mobile-dataMutual insurance, retirement and investment group LV= has developed a new smartphone enabled careers website. The site has been developed to give mobile job seekers access to LV= careers information using a simplified design which delivers a fast, clear and logical user experience. Acknowledging the restrictions of screen size and bandwidth of mobile handsets, as well as user attention span and time restrictions, the website offers simplicity in structure, navigation, content layout and job search function.

Rather than simply shrinking content to fit on a smaller screen, the design has been simplified to meet the needs of a mobile user. The simplicity is also carried through into the navigation, which mirrors users’ preference to scroll websites from top to bottom and use a vertical (as opposed to a horizontal) navigation bar. The job search function has also been adapted to meet the needs of a mobile job seeker allowing the user to search available jobs, identify one that they would like to apply for and then forward a link to the vacancy to their own email address to apply at a later time.

Kevin Hough, LV= Head of Resourcing explains: “We are focused on attracting the best people to work for LV= and this smartphone enabled website is part of that objective. An increasing number of jobseekers are using their mobile devices to look for a new job on the go. By providing a site that combines a simplified design with a fast user experience we are allowing them to more easily identify suitable roles“.

The LV= careers website was first launched in January 2009 and the number of mobile users has grown steadily. In 2012 there were nearly 200,000 visits to the site and 20% of these came from mobile devices. At the beginning of 2013 this figure is closer to 25%. In 2012, LV= made over 2000 hires and 96% of these new recruits were hired directly and not through an agency. The new smartphone enabled website will ensure any visitors who log on to the LV= careers website from their mobile devices will have the optimum user experience.