Feature Spotlight: Google Job Search

As part of our Fall Product Release, we go in-depth on individual features to explore the full power of each function. First off we bring you our integration with Google Job Search. Since the launch of this new search capability at the end of June 2017 we’re already seeing a 20% bump in completed applications for SmartRecruiters’ customers and with Phase 2 hitting the stage in late August 2017 you can only expect those numbers to go up.

Google figured out something that most of us already know. Searching for a job online is a dusty cluttered attic of duplicated and out of date posts that leave both Recruiters and Candidates shaking their heads.

For Candidates, it’s frustrating because it’s hard to locate real, and up to date job postings but it’s not good for Recruiters either. Recruiters have a hard time pinpointing where their click traffic is coming from because Candidates are being redirected to third-party job boards. Hiring managers lose out too as Candidates are less likely to complete a job application when the process is delayed by redirecting.

“So, amidst a great deal of buzz, Google launched a job search function in June 2017 where Candidates will be presented with a curated job board based on their search.”

So, amidst a great deal of buzz, Google launched a job search function in June 2017 where Candidates will be presented with a curated job board based on their search. The job board cues automatically when your search involves keywords like ‘job’, ‘work’ or ‘career’. The job board will collate all the results to include different titles used for the same job for instance ‘Sales Manager’ might also be called ‘Client Supervisor’.

Google Job Search has already begun to change the way Candidates connect with jobs. Cutting into the market share of third-party job boards by directing Candidates straight to company websites.

“Phase 2, launched in the US at the end of August 2017, is allowing Candidates to search for jobs by commute time.”

Phase 2, launched in the US at the end of August 2017, is allowing Candidates to search for jobs by commute time. Let’s say a designer wants a job within a 20-minute bike ride of their house – they can include these criteria in their search to narrow down their results.  Parents could use this tool as well if they want to find a job close to their children’s school.

So what do these new parameters mean to a Recruiter? Spoiler: more visible job posts, greater source tracking abilities, and a higher number of completed applications. Here’s why.

Let’s say I’m a Recruiter for Mr Woofs Dog Walking Inc. and I’m looking for Dog Walkers. When I  post a job in SmartRecruiters I have the option to put in an exact street address for the job. When I take the time to enter this extra info in my job posting, my jobs are more likely to come up in the search because Google is going to give preference to the job posting with the most information.

“My SmartRecruiters job post will also include an embedded Google Map for the Candidate’s convenience which is just one more way we are considering the experience of the applicant.”

My SmartRecruiters job post will also include an embedded Google Map for the Candidate’s convenience which is just one more way we are considering the experience of the applicant.

Let’s say that some potential Dog Walker Candidates searched ‘Dog Companion’ or ‘Canine Whisperer’. That’s not a problem! My job would still surface in the search because, thanks to the AI Google is implementing in their Job Search Function, they know that these Candidates are probably also interested in my Dog Walker post.

So my jobs are coming up higher on Google Job Search, I’m getting clicks, and I can see where those clicks are coming from because Candidates aren’t being redirected to different websites to actually find the post – which then, in turn, allows me to use the full force of Google sourcing analytics. 

Next step is getting more of those clicks to turn into completed applications. The number of completed applications has increased by 20% since Google Job Search launched at the end of June and this is without the implementation of phase 2 which includes commuting search parameters. When the job search is smooth and intuitive it only makes sense that applications increase.

“Expect more integrations as Google Job Search develops as we are currently 1 of only 3 companies able to offer the added job posting criteria which enable all these posting perks.”

The only downside is that Google Job Search isn’t fully up and running outside the US so for our customers outside the States this is something to look forward to in the near future. In the meantime, customers outside the US can still use street addresses and embedded Google Maps, and when Google Job Search launches in other countries, the feature will be enabled automatically as we are currently 1 of only 3 companies able to offer the added job posting criteria which enable all these posting perks.

The Google Job Search integration is all a part of the larger ecosystem we are creating this Fall where you can work where you work best while still enjoying the advanced power of the SmartRecruiters Talent Acquisition Software.