Half of us search for a new job while at work

Half of Brits are searching for new jobs while at their desks, with 49% of job searches via Monster’s mobile app taking place between 9am to 5pm. 

‘Humpday’ blues are also driving the desire to find that dream job, with Wednesday identified as the most popular day of the week for candidates to upload their CV and start searching and applying for a new job.

Further research commissioned by Monster shows that more people than ever are now searching on the go for their perfect job, with nearly a third of UK job seekers (32%) searching on their mobiles and over a quarter turning to job focused apps (26%). Monster also saw a 58% increase in the number of people actively searching for a new job via their mobile phones on their commute home (5pm to 7pm) perhaps spurred by a rough day at work.

The transition to mobile is even more prevalent among gen Z (those born after 1995) with 56% saying they have searched via mobile for a job and a third (33%) saying they’ve even applied for a job from their mobile device. This trend isn’t just confined to those entering the workforce, almost a third (30%) of millennials have also applied for a job via their mobiles, followed by 22% of gen Z and 14% of baby boomers.

Despite the increasing use of mobile for job searches, only 49% of HR professionals believe that having a mobile-friendly job site, or even an app, is important to their hiring strategy, while 9% of HR professionals admit that it’s not always possible to apply for the jobs they advertise via mobile. Research has shown that over 50% of candidates who attempt to apply for a job on a mobile device today abandon the process, and the lack of progress made to serve mobile searches is a key reason.

With the UK’s employment figures remaining steady and job vacancies at their highest level than ever before, the job market remains at its most competitive. Monster warns that recruiters and HR professionals who aren’t adapting their strategy to reflect this transition fast enough risk missing out on talent.

Monster’s VP of marketing Europe, Sinead Bunting, said: “Generation Z is a mobile-first generation, turning to their phones for dating, shopping and now to boost their careers. Today’s job seekers expect to be able to view jobs seamlessly on their mobile devices and to be able to apply for them quickly and easily.

“Recruiters need to reflect this in their offering, building well designed and functional apps to attract talent, allowing candidates to follow the application process through on mobile from search to job acceptance seamlessly, or risk losing the attention of the next generation of talent.”