How to search and apply for jobs using only your phone

Keeping your CV and documents on your phone, sending a proper application email, and staying organised without a computer.

A phone is enough

You don't need a computer or an internet café to apply for most jobs. A smartphone with an email app, a way to make PDF files and some organisation is enough. The steps below help you prepare once, so that each new application takes minutes instead of a trip to town.

Your CV as a PDF

Most employers want a CV as a PDF, because it looks the same on every device. You can build your CV in Kaziplat and download it as a PDF, or write it in a word processor app on your phone and save or export it as PDF.

Name the file clearly, for example "Amina-Juma-CV.pdf". A file called "document(3).pdf" looks careless. Open the PDF after saving to check that nothing is cut off and that the text is readable.

Scanning your certificates

Many adverts ask for copies of certificates, transcripts and your national ID. Instead of photographing them on a table, use a scanner app or the scan feature built into many phones' camera or file apps. It straightens the page, removes shadows and saves a PDF.

Tips for good scans:

Put the document on a dark, flat surface in good daylight.
Scan each document separately, then combine them if the advert asks for one file.
Check the file size. Many employers limit attachments. Scanner apps usually let you choose a lower quality to make files smaller.
Keep the originals safe. Never send originals unless an employer asks to see them in person.

Keep everything in one folder

Create a folder on your phone or in a cloud storage app called "Job applications". Keep in it your CV, a general application letter you can adapt, and a scanned PDF of each certificate and your ID. Store a copy in cloud storage too, so you don't lose everything if the phone is lost or broken.

When you see a job, you then only need to adjust your letter and attach files you already have.

Writing the email on a phone

An email sent from a phone should look exactly like one sent from a computer.

Subject: use the one the advert asks for. If it doesn't say, write "Application for [job title]".
Greeting: "Dear Hiring Manager," or the name given in the advert.
Body: three or four short sentences saying which job you are applying for, that your documents are attached, and how to reach you. Your full letter goes in the attachment.
Signature: your full name and phone number.
Attachments: check that every file is attached before you press send.

Remove the "Sent from my phone" line that some email apps add automatically. Our guide on applying by email covers this in more detail.

Online forms and portals

Some employers and the government use online application portals. These usually work on a phone browser, but long forms are easier if you prepare first. Have your documents ready in your folder, write long answers in a notes app and paste them in, and save your progress often if the form allows it. Write down the username and password you create, and keep any confirmation message or number the portal gives you.

Stay organised and save data

Track what you send. Keep a simple list in a notes app: the job, the employer, the date you applied and the deadline. Kaziplat lets you save jobs so you can find them again.
Turn on job alerts. Instead of searching every day, let Kaziplat tell you when new jobs that match your field appear.
Use Wi-Fi for big uploads when you can, and send large files once rather than retrying many times on a weak connection.
Keep your phone number active and answer unknown numbers politely. Employers often call to invite candidates to interviews.

Keep your phone and accounts safe

Your phone now holds your CV, your certificates and your email. Use a screen lock, keep your email password private and different from other passwords, and turn on two-step verification for your email if you can. Be careful with links in messages that claim to be job offers: open job adverts from sources you trust, such as the employer's website or Kaziplat.

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