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Stock market?s volatility threatens mobile hiring if it continues

While the stock market?s recent volatility has depreciated the value of several digital conglomerates, other technology companies should not let this prevent them from hiring for mobile-related positions as these bumps are likely to have only a short-term effect, unless the uncertainty continues. 

Last Monday, the stocks for Twitter, Google and Apple all took a serious tumble as the stock market plunged, with share prices down 17.2 percent for Twitter, 7.9 percent for Google and 11 percent for Apple. While some may believe that this will damper hiring for the mobile sector as companies buckle up to brace for any future fluctuations, several experts claim this is a simply a short-term storm that must be weathered.

?On a short term basis, [it will result in] not much impact at all,? said Rick Rome, president and founder of WashClub, New York. ?We invest for the long term and market gyrations like those we have experienced lately are just blips for now.

?But, if this volatility continues and creates a downward pattern then it will have significant impact on how much we spend on research and development.?

Job growth potential
Although some companies may have scaled back their efforts to hire mobile talent in the month of August, the ADP National Employment Report displayed that private payrolls jumped 190,000 last month. This is not specific to digital industries, but suggests that private companies in the United States maintained a strong hiring pace this summer, despite fiscal turmoil.

Mobile continues to be a vastly-growing industry, with start-ups on the West Coast constantly adding new employees, and an outpouring of vendors cropping up in the hopes of teaming up with a major brand.

It is imperative for every marketer to have a mobile-first mindset to reach wider audiences, prompting human resources to be on the lookout for up-and-coming digital talent. While the stock market plunges may eventually affect research and development budgets, it is not likely that job seekers will see openings suddenly vanish as a result of recent financial shocks.

?You can't run a business worrying more about the stock price than serving customers, building an environment for employees to be successful, and evolving your product to meet customer needs today and tomorrow,? said Jeff Hasen, founder of Gotta Mobilize, Seattle. ?Rather than concentrate on the roller coaster on Wall Street, the companies with their eyes in the right places are looking at the shifts in customer behavior and finally in marketing spend.

?As eMarketer recently said, 2015 will be the first year where mobile gets the majority of the digital spend,? he said. ?Those are the numbers that matter, not just to mobile companies but to marketers who are deciding if they should make a bet in the industry.?

A small amount of job-seekers may be put off by the decreasing stock value of companies such as Apple and Google, but many will find that the long-lasting benefits and reputation of these brands outlast any intermittent fluidity. 

If mobile companies are concerned about attracting qualified employees in these times, they should not be, as most workers with experience in a narrow field will seek to work in that industry, regardless of short-term discrepancies. 

HR and mobile
To complement the uptick of hiring digital talent, many top companies and brands have been turning to mobile for its constantly-growing suite of services that make the hiring process easier for all individuals involved.

In an interview with Mobile Marketer, an American Express executive discussed the growing role of mobile in human resources duties, highlighting how the convenience of conducting interviews digitally and applying for positions on smartphones can augment the experience for hiring leaders and candidates alike (see story).

American Express' mobile-optimized job application

Similarly, Chipotle Mexican Grill is streamlining its job application process by enabling candidates to apply via a Web-based mobile application program for smartphones and tablets (see story). Potential candidates can upload their information from a LinkedIn profile or choose to upload a résumé with their smartphone.

In fact, the mobile-friendly fast food chain is ramping up for a hiring blitz next month, in which it will welcome 4,000 new workers in a single day.

?Mobile is a fast-growing industry so it may slow down the process but it won't come to a stop unless it?s like the great recession in 2007-2009,? Mr. Rome said. ?We believe that market downturns are great opportunities to capture great human capital as well as market share.

?A well-managed company always looks to add value to their team!?

Final Take
Alex Samuely, editorial assistant on Mobile Marketer, New York