Why ‘Google For Jobs’ Is A Game Changer?

For candidates, online job boards can be a jungle. Standard job boards cover millions of roles – all of different disciplines, industries and levels – and with so many options, it’s difficult to know which platforms will prove most successful.

It’s unsurprising then that a huge number of candidates – especially those looking for specific, senior level or specialist positions – dismiss online searching forums altogether. As a result, 46% of US employers report difficulty sourcing high level candidates. It’s a lose-lose situation: employers miss out on quality candidates and quality candidates miss out on their ideal roles.

Cue: Google for Jobs.

What Is ‘Google For Jobs’?

‘Google for Jobs’ is Google’s latest feature: a job search function which seamlessly integrates results from multiple jobs sites onto one results panel.  Google have already paired with major online job boards LinkedIn, Monster, WayUp, DirectEmployers, CareerBuilder and Facebook, and with brand new filters and advanced AI technology their search is the most accurate and exhaustive that has been developed to date.

Millions of people already use Google to start their job search, in finding the job board, the company or the role itself. Google for Jobs simply cuts out the middle man, shortening the lengthy process of searching each job site individually. Actual applications are still made through job sites, so candidates can still – where possible – go through boards they already have a profile on. Google just makes the search process to get to that point much easier.

How Does 'Google For Jobs' Improve The Search Experience For Candidates?

Artificial Intelligence

One of biggest obstacles in a job search is inconsistency in job titles across different organisations; for example what one company considers a ‘Financial Director’, another may call a ‘Chief Accounting Officer’. Google for Jobs doesn’t just relay results for the specific term searched, but through Artificial Intelligence technology amalgamates all positions of the same ranking. By pulling all of these results onto the same feed, candidates no longer have to conduct individual searches for every possible title, cutting out a huge amount of time. AI also orders the roles so that the most suitable results are pushed at the top using saved data from past searches and applications.

Salary Predictions

Salary brackets are missing from over 85% of job postings in the U.S. Now, Google for Jobs includes a salary range for every job result, even if the employer hasn’t provided one; Google makes an estimate based on the specific job title, location and employer, and on data taken from sources like Glassdoor, PayScale, Paysa and LinkedIn.

Links To Existing Google Features

Google is primarily a general search engine, so alongside specific job information all listings display the company’s Glassdoor rating, a website link and general web results – news stories etc. Google Maps also plays an active role, allowing users to see their potential commute: walking, driving and via public transport.

Saving Results

Candidates now have the option to bookmark roles so that they can access them later, on all of their devices. As well as saving, they can set up notifications and alerts too, which means they will be immediately informed of any new job vacancies which match their personal query.

Will Employers Benefit?

With the searching process streamlined, already more candidates are taking to online applications and building online profiles on job boards. Talent pools are increasing and, as a result, the search and selection process is becoming much easier for employers. With a wider range of specialist talent now present and visible online, companies have more incentive to post their vacancies to access them.

Is ‘Google For Jobs’ In Competition With Existing Job Boards?

Google have been clear in the fact they are not in competition with boards like Monster and CareerBuilder: applications still have to be made through the job boards themselves and there are no future plans to allow employers to post jobs directly to the search engine. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has simply said, "Google for Jobs is our commitment to use our products to help people find work." 

Since their launch in the US, the number of employers showing jobs in search has risen by 60%, and tens of millions of people have been connected with new job opportunities. Google for Jobs provides a more streamlined and successful experience, candidates obtaining more relevant results and hard-to-categorise jobs appearing on more searches.

With more quality candidates using online mediums to apply for jobs, the need for companies to tap into this talent pool has never been higher. CSG is active on a range of leading job boards across the globe, accessing the high-calibre talent companies need to ensure growth and progression. Our consultants are connected to tens of thousands of specialist candidates, across a range of functions and ranging from managerial to board level. If your company would benefit from our services and our candidate outreach, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at clients@csgtalent.com, 03333232000.

The function has only currently rolled out in the US, but Google are planning to extend it to further territories this year.

References

Google blog, New tools to make your job search simpler, 15.11.17

Business Insider, Google launched its own job search engine — here's how it works, 22.6.17

Recruiter, Google For Jobs Launches In US, 20.6.17

TechCrunch, Google launches its AI-powered jobs search engine, 20.6.17

The Balance, Google for Jobs, 29.11.17