8 job-related smartphone apps

It’s truly amazing what you can accomplish with today’s smartphones. With just a click or touch, you can find a date, make restaurant reservations or set up a recording on your digital video recorder. So what about using your phone to look for a job?

We’ve told you about the importance of building a strong online presence to help your job search by using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other career-related blogs. But have you ever considered using smartphone apps to make your job search easier?

We think you should. To help, here’s a list of eight job-related apps to take your job search mobile:

1.  Business Card Reader: You’re at a networking event and collect a bunch of business cards, but by the time you get home, you’ve already lost a few. To avoid misplacing important contacts, download this nifty app. Take a picture of a business card with your phone’s camera, and the app will import the contact information directly to your address book. 

Cost: Varies based on platform

Available for: iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile

2.  Documents To Go: This app is available in a few different versions, depending on your platform. Based on the version you download, you’ll be able to view and/or create and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. The premium version offers viewing, editing and syncing of cloud files, along with the ability to view PDF, iWork, Text and .RTF files.

Cost: Varies based on version and platform

Available for: iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Maemo

3.  Good Job: With the Good Job app, you can track and save tasks, events, follow ups, interviews, jobs and contacts related to your job search.

Cost: $4.99

Available for: iPhone

4.  Jobs by CareerBuilder: The CareerBuilder app allows you to search its database of nearly 2 million jobs by keyword, location, company and employment type, among others. You can use your phone’s GPS to identify jobs near you, apply for jobs and receive personalized job recommendations.

Cost: Free

Available for: iPhone, Android

5.  Labor Stats: Do you like to stay up-to-date on employment- and economy-related news? The Labor Stats app from the Bureau of Labor Statistics sends stats on unemployment rate, consumer price index, average hourly earnings and others to your phone. You’re also able to download press releases in browser and PDF format.

Cost: Free

Available for: iPhone, Android

6.  LunchMeet: This recently introduced app is like “It’s Just Lunch” for networking. By signing in via your LinkedIn account, you tell the app when and where you’re available to meet someone for networking. Then it’ll match you up with other networkers in your area, and from there you can invite them to meet for lunch, drinks or whatever suits your networking fancy.

Cost: Free

Available for: iPhone

7.  Resume App: If you’re on-the-go and need to quickly apply for a job, this app will come in handy. With Resume App, you can build, design and generate a customizable PDF résumé. Once created, you can distribute it directly from your phone. Sure, it doesn’t (or shouldn’t) replace your résumé completely, but it’s good for when you’re in a pinch.

Cost: $2.99

Available for: iPhone

8.  SnapDat Digital Business Cards: SnapDat allows you to create and share digital business cards. You can choose from 40 different designs, all of which look like traditional business cards. From there, you can email your newly created card to your contact. Plus it has a fun name, which is always a bonus.  

Cost: Free

Available for: iPhone

Have you used any other job-related apps that you’d recommend? Let us know by leaving a comment below.