference between you or somebody else scoring that job. Learn what you may be unconsciously saying to a prospective employer before you open your mouth. The experts recommend: Body Language for Dummies ($0.99), which provides “Looking Closer at Non-verbal Gestures” and “Ten Ways to Spot Deception,” and also has a mini chapter on “Interviewing, Influencing, and Playing Politics,” which is the most useful for interview prep.
The duo’s other favorites include: Body Talk ($1.99), which breaks down gestures and movements by body part and outlines if the meaning is positive or negative. “Read them all and practice using the positive techniques while avoiding the negatives,” Green says.
Last, take a look at JobCoach ($2.99), which breaks down your job-search process into small and easy-to-conquer steps, and provides you with tips and ideas (many as 2-minute audio clips) for each step along the way.
You can use all the help you can get when job hunting. Don’t forget to look for these or other applications to help you succeed in your career goals.
Miriam Salpeter is a job search and social media consultant, career coach, author, speaker, resume writer and owner of Keppie Careers. She is author of Social Networking for Career Success. Miriam teaches job seekers and entrepreneurs how to incorporate social media tools along with traditional strategies to empower their success. Connect with her via Twitter @Keppie_Careers.
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