5 smartphone tips for job hunting

1. Launch your Facebook app and remove damaging images of yourself. If you don't consider this is necessary, guess what — it is. Recruiters are getting savvier, and Google and Facebook searches are becoming the norm, so get embarrassing pics out of your photo album. Oh, and don't forget to parse pictures that your friends have tagged of you. (Your pics might be pristine, but you know some doofus uploaded that image of you and your ex doing body shots last month.) If your app doesn't support that, try it in your cell phone browser, or leave yourself an audio note, email or other reminder to do it when you're at your desktop, so you don't forget.

2. Access Linked In via an app or browser and accept EVERYONE (well, maybe not that high school chum with the criminal record and school listing of "Graduate of F.U.!" Yeah, him you can leave off). This will widen your networking pool, which is accurately what you want when job searching. And don't forget to message earlier supervisors and ask if they'll write you online recommendations. If you're actually into the Linked In thing, then joining industry groups for your desired field is also another way of connecting with new contacts and potential employers.

3. Keep a copy of your resume and a cover letter on hand — like in an app like DropBox, for example. I'm a big fan of DropBox, since there are Android, iPhone and BlackBerry apps for this, in addition to desktop and online access to free accounts. All that stays in sync, so there's no worry over sending the wrong version, no issue which you use. Of course, it's better to tailor each cover letter for the particular opening — not to mention that typos are notorious on handsets — but if you happen to come upon an opportunity that needs urgent response (and you're nowhere near your computer), at least you'll be prepared.

4. Keep your own professional contact info in your own addressbook (complete with URL to your online resume). I've actually had amazing conversations with people at parties, social outings and random venues that lead to incredible opportunities. With your own info on hand, you can mail it to the contact on the spot, or better yet — if they're carting around the Bump iPhone or Android application, you can knock devices to share your 411, all while looking like a savvy, hip, techno-forward professional they'd just love to have.

5. Use job search apps. In truth, some are excellent, some aren't. You'll have to do a little research to see which offer the best opportunities in your area. Generally speaking, for the iPhone, there's Monster.com's app. For Android users, there's Job Search. Both are must-haves on any job seeker's device, but feel free to bookmark the online classifieds in your cell phone browser of choice as well.