When Geoff Peterson took a contract recruiting assignment with a client in TX last year, he had no idea it would spark a new line of creativity in his recruiting practices. Geoff found himself sourcing for a new type of candidate – one that was more industrial, more remote and more mobile. How could he most effectively reach his target recruiting audience if they weren’t reading job ads or using social networking sites? The answer for him in this case was mobile recruiting.

He noticed that nearly everyone at this TX client site had 1 thing in common besides a hard hat – they were all wearing mobile devices. Whether it was a Nokia, a Nextel, an iPhone or an Android – all of them had one. This was the best way to reach these candidates in their “offline” world.

It’s an interesting concept. It’s not complicated to accomplish, but this is a process that will take time. When you’re developing a talent network of candidates with particular skill sets, it always takes time no matter what method you use. So let’s put time aside and look at the logistics of mobile recruiting in this instance.

Even if you aren’t recruiting difficult to fill positions this could be a great way to get a message across to candidates that you’re hiring. Allow candidates the opportunity to opt in when they apply to a job on your site when they enter their mobile number. Additionally, you can distribute a message among trade publications or groups that they can receive job alerts on their mobile phones and tell them how to opt in.  Have you seen advertisements saying things like “Text the word “MOBILE” to 45678″? Similarly, you would enlist the help of a mobile message delivery service and create your own process for people to opt in through their mobile. I think this is the most direct method. By only allowing an opt in through your ATS, you again limit yourself to candidates who are applying online.

Sometimes your target audience isn’t hanging out online or maybe they aren’t actively seeking a job. You have to think beyond traditional methods sometimes to reach the audience you seek – because your competitors are.

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