10 Smartphone Apps that Help You Land a Career

When I quit my job in October, my heart was pumping with energy, and sinking with self doubt at the same time. Was my career path about to burn out, or soar to the top? With a stagnant job market, I knew I had to be aggressive to find my dream job.

Morgan Stanley reported that, “nearly all 91% of Americans have their cell phones within arm’s reach 24 hours a day.” In addition, over 50% of the population owns a smartphone. I knew that with my cellphone in hand, I had the top asset for job hunting in 2013.

Once I succeeded in finding my dream job, I wanted to share my secrets with you. I made the following guide to help you network, job search, and prepare for interviews in the coming year. If you’re planning on joining a fast pace career, then compare the iPhone and Android accessories that helped me succeed, and will help you, too.

I. Networking

LunchMeet
This app connects to your LinkedIn account and uses geo-targeting to find industry-specific contacts who are interested in networking. Inspired by the best-selling book “Never Eat Alone,” LunchMeet allows for meaningful, face-to-face networking wherever you are, whenever you are available. Simply connect your LinkedIn account through LunchMeet, and get ready to network with industry professionals to discuss your industry or career opportunities.

MeetMe
This app is great for meeting up with colleagues, friends, and potential employers. Instead of emailing back and forth to figure out the best place to meet, MeetMe does the heavy lifting. You input two locations, and it locates venues in the middle. Even better – next, it allows you to email directions to yourself and your colleague!

Business Card Reader
The best part about attending networking events and conferences, is all the business cards you receive. The only dilemma is keeping those cards organized. Now you can store their information with an app, and never worry about losing business cards again. Simply photograph the business card, and the app will instantly enter the information into your contacts.

Contacts Journal
Contacts Journal is a contact relationship management system that helps you keep track of your relationship building. This app helps you keep detailed notes on all of your interactions with each contact, such as: save notes of important meetings, set follow ups, and attach important documents to each of your contacts.

II. Job Search

Job Compass
If you’re searching for jobs in the surrounding area, whether it’s your backyard or a trip abroad, then Job Compass is the app for you. Job Compass searches millions of jobs, locating, and plotting them on a map showing you exactly where the jobs are in relation to your current position. Search within a 5 to 100 mile radius of where you are.

HireADroid
If you’re an Android user and job seeker, then HireADroid is your best fit. HireADroid is the only Android job search app that supports single query across multiple job search engines (8) and multiple countries (18). HireADroid supports three major job search engines: LinkUp, Indeed, and SimplyHired.

BeKnown
BeKnown is a Monster affiliated app that provides an easy way for job seekers to search for and apply for jobs within Facebook. Although the app is fully integrated with Facebook, your personal Facebook information stays private. Within your BeKnown profile, you can view and apply for jobs, see company information, get endorsed, and apply for jobs directly from the app. One of the best features is its ability to automatically match you with jobs, based on the information in your BeKnown profile.

III. Interview Prep

Pocket Resume
Some of the best job interviews happen on the fly. For example, when you randomly bump into someone at a store, or meet up at a conference. If you have a limited amount of time to pull up your resume, don’t panic; instead, show that you’re prepared. Pocket Resume pulls the most updated information from your LinkedIn profile and enables you to export your resume to PDF or Dropbox. The app also lets you tailor your resume for specific positions, by allowing you to reorder your resume within the app.

101 HR Interview Questions and Answers
Most interviews start off with, “Can you tell us something about yourself?” These general questions often set in a feeling of panic; even when you know yourself best, what is it exactly this person wants to know? This app prepares you by asking and answering the most commonly asked HR interview questions, while also building your confidence for your interview.

IV. Polishing Your Look

DIY Phone Restoration
When you’re entering the workforce, you want your clothes neatly pressed, your shoes polished and your Android or iPhone restored. Nowadays, most people use their smartphones for work, and a beaten up phone can show you’re careless or sloppy. If you have an iPhone, then this sandpaper tutorial will make your phone look as good as new. If your phone has a metal finish, a $4 can of Brasso will do the trick.

DIY Screen Protector
Now that your phone is shiney new again, make sure it stays that way. This Howcast video shows how you can make a DIY screen protector at home, from simple products like a ruler, scissors, clear packing tape, a permanent marker, a bowl of water, dish soap, and a credit card.

V. Staying Connected

Get Instant Access to Free Wireless Internet
After your interview you constantly find yourself checking your phone and email to see if you landed the job. By tethering your smartphone, you turn your phone into an instant Wi-Fi hotspot. This is great for staying connected during the interview process, and once you’ve secured the job. PDANet is the most widely used, and is available for iPhones, Android, BlackBerry, Palm phones, Windows Mobile, and more. For a free version, see the TechCrunch tutorial on the Android Wi-Fi Tether application.

Kelsey Libert is a speaker, entrepreneur, and Internet enthusiast. She’s a chief development officer for a diverse website portfolio, where she runs the content development strategy and execution for several websites, and counting.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Tags: job search, Kelsey Libert

Category: Job Search, Personal Branding