Google for Jobs: What Is It and How to Use It to Find a New Job or New Employee

If you’ve ever searched for a job on Google, you’ve already seen Google for Jobs in action. 

Just like Google itself, it searches for job postings and shows you the best results all in one place. It gathers this information from some of the top job sites like ZipRecruiter, Monster, and LinkedIn and from various business career webpages.

Whether you’re looking for a job or looking for employees to hire, this article explains how to use Google for Jobs to make your search easier.

What Is Google for Jobs?

People have been job searching online for years already. Google for Jobs, introduced in 2017, is Google’s way of enhancing how these results appear, making it easier to find and promote job vacancies.

I think it’s safe to assume that you already know what Google is and how to use it.

Google for Jobs isn’t much different.

You type in whatever type of job you’re looking for, and Google will show you the results. 

From there, you can either follow the links to learn more about each job and how to apply, or refine your search. 

It is designed to help job seekers quickly find any job opening that fits their criteria, and to help businesses get their job ads in front of the right candidates. 

Here’s an example of how Google for Jobs search results appears:

How Is Google for Jobs Different than Other Job Sites

Google for Jobs is not a job site. It’s a searching tool used to find job postings that are published online. There isn’t a specific website for it, as it’s a function within Google.

Online job boards can have complicated search functions, confusing job application processes, and duplicate or expired job listings. They may also target passive candidates who might have no interest in applying for the particular jobs listed. This leads to candidates abandoning their applications, thus lowering the employers’ ROI and making the hiring process longer, more expensive, and frustrating for both parties. 

With these and other issues, Google offered a solution that was more holistic and candidate-centered. 

Currently, this solution assists 75% of job seekers in searching for different jobs across the web. Google for Jobs consolidates these jobs from employer websites, job boards, and social media while offering a seamless experience during the application process.

As someone looking for a job, you can’t create a profile and apply for jobs through Google for Jobs like you can with Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and other job sites. As a business owner looking to hire someone, you can’t directly add your job posting to Google for Jobs either.

So how does Google for Jobs work? 

How Google for Jobs Works for Employers and Business Owners

If you are a business owner who wants to find employees to hire, you want to make sure your job posting appears on Google, since that’s where most job seekers are already looking.

To do so, you need a job ad, and it has to be posted somewhere online.

Create Your Job Ad

Your job ad and job description have to be optimized if you want it to rank higher in the search results. Creating a relevant and detailed job ad that will pass the organic ranking system for Google can be challenging.  

Some tips for improving the Google ranking for your job postings include: 

• Use the keywords and phrases related to the job
• Use clear titles and descriptions for the particular jobs
• Don’t use jargon and acronyms 
• Be concise but informative
• Use bullet point lists that are scannable
• Include a link to the full job description, if one is available

Recommended: Check out these Helpful Tips on How to Write Strong and Effective Job Advertisements

How to Add a Job Posting to Google for Jobs

Now that you have your job ad ready, you need to get it published online so that Google can find it. 

Because it is a search tool that scours the internet for job postings that have already been published somewhere online, you cannot directly add your job posting to Google for Jobs. 

To get your job posting to appear on Google for Jobs, you have to do one of the following: 

1. Post the job on your business’s website and set it up to integrate with Google
2. Use a third-party job site that is already partnered with Google

1. Use Your Business’s Website

If your business has its own website, you probably already have a career page on your site. By adding structured data to your career pages, Google can identify it as a job posting and will automatically include it in its search results.

Of the two options, this requires more technical knowledge. But once your page is set up properly, you shouldn’t have to worry about it again. It should automatically pick up anything new posted to this page. 

You can find their starter guide, webmaster forum, and support video on how to set this up on the Google for Jobs about page.

2. Post Your Job on Third-Party Job Sites

If you don’t have a website, the technical know-how, or don’t want to set up a Google integration with your site, you do have another more straightforward option. You can add your job posting to one of the many third-party job sites that are already integrated to work with Google for Jobs. 

Some of the recruiting sites, companies, and job boards that integrate with Google include: 

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• ZipRecruiter
• Snagajob
• Monster
• Glassdoor
• Jobillico
• CareerBuilder
• Care.com
• Yelp Careers
• Jora
• Jooble
• SmartRecruiters
• Salary.com 
• Getwork 
• GovernmentJobs
• Talent.com 

And there are hundreds more!

Job postings on these sites will appear in the Google for Jobs results, increasing your chance of finding the best candidates.

In fact, when ZipRecruiter integrated with Google, their organic conversion rate grew, as did their traffic. (You can read the case study here.)

Google for Jobs and Indeed

You may have noticed that Indeed, one of the largest jobs search sites, is not mentioned on the above list. That’s because it’s one of the few job sites that is not integrated with Google.

In other words, you won’t see any jobs posted on Indeed in your Google for Jobs search results. 

However, because Indeed is so popular, you will likely see their job ads posted just below, like in this example:

Although you can list your jobs with Indeed for free, you may need to pay to have your post upgraded if you want it to appear at the top of Google’s search results. 

For this reason, many employers choose to post their job on multiple sites, including Indeed, at least one Google for Jobs integrated site, and local job posting sites.

Recommended: Here’s a list of Dozens of Places Where You Can Post Jobs for Free

How Google for Jobs Works for Job Seekers

Google for Jobs is very straightforward to use for job seekers because it’s a part of Google. There is nothing different or special about how you use it to search for a job.

You can run a Google job search for something general like “jobs near me,” or you can be very specific and search for “part time accounting jobs for students in Glasgow, Montana.”

At a glance, you will see the job titles, employers, locations, types of jobs, posting sources, and posting dates for the top 3 results, followed by a link that will take you to even more job listing results.

If you click on any of these links, you’ll be brought to another page that includes more details on the specific job, links where you can apply, and more advanced search features. 

Google for Jobs also includes a typical salary for each job, even when there is no salary information on some job listings. You may also see ratings or reviews of the employer, and how long your commute would be. 

In the US, military veterans can also find civilian jobs that match their skills using their military occupational specialty (MOS) code to search. 

Filtering Job Posts

Google for Jobs gives you different filtering options that makes it easier to find the perfect job. 

These filtering options include: 

• Job title – you can get specific if you need to or search for all related job titles at once
• Location – which can be set to limited distances from where you are, specific cities, or anywhere
• Date posted – so you’re not wasting time applying for old listings that have already been filled
• Type of job – which includes full time, part time, contractor, and internship roles
• Company type – you can specify what field you want to work in, such as retail, healthcare, or finance 
• Employer – choose exactly what companies to apply to (or avoid)
• Language – find jobs in whatever language(s) you speak

If you are logged into your Google account, you have access to a few additional features that are also incredibly helpful. 

1. You can quickly save job postings and come back to them later with the click of a button. 
2. You can turn on job alerts for your search criteria using the toggle button on the bottom left of the screen and have new postings emailed directly to you. 
3. If you have “web and app activity” turned on, Google will remember your previous job-search history and show you what postings are new.

This is an example of how the job postings appear, along with the advanced search options:

Applying for Jobs

Beneath the job title, Google for Jobs will show you the various job boards where the job is posted. Ideally, you’ll already have an account set up with one of the job sites listed. 

But if not, creating an account is typically free and easy to do. 

Creating a LinkedIn profile is a good idea either way because it is also a powerful networking tool that will help you with your job search and career going forward.

Otherwise, I suggest creating a free account with ZipRecruiter because it has many additional features that other job sites don’t have. It uses algorithms to search for jobs for you, and has a highly-rated app that will send you push notifications when a new job matching your qualifications is posted. 

But its best feature is that everything is contained within your ZipRecruiter account, so you won’t be taken to yet another site to apply for the jobs posted. 

When an employer reviews your resume, you are also notified and can send and receive messages from employers through the message board. With sites like Indeed, unfortunately, you have no idea if your resume and application were actually received by the employer or not.

How Using Google for Jobs Benefits Employers and Job Seekers

The biggest benefit of using Google for Jobs is how efficient it is. 

As a job seeker, you don’t want to spend hours looking through job listings trying to find something to apply to. This Google job search tool assists you with finding exactly what you want so you can start your new job sooner. 

Having the additional information regarding the company and average salaries also makes it easy to determine whether a certain job listing is ideal for you or not. 

As an employer, you want your job post to be seen. But more importantly, you want it to be seen by your ideal candidates. Google for Jobs makes the process easier because it uses keywords and criteria that job seekers can filter through, meaning your posting reaches motivated applicants. 

And of course, it’s free and straightforward to use!

In Conclusion

People already know how to “Google it” when searching for other information online. With Google for Jobs, business owners can advertise their jobs, and job seekers can find work using the same simple approach.