Some smartphones are under $200 with pay as you go plans. Also, it's getting harder to get a feature phone now. People keep them for years, for what could be < $0.30/day. Also, if it lets you search for jobs, schedule interviews, etc, it can be essential for getting your next job/interview (ditto the suit).
People make judgement calls about what they need, and a smartphone is probably just as essential to someone seeking employment in the city as a working car is for someone looking for a job in the suburbs. Even if you need to take it to the soup kitchen.
I'm not sure how the smartphone is essential, could you explain? If you need to look up jobs, local library and good old pen & paper is always at your service. Same with recording and keeping appointments - a good old notebook would work. Calling prospective employers doesn't need a smartphone. If you need to make something like printed resume, smartphone is no help, you need a real computer anyway. So where it is essential? I'm not sure I still get it.
People make judgement calls about what they need, and a smartphone is probably just as essential to someone seeking employment in the city as a working car is for someone looking for a job in the suburbs. Even if you need to take it to the soup kitchen.