Finding a job can be a tough task at the best of times. Right now, it's harder than ever - job cuts, lay-offs and mass redundancies mean the job market is more competitive and has more candidates, too.
We may all be in it together when it comes to the financial crisis, but when it comes to job hunting, you're on your own.
The process of finding employment can generally be separated into three stages: find a position, apply for it, and then perform at the interview. In many cases, simply finding vacancies is the hardest part of the job hunt.
Tracking down the perfect position is, in all likelihood, the most time-consuming and dullest part of the process. Once you've found the perfect job with a dream salary at a company you like the look of, you need to create the perfect curriculum vitae; a document that impresses both visually and through its content is essential if you're to make it to the interview.
Happily, your iPad or your iPhone can help you at all three stages of the job hunt. There are apps to help you find the right position, and apps to design the best CV too. If the interview stage isn't your strong point, however, there are even apps available to help you build up your confidence.
In short, there's every possible app to help you along the path to a new or more exciting career, and we've structured our tips in this chronological order to help you with the process.
1. Jobcentreplus
Access nationwide job listings, all for free, with this official app
Price: Free
Works with: iPhone, iPod touch
Finding out what positions are out there is step one in the job-hunting process, and where better to start than the Job Centre?
The Jobcentreplus app allows you to search all the vacancies at every Job Centre nationwide, giving you access to a huge number of positions.
There are three main ways to search for a vacancy. First, you can use a search term and define a place - so, if you're looking for sales jobs in Bath, enter those details and tap on Search.
Second, you can use the location capabilities of your iPhone to simply search for jobs in your current vicinity. Finally, you can browse jobs by category; if you really want to be a butcher, for example, tap on the job title and search for all the positions near you.
If you're not fussy about your role, you can just search for every job close by, but naturally this returns far too many results to be wholly useful. We really liked the favourites function that allows you to quickly collect a number of job ads to read in more detail at your leisure.
Also, the number of preferences and options available that enable you to refine your job search and really dig out your perfect role impressed us, too. In short, using this official app is generally much less stress than visiting a real Job Centre, yet with all the same opportunities on offer.
2. Pocket CV
Build and distribute a stunning r?sum? with this simple tool
Price: ? 1.99 / $2.99
Works with: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad
Making a r?sum? that really sells you and your talents can be both tricky and tedious. You need to make sure that you've put everything a prospective employer would need to know in an easy-to-follow layout, preferably on no more than two sides of A4.
Pocket CV is designed to help you do just that; it splits your CV into seven sections, and you simply fill in each one. Then tap Preview to see what your new CV looks like. It really couldn't be easier.
Although this is a universal app, it's notably easier to use it effectively with the iPad's larger screen. If you have a LinkedIn account, you can import all the data from that to help build your CV, too.
Obviously, the more information you have on your LinkedIn profile, the better your CV will look, but even if you just use the bare data, it's an excellent starting point. You can build as many different r?sum?s as you choose, and there are eight different design formats to choose from. They're not the most contemporary of layouts, but neither are they offensively ugly.
Once everything's designed and you're ready to roll, you can email a CV directly from the app, or copy it to Dropbox for further editing on a computer if needed.
3. Monster Jobs for iPad
A job search tool from one of the largest and best-known job sites
Price: Free
Works with: iPad
The Monster website has been going for many years now, and is one of the most popular job search tools in the UK. You could, naturally, use Safari on your iPad to look for jobs on the site directly, but as with many specialist apps, the Monster Jobs iPad app gives you a more polished and simpler method of looking through its listings.
The search tool enables you to look for roles by keyword and location, and you can also change countries if you're after a job somewhere else in the world. You can save jobs to view at a later date, and see all the positions you've already applied for.
There are a number of filters to help you narrow down your choices and you can store your regular searches. If you think you may have found the perfect role for someone else, you can share it using email from within the app, too.
If you have a Monster account set up, you can log in and get access to all your CVs and covering letters, so that you can apply directly from the app. While you can't create a CV in the app, you can get started on a covering letter.
4. CV-Library HD
Search for jobs and create a CV quickly, all from one app
Price: Free
Works with: iPad
CV-Library HD claims to have more than 50,000 real-time jobs available to search and apply for when you're on the go. There are over 4.7 million registered users, the service offers a free CV review when you register, and it has a selection of featured recruiters from more than 70 industries.
When we ran our searches there were more than 5,000 IT jobs, over 2,000 management positions and just shy of 3,000 admin vacancies waiting to be filled. CV-Library HD gives you instant access to all these positions. In addition, you can link the iPad app to the company's website and use it to apply for jobs, save your most popular searches and share job adverts with your friends.
The app uses the iPad screen real estate very well, with jobs to the left in an easy-to-scroll column, and role information (such as location, salary and description) given plenty of space to the right. That might sound like a small thing, but some of the other job search apps, presenting much the same information, aren't as clear.
The design of the app really does make it easier to trawl through a large number of results to find the perfect job, especially with other features.
5. ResuM8
Build a professional and outstanding CV with this easy five-step plan
Price: Free
Works with: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad
Creating your own CV can be a bit of a pain. How do you describe what you're good at? How do you say it without sounding pretentious and putting potential employers off? Well, ResuM8 is here to help.
This app helps you to put together a CV in stages. Though ResuM8 is free, it doesn't really function properly without buying the database of headlines as an In-App Purchase. For ?1.99 you get access to 400 bulleted 'Strengths' that you can use in your C.V. This is great if you struggle to sum up ways to describe what you do, and what you're good at.
Inevitably, some of the Strengths are a touch corny, though you can change them if you prefer. The app could do with a bit of spit and polish in the design department too, but it's perfectly accomplished for creating a quick-fire CV.
Once you've created one, you can send it as a PDF or RTF file and can attach a covering letter, too. There's a short introduction explaining the reasoning behind the ResuM8 method, which is worth a quick read, and you can create a CV without a paying a penny if you really want to - so at least you can check the app out for free.
6. Jobsite Jobs
An appropriately named app for searching though vacancies
Price: Free
Works with: iPhone, iPod touch
Jobsite Jobs is a handy iPhone frontend to the many thousands of roles available on jobsite.co.uk. You can search by keyword and place, as well as using location services to let you see what vacancies are nearby. You can narrow your search to include jobs advertised in the last few hours, or widen it to all roles posted in the last seven days. You can also set the search distance up to a 50 mile radius.
Finally, you can choose to exclude temporary, part-time or contract jobs - or search only for those types if you like. Results can be ordered by relevance to your search terms, date posted, or salary, and searches can be saved to make it easier to re-run the query at a later date.
Although there are promoted jobs within the app, the one we clicked on was outof- date, somwhat annoyingly. If you have a Jobsite account, you can create a shortlist of roles for later. Once you've uploaded your CV, you can also quickly apply for any role.
7. Interview Questions Pro
No need to be fearful about the nerve-jangling interview process?
Price: 69p / 99?
Works with: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad
Once you've found a job and created a compelling CV that has employers clambering over each other to see you in person, you still need to perfect your interview skills if you want that coveted position. Interview Questions Pro splits practice questions into sections, covering critical thinking, work history, behavioural aspects, and you - the candidate.
There's also a selection of suggested questions for you to ask a potential employer. Simply tap on a section to get started with the sample questions. You can begin at question number one and work your way though, or simply pick out the questions at random.
Tap on the question to flip the flash card to reveal the sort of thing you're supposed to be saying. The app doesn't give you a word-for-word answer, of course, but instead points you in the general direction. You can add your own questions for more personalised interview practice too, if you want.
8. Resume Designer
A simple template tool for creating the perfect CV on the go
Price: ?1.99 / $2.99
Works with: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad
Resume Designer is a basic app that lets you make your own CV very easily. All you have to do is type the relevant information into a template to create a document.
There are five default r?sum? sections on the basic template, such as Objectives and Work Experience. All you have to do is tap on a section and fill in the details. A persistent preview below each entry shows you exactly what your changes look like as they happen.
If the sections don't suit or you need to add another, you can, including Skills and Volunteer Experience, or you can create a custom section. In addition, you can add an events section to make a list of significant events to be shown in order.
Once you've finished, you can email or print the CV from the app. There's no control over the fonts or colours, but this is still a great app for creating a good-looking document quickly.
9. Interview Skills
An app designed to demystify the interview process
Price: Free
Works with: iPhone, iPod touch
The Interview Skills app from Barclays Capital is ostensibly designed to help candidates prepare for an interview solely with Barclays, but its useful advice and videos make it great for any candidate. This app revolves around three fictional candidates and their answers to four interview questions - motivation, business awareness, competency and role. You listen to their answers and decide which one is strongest.
This is handy as it puts you in the position of interviewer and allows you to decide first-hand which answers are most suitable. Rating the interview answers is a fun way to pick out the pitfalls when in an interview.
As well as this useful game, there's a whole section of hints and tips to help you answer interview questions, including videos of helpful advice from the people who devise and run interviews at Barclays.
10. LinkedIn
The business social network that lets you hunt down your next position
Price: Free
Works with: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad
With LinkedIn you can build a virtual CV, but also, just like Facebook, keep in touch with ex-work colleagues. Once you've created a profile and made contacts, you can request recommendations from others you may have worked for or with, and search out the movers and shakers.
On the iPad, the app has the useful feature of being able to see who has looked at your profile recently too. Additionally, you can see updates from people in your industry, and join LinkedIn groups to keep up on the latest news or job openings.
Of course, you can add your own updates. You can use the Updates section to see what everyone is doing, or use the People You May Know to help your business profile grow.
See which of your contacts has been promoted or joined another company, or use it to do research on a company you feel you might want to join.
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