Jobseekers in the UK are increasingly turning everyday corners of life into job application zones — from beneath the duvet to the toilet seat.
According to research from job site CV‑Library, 47 percent of jobseekers admit their favourite place to apply is from under the covers. Even more surprising: 16 percent say they’ve done so while on the loo.
The survey, part of CV‑Library’s Candidate Behaviour Barometer 2025, polled 1,141 UK jobseekers in August and reveals how mobile apps and convenience are redrawing the map of where — and when — people pursue new roles.
Not just in bed
The research shows that applying from bed is common across generations, but younger people are pushing boundaries.
Among Gen Z (ages 18–28), 70 percent said they’d applied from bed, and nearly one in four admitted to sending in a CV from the loo. Millennials (29–44) reported higher rates of applying while on holiday (20 percent) or even squeezing in an application at the gym (6 percent).
Gen X (45–60) stick more to bed applications (34 percent), but overall avoid the more unconventional locations.
Beyond bedrooms and bathrooms, other top places include applying while at work (24 percent) and on holiday (18 percent). A smaller but telling 2 percent confessed to checking jobs while out on dates or even at weddings.
Mobile rules the day
Half of jobseekers browse exclusively on mobile phones, while 36 percent use desktop or laptop for their job search. The data also shows timing matters, with most browsing and applications happening in the first half of the working week, between mid‑morning and early afternoon — with peaks on Monday through Thursday and dips on Friday and weekends.
Large numbers of candidates drop out when forms are overly complex or require them to switch platforms mid‑process. The “application experience” matters: brief, clear adverts with easy-to-follow instructions sustain engagement and prevent abandonment.
Why candidates go wild
Hannah Cornish, a recruitment executive at CV‑Library, said jobseekers were weaving applications into the fragments of daily life, not waiting for “ideal” moments.
“With busy lives and demanding jobs, people are squeezing job hunting in wherever they can — whether that’s lying in bed at night or even during personal time on the loo. It shows how important flexibility and simplicity is for jobseekers — if the application process is too time consuming, they’ll move on.”
She added that employers who forced candidates through lengthy forms risked losing interest — especially from high-potential talent who expect speed and ease.
What this means for employers
If candidates are comfortable applying from bed or on the move, employers need to meet them there. Best practices now include:
Mobile-first application design: Every stage — from job description to CV upload and submission — must be seamless on phone screens.
Streamlined forms: Keep application questions minimal; avoid repetition and external redirects.
Quick-apply options: Allow minimal clicks or auto-fill integration, so users can apply in seconds.
Clear, concise job adverts: Candidates favour titles and descriptions that get to the point, along with commute, salary and role expectations up front.
Responsive candidate communication: Ghosting turns off talent. Keeping people informed increases the chance they’ll accept offers.
Companies already using integrations to streamline candidate flows see benefits: when applications feed directly into applicant tracking systems (ATS), candidates are more likely to complete them. In one case, CV‑Library linked with ATS tech to raise conversion by 300 percent.
Risks of ignoring the trend
If the application process is too slow, awkward or non-mobile friendly, experts say employers risk:
- Losing interest from candidates who try once and give up
- Damaging employer brand reputation among jobseekers
- Missing out on talent who expect convenience
A negative candidate experience doesn’t just cost in lost hires: many drop out mid-application — studies suggest as many as 60 percent abandon long processes.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
