Times have clearly changed and so should our recruitment strategies. Today’s professionals have evolved and are on the go. We have become a society obsessed with staying connected, both while we work and while we play.  A 2010 Mobile Workforce study from iPass revealed that over 94% reported that they stayed connected either always or occasionally during vacation. In addition, iPass also discovered that over 96% of mobile employees carried two or more mobile devices, with almost 50% carrying three or more devices. Society’s addictiveness to mobile technology, pervasiveness and sheer dominance gives it a pivotal position as a next generation talent attraction and engagement channel.

According to the CTIA, there were over 302M U.S. wireless subscriber connections as of December 2010. With U.S. wireless penetration now over 96%, employers clearly have a unique opportunity to leverage this vastly untapped recruitment channel. For job seekers, the mobile device serves as an ideal channel for remaining discreet while actively (or passively) exploring the latest career opportunities. Whether a job seeker joins an SMS campaign, views a position on a mobile career site, or responds to a position through a job app, the convenience of exploring new jobs anytime, anywhere, offers an advantage.

Mobile is the one communication and marketing channel employers have been very slow to adopt. However, forward-thinking corporations are finally beginning to recognize that they must innovate in order to effectively compete for the best possible talent. Extensive research from organizations such as Nielsen, iPass, Comscore, Pew Internet, etc., all point to the pervasiveness of mobile. There is no doubt that mobile has the greatest worldwide reach of all mass mediums. It is time we move beyond the question of whether mobile recruiting makes sense. As employers, our focus should now turn to how we create meaningful content for attracting and engaging our target audience. Mobile as a standalone solution is not the answer.  However, by integrating mobile as part of our overall digital recruitment strategy, we are setting the stage for engaging the new workforce in the way they want to be reached.

This post also appears on TalentMinded’s blog. View it here

Speakers from companies like Microsoft, Facebook and Research in Motion agree to speak at the first cutting edge mRecruitingcamp conference.

It’s crucial in this economy to find the best talent available, and to do that you need to take full advantage of the best, most innovative techniques that technology has to offer, but what’s the best way to effectively find and attract talent in today’s world? Those at the vanguard of the human resources industry in the business community have developed and are currently developing highly effective recruiting methods in the field of mobile recruiting. Now, on September 30th, 2011, an esteemed gathering of extraordinary, innovative leaders in the field of recruiting, from companies as large and successful as Microsoft and Facebook, are getting together for a collective, informative think tank to discuss mobile recruiting technology in San Francisco, CA at the inaugural mRecruitingcamp. These noted industry leaders will discuss many of the astounding recruitment opportunities that mobile technology offers today.

View Press Release on PRWeb

What is Qwiki?

Qwiki is a new start-up that was first featured at TechCrunch back on September 27th, 2010. According to Qwiki, they seek to “forever improve the way people experience information”. So, what exactly does that mean to us?

Well, before we answer that question, do you remember the 2002 science fiction film “The Time Machine“?  Hint: click to expand image below.

In the movie, Guy Pearce (scientist and inventor) interacts with a futuristic holographic computer called Vox, portrayed by Orlando Jones.  In the movie, Vox is the evolved state of computing intelligence – a reference source of all human knowledge. When asked a question, Vox would collect the data and present back the most relevant details to the user (Guy Pearce). This is essentially the goal at Qwiki – “to advance information technology to the point it acts human”.

Qwiki is changing the paradigm for search. The cool thing about Qwiki is that it does more than simply deliver your standard formatted text or image search results. It delivers the content in a multimedia format, including visuals and audio narratives. These “narratives” or storyboards, are referred to as Qwikis (quick wikis).

How exactly does Qwiki work?  Here’s a brief overview:

1. The Qwiki user is prompted to enter a keyword or topic in the search bar of their site.
2. Qwiki then runs a search and quickly aggregates the results.
3. The search results are then delivered to the user in a visual format, including a presentation.
4. The presentations are narrative-style slideshows which are generated on the fly.

What’s the Verdict on Qwiki?

I believe it’s too early to say. However, regardless of what search engine you favor, I believe Qwiki is destined to have a major impact by helping to redefine the way search results are delivered. Imagine a day (not long from now) when we can run a voice-activated search and find exactly what we are seeking. Google popularized the idea of voice-activated search via it’s mobile app but the technology is still in its infancy. While Qwiki does not have a voice-activated search feature, it is moving us one step closer to “The Time Machine’s” fictionalized Vox. I think it’s safe to say that combining a visual, audio, and narrative formatted search result is no easy task. Qwiki has done an amazing job of bringing this technology to life. I see big things happening for this company and can’t wait to see what they do next.

At the moment, Qwiki is still in Alpha but they do allow new users to sign-up for future accounts. If this type of technology interests you, make sure to follow them on Twitter @Qwiki. However, before you leave, watch Qwiki’s demo video or click below and tell me what you think.

Is Qwiki the future of search consumption?

Check out the #qwiki buzz on Twitter!

Here’s a quick video that demos Type n Walk in action:

Aside from Type n Walk, there are many similar apps that provide users the ability to email, text, or tweet while still viewing their surroundings. Here are some notable apps worth reviewing:

For the iPhone User…

» Type n Walk – Type n Walk™ displays a transparent viewport of what’s directly in front of you. This combined with your peripheral vision is just enough visual information to help you avoid obstacles — like walking face-first into a pole!

» Easy Walk & Type – Easy Walk & Type is an innovative app that helps you keep an eye on the path in front of you while typing. It is the safest and most convenient way for you to write email, notes or copy/paste to all popular apps like SMS, Twitter, Facebook etc. while walking. You are able to keep an eye on the surrounds whenever you type on iPhone.

» iType2Go – is the revolutionary new way to SMS/email and update your Facebook/Twitter status while walking.

» Email n Walk – Email ‘n Walk lets you safely compose emails on the go! To send an email while on the move, just open up Email ‘n Walk, and enter the subject and message text while a transparent view shows the world around you via your iPhone’s camera.

» Text Vision – Text Vision adds a Spin on Texting, Emailing, updating Twitter Statuses, and Posting to Facebook. Users can compose emails/texts/facebook statuses/twitter updates/twitpic posts all in one application. What’s so unique about this application? You never miss a second of the world around you while composing your messages.

For the Android User…

» Road SMS – text while walking.  This app is currently only available for Samsung Galaxy S phones.

» Walk n Write – This application allows you to see where you go while you write text on phone. It uses camera to show you any obstacles on your way. Your text is displayed foreground the camera preview.

» Type n Walk – Application that allows you to type SMS and emails while keeping an eye on what’s ahead of you!

» Text Bot – Texting while driving is dangerous and illegal. With Text Bot your phone will instantly display your incoming text messages and let you auto reply or press 1 button to reply to them. Just like changing your radio station or adjusting your heat.

Final Thoughts

Most of the apps and their developers make it clear that they cannot take any responsibility for the stupidity of some users. Inevitably, there will be users who still believe they’re savvier than the rest and may even try to use these apps to text or email while driving. From the Developer’s perspective, they have conquered a major “pain point” for those who insist on texting while walking. If their apps ultimately help users avoid tripping onto curbs, walking into traffic, or even stepping into manholes, then they will have accomplished the app’s core objective.

So, enough of what I think. I would like to know your thoughts. Do you think these apps actually benefit mobile users or simply reinforce the bad behavior?

Before we attempt to answer the question above, consider the following stats…

1.  According to the CTIA, U.S. mobile subscribers hit the 285 million mark at of the end of 2009. However, today, there are 292 million U.S. mobile subscribers. This now means that 93% of the U.S. population is now mobile!

2. The CTIA also reported that Americans traded 822 billion text messages (5 billion per day) for the second half of 2009, and over 1.5 trillion for the whole year. (WOW)

3.  Portio Research noted that SMS (text-messaging) is still holding steady as the most widely used data application. Text-messaging remains high on the charts as a primary way in which Americans continue to leverage their mobile device. 

4. In March 2010, Experian Simmons reported that 9 out of 10 United States adults today use at least one mobile device.

5. In April 2010, Comscore reported that over 64% of U.S. mobile subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device.

6. In April 2010, Ring Central reported that “Smartphones Changing the Way Business Professionals Work and Live”. In fact, of those surveyed, the majority (79%) of them are now using the mobile devices more than either their office or home phones.

7. In April 2010, Morgan Stanley reported that the mobile web will rule as the primary connection point to the internet by 2015.

8. In July 2010, Pew reported that 95% of mobile users between 18-29 send or receive text messages.

9. Back in July 2010, Pew also confirmed that minority Americans (African Americans & Hispanics) lead the way in their use of mobile data applications.

“Nearly two-thirds of African-Americans (64%) and Latinos (63%) are wireless internet users, and minority Americans are significantly more likely to own a cell phone than their white counterparts (87% of blacks and Hispanics own a cell phone, compared with 80% of whites). Additionally, black and Latino cell phone owners take advantage of a much wider array of their phones’ data functions compared to white cell phone owners. It is important to note that our data for Hispanics represents English-speaking Hispanics only, as our survey did not provide a Spanish-language option.” -Pew

10. In August 2010, Nielsen reported that African-Americans, Hispanics, and women text the most. In a related report released by 3G Americas, it was announced that the number of mobile connections in Latin America have exceeded the 500 million mark.

Now, back to the question: Where are the employers in all of this?

That is a question I have repeatedly asked myself. Unlike 10 years ago, it is now uncommon to see working professionals without a mobile device. The reality is that our mobile is no longer simply a luxury – it’s a necessity. As evidenced by the stats above, our audience is not only global, but very diverse and mobile-savvy.

As employers, we now have a unique opportunity to engage and enhance our company’s brand through the most widely used mass medium on the planet. Of the four mobile marketing tactics (e.g., SMS or text-messaging, mobile web, mobile apps, and mobile advertising), SMS remains the most widely used today. Employers often overlook this basic (yet powerful) function of the mobile phone. While developing mobile apps are a hot topic today – remember that text stills reigns in mobile. Unlike native mobile apps which are usually device specific, the beauty of text-messaging is that it not only offers the greatest reach but it is also simple. Virtually all mobile phones can send and receive text-messages. A well-planned messaging campaign, in tandem with a mobile web solution, can offer candidates a seamless experience as they move from the desktop to the mobile.

Employers, the next time you ask the question of how you can differentiate yourself from your competitors, consider the mobile channel as a way of putting you ahead of the pack. That said, keep in mind, mobile as a standalone solution will not cure your recruiting woes. As with other mass marketing efforts, integration is key. Michael Becker, Mobile Marketing Association’s managing director for North America, said: “Marketing through multiple touch points delivers the greatest impact.” I could not have stated that any better. With the right strategy and tactics in place, mobile may prove to be the missing link that finally completes your online and offline recruiting efforts.

If you are interested in mobile recruiting but not sure where to begin, start by reviewing the basics of how to construct a mobile recruiting campaign. Afterwards, if you still have questions and want to learn more simply leave a comment below or contact me!

Glenn Gutmacher, Vice President for Arbita’s Consulting & Education Services (ACES) division, recently pinged me regarding a great article posted by Liz  Myers at Adobe.  In her post, Liz cites a recent Gartner report in which they predicted that “mobile web use will outpace desktop browsing by 2013″.   If you are an avid mobile enthusiast and follow the trends then you will agree that Gartner’s prediction is not far off from becoming a reality.  Although Liz’s article was written primarily for mobile developers, she presents some fantastic information that I believe is equally relevant for any organization considering a mobile recruiting strategy.

Here is a recap of the six important characteristics offered through mobile:

1.  Mobile devices are deeply personal. The phone is something that belongs to just one individual. It’s private, personal, and likely to be carried with you everywhere you go. We like to customize our phones and they have become a symbol of social status. The phone I carry, and the content I have, become part of my personal brand.

2.  Mobile devices are hyper-social. The phone holds all of your contacts and allows you to do much more with them. Basic communications include voice calling, text messaging (sending a message of 140 characters or less. SMS or Short Message Service was the first Twitter), multimedia messaging (sending video or photos along with text messages), and e-mail. Beyond the basics, you may want to consider online presence, physical proximity, or relationship strength, to allow for more “contextual communications.”

3.  Mobile devices are location-aware. Even if you don’t know exactly where you are, your phone does! It can also help you discover what is located nearby, get directions, or even interpret what is right in front of you. If your friends opt-in, you can display their present location. This is one of the most powerful features of mobile devices and one that, until recently, was reserved for native applications. However, the most recent versions of Fireworks, Chrome, and the Android browser, now have location APIs as well.

4.  Mobile devices promote quick focused usage. Assuming that one is on the move, I will stop to navigate my phone when I need a vital bit of information like my shopping list, current traffic, flight arrival times, stock prices, or recent messages. The exception to this is entertainment. More and more, mobiles fill those empty spaces when we’re standing in line, waiting, or sitting for long idle periods — we reach for our phones to watch our favorite podcasts, scan tweets, listen to music, or immerse ourselves in a good film.

5.  Mobile devices are sometimes connected. When planning your mobile offering, it’s important to develop for both the online and offline scenarios. Sometimes your users will be riding the subway, on a plane, traveling abroad or otherwise unable to connect to the Internet, their home network, or both. Although unlimited data plans do exist, they’re not as prevalent as you may think. So if you want to avoid costly phone bills you need to consider how users will engage with your content when they’re offline.

6.  Mobile devices support a spontaneous lifestyle. Carrying all of your PIM (personal information management) data means you can respond to events as they unfold and share new data in real time. For example, if traffic is blocked, I can meet my party at a different restaurant. If I’m standing in line at the cinema and tickets sell out, I can quickly locate an alternative and have my friends meet me there.

[Source: Liz Myers , Adobe: "Getting Started with Mobile"]

Liz presents some pretty compelling points about mobile. You don’t have to be a mobile app developer to realize that mobile media and communication offers a huge advantage. Today’s technology now enables each of us to easily tap the mobile channel for engaging our target audience, anytime and anywhere. Integrating a mobile solution into recruitment doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s within reach. The key is to start by understanding the basics of building a mobile campaign and keep it simple.

Developing a mobile strategy is fast becoming a necessity. If you’re still trying to determine whether mobile is a fad or the future, consider this:

“Mobile is in fact, the fastest-growing Trillion-dollar industry in the economic history of mankind. That is why Google, Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Dell etc are all interested to get in. The fastest-growing Trillion-dollar industry ever.”

[Source: Tomi Ahonen, Mobile Consultant & Best Selling Author]

Are you or your organization positioned to take advantage of the mobile recruitment channel? There are a lot of options today. Mobile app, mobile web, mobile messaging, mobile barcode, mobile social, and the list goes on. Interested in building a mobile recruiting solution but still not sure how or where to start? Contact me and let’s talk…

Live Text-Message Demo…

With the help of my friends over at mResource, I was able to provide a live text-message demo. Webinar attendees participating from the U.S. were prompted to send a text-message with the keyword “SHOWME” to 90206. This simple demo helped to illustrate how easily text-messaging could be used to segment and pre-screen a target audience. The example included some simple questions, a call-to-action, and a redirect to a mobile-optimized landing page. If you are curious on how to piece this type of campaign together, make sure to read my post entitled:  “Mobile Recruiting: The Basics of Building a Campaign”…»

If you missed the ERE-sponsored webinar, you may now easily view the slides below, or download the presentation here.

Click here to view more presentations from Michael Marlatt…».

Watch the recorded version of the Mobile Recruiting webinar:

* Interested in leveraging text-messaging and the mobile web as part of your recruitment marketing strategy? Visit mResource to learn more…»

Back in July 2009, I first blogged about an AR mobile app called Augmented ID. Initially conceived by a Swedish design company called TAT, Augmented ID uses mobile face detection to “recognize” individuals, what social networks they’re connected to, as well as other personal information they are willing to share. If you’re wondering whether this app reveals too much personal data, don’t be. The app requires both participants to use the mobile application in order to work. Users have the option of setting specific limitations on what can or cannot be viewed.

Today, the new and improved “Augmented ID” is known as Recognizr. Although the mobile app is not yet available for wide-spread use, Recognizr is expected to be available within the next couple of months. I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly looking forward to taking this app for a test drive!

Want to see Recognizr in action? Check out this video…




» Click here to get additional TAT news and updates.

If not, you should take a closer look at Lori’s profile because she’s helping to drive some cool innovation in the mobile recruiting space. In case you were unaware, Lori is the creative mind behind AutoSearch, a desktop and mobile app that was specifically designed to enable recruiting professionals to easily source for new talent online.

Lori’s Story…

I had the opportunity to speak with Lori directly. I was particularly interested in asking what inspired her to create the AutoSearch mobile application. Like many of us, Lori took a class on internet recruiting to become better acquainted with how to create and leverage Boolean searches for prospecting new talent online. What Lori very quickly realized was that she was spending more time and energy constructing search strings than actually connecting with candidates. She was convinced that there was a better way. She wanted to make the process of searching for prospect candidates less complicated. The result: AutoSearch for the iPhone.

Key features of the AutoSearch iPhone app:

» Click here to expand image view.

AutoSearch offers users a very simple platform for conducting recruiting (sourcing) searches via the mobile device. Here’s how it works:

» Step 1: AutoSearch landing page.

» Step 2: Users are prompted to enter their primary key search terms and location preference. (Note: At the moment, there is no save search feature. I believe creating one would certainly help with addressing a valid OFCCP concern of searching for candidates while using a mobile device. While the save feature is not available on the AutoSearch app today, my understanding is that they are planning on incorporating this function into a future release.) Refer to screen-shot in step 2.

» Step 3: AutoSearch is pre-configured to run your search query against multiple sites including Yahoo’s search engine, Linkedin, Twitter, Zoominfo, and Jobster. (Note: AutoSearch uses Yahoo exclusively and does not currently run any searches across Bing or Google.) Refer to screen-shot in step 3.

» Step 4: The search results are rendered in a consolidated format, making it easier for the user to scan the results. Refer to screen-shot in step 4.

I have used the iPhone AutoSearch app on several occasions and have found it to be very intuitive and easy to use. AutoSearch delivers what it promises and makes mobile recruiting simple. You don’t need to be a “Boolean Expert” to obtain your desired search results. However, to get the best results, it is helpful to include all your critical keywords when entering the details in the search field. This will help reduce the amount of search “noise” you get back in the final results. Keep in mind, the app is still in its early phase so expect that it will continue to evolve and get better as more people use it.

AutoSearch is currently selling for $4.99. You can download a copy by visiting the iTunes store. If you want to learn more, or want to stay current with what’s new, you can follow AutoSearch on Twitter or become an AutoSearch fan on Facebook.

Finally, here’s a video that demonstrates what AutoSearch has to offer…

(*Disclaimer: The views expressed on this post are solely mine. I was not paid to endorse this product.)

According to a survey on The Future of the Internet III by Pew Research, the following were predictions about technology and its roles in the year 2020:

- The mobile device will be the primary connection tool to the internet for most people in the world in 2020.


- The transparency of people and organizations will increase, but that will not necessarily yield more personal integrity, social tolerance, or forgiveness.


- Voice recognition and touch user-interfaces with the internet will be more prevalent and accepted by 2020.


- Those working to enforce intellectual property law and copyright protection will remain in a continuing arms race, with the crackers who will find ways to copy and share content without payment.


- The divisions between personal time and work time and between physical and virtual reality will be further erased for everyone who is connected, and the results will be mixed in their impact on basic social relations.


- Next-generation engineering of the network to improve the current internet architecture is more likely than an effort to rebuild the architecture from scratch.

Today, we see a lot discussion around topics such as mobile marketing, mobile advertising, mobile search, SMS services, barcode technology, mobile video, augmented reality, touch screen technology, location based services (LBS), and the list goes on. However, I believe we are still only scratching the surface of what mobile has to offer. Who knows what the next 10+ years of mobile innovation will bring us. I am not sure about you but I’m certainly excited.

Isn’t it time to rethink our perspective on mobile? What do you think?