First, job hunting went digital. Now the hunt for work is going mobile, and catering to Millennials’ needs. These new apps might just be getting started, but they could be future hubs to recruit the next generation of workers.
Unemployment has continued to be a major issue for young consumers, and as of July 2014 youth unemployment was still more than double the national average. However, slowly the job pool situation is improving, and as more jobs free up for the many young consumers who need work, new platforms are being created to match up prospective employees and positions in ways that cater to Millennials mobile behaviors.
In June, LinkedIn, the lead online job search and networking hub, launched their first standalone app, LinkedIn Job Search. The decision to provide an app was motivated by the fact that 40% of the site’s 300 million users access LinkedIn on mobile devices. Recruiting continues to be the site’s biggest draw, so the Job Search app provides job search features like tailored job recommendations and notifications of new jobs being posted. LinkedIn might be one of the biggest job hunt players going mobile, but they are far from the only ones. A slew of new apps are borrowing from other successful mobile designs, and tapping into Millennials’ mobile behavior and current career aspirations to provide mobile platforms that could be future hubs for recruiting the next generation of workers. Here are three to watch:
1. Jobr
The swipe right to approve, swipe left to reject functionality of popular dating app Tinder has been borrowed by many startups in its wake, and now one is applying the idea to job hunting. Jobr is a “matchmaking app” for employees and employers that lets users browse prospective companies or staff with a simple swipe. Where Tinder uses Facebook information, Jobr connects to LinkedIn accounts to surface relevant matches, and if recruiters and candidates choose one another they can make contact through the app. As of July, there were already 1,000 recruiters on the app—impressive considering they just launched in May 2014.
2. Lynxy
Many (not all, but many) Millennials dream of working at a startup. Lynxy was launched with the goal of creating a network of those very dream startups and matching college graduates with non-technical positions within them. According to TechCrunch, the graduates apply for positions on their phones, then when matched, they’re notified and will interview for a trial position that could lead to a full-time gig. During the trial period the candidates are paid via a third-party payroll provider, lessening risk for the companies participating. Currently there are 5,000 candidates and 100 companies on Lynxy, including startups like Tough Mudder and 99dresses. A Lynxy chief executive says that the platform is designed for a generation of employess that might not know about traditional staffing services and need a way to get their foot in the door and kickstart their careers.
3. CoffeeTheApp
Coffee has one goal: “to connect the next generation of professionals.” While it’s a fact that many jobs opportunities are uncovered because of who you know, those just starting out in their careers often lack the connections they might need to access all the jobs they want. Like Jobr, Coffee borrows from Tinder’s swipe and match model, but instead of pairing job candidates and companies, the app matches users with other professionals who might be a good connection to have. If both parties say “Yes” to the match, they can chat through the app and arrange a meeting to grow their professional network.
