Search engines have come along way over the years. Just Ask Jeeves… Thanks to Hireserve for this guest post.
One site in particular has led the way for user convenience. I’m (of course) talking about Google. We’ve all used it to search for directions and browse restaurant reviews; to shop for birthday presents or settle that pub quiz question. Heck we’re practically dependant on it at times.
And with Google for Jobs looking to shake things up in the recruitment industry, it got us thinking: How can recruiters be more like Google?
‘Be more Google’? What does that mean?
Google has become so much more than a search engine. It enhances users’ basic search results with convenient additional information and knowledge. When you open a location in maps, for example, you don’t just get a postcode and directions. You’re also met with the ‘Explore’ tab, showing you the best restaurants, pubs, events and more nearby.
By taking a similar approach, recruitment teams can elevate their candidate experience to new levels of convenience and engagement.
Okay, so it’s about adding additional value and info… But how can I do that?
When you post a new job, don’t stop at the standard job description. Why not include information about amenities close to your offices too? Share links to the best coffee shops, local pubs and nearby gyms. Help build the bigger picture for candidates; if they apply for a role with you, what can they expect for their lunch breaks or after-work drinks?
In some instances, candidates may be looking to relocate for a role. For added engagement and convenience, you could collate guidance about the surrounding area. From average house or rent prices to recommended transport links, this again demonstrates that you’re an employer who goes the extra mile.
Consider too including workplace reviews from current and previous employees. Whether you provide a link to Glassdoor so candidates don’t have to search for it themselves (see, we’re all about the convenience!) or select a range of honest reviews and upload them to your job listing, this will offer candidates an authentic insight into the role and your company culture.
Some good ideas here. But do I really need to do this?
Well, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine Google for Jobs providing a similar candidate experience in the future. Some Google job listings already include maps and other useful links. So get ahead of the tech and start anticipating and exceeding your candidates’ expectations.
As a technology company we’re always talking about ‘making it easy’ for your candidates with straightforward online application forms, CV uploads and so on. You can apply that thinking to your job listings too, by including useful and engaging information about life working with you, all neatly linked and included with your job descriptions.
Putting some of these simple steps into practice could enhance your candidate experience and engagement by building on what many of us need and expect on a day-to-day basis.
And, as Google knows: That’s convenience.
At Hireserve, we create recruitment software. Hireserve ATS is a powerful Applicant Tracking System designed for in-house recruitment teams. We’re trusted by organisations in a diverse range of sectors, from global engineering firms to leading universities, we have won awards for our customer service and we’re quite a nice bunch to work with too!
