Recent Google Updates That Could Impact Talent Acquisition

Google Search Generative Experience [Generative AI] updates.

• Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) has been released in 120 countries and territories, supporting four new languages.

• Some additional upgrades to SGE will include a more interactive experience, including easier follow-ups, AI-powered translation and more definitions for topics like coding.

Learn more about the latest from Google’s Search Generative Experience

Google experiments with ‘Notes’ about web pages in search results.

• Google understands that users want more authentic and ‘human’ content, and with Notes, has complemented its recently released ‘Perspectives’ (a user-generated content feature that is already available within the Search filters in some markets).

Video Recording from Google

• Users will be able to add or view Notes on particular web pages within the search results (not all web pages will be allowed to contain Notes).

• The experience will feel similar to the likes of ‘Stories’ on social channels like TikTok and Instagram.

• Google will provide site owners with “insights into notes on their content.”

• The Notes feature is launching as an opt-in experiment via Search Labs for Android and iOS Google app users in the US (English) and India (English and Hindi) starting from November 15, 2023. Since it’s an experiment, it may not fully roll out or be available in every country / territory.

• Google is also going to let you “Follow” searches to “get updates” whenever there is “useful, new-to-you information.” This is launching in the coming weeks for US English on mobile.

Image source: 9 to 5 Google

How could job seekers and those researching employers potentially leverage these updates?

• If employer-related content is eligible for Notes, then current and previous applicants and employees could leave notes on career site content pages, and even job vacancy pages that are indexed in the search results.

• The type of notes they might publish could be similar to what you might find on popular employer review sites: interview questions, tips and advice, salary, compensation and benefits information, and actual reviews on the employer, team or job.  

What does this mean for employers?

• If fully released, these experimental features from Google will place even greater importance on the value of employers creating an authentic EVP that is embraced by most of the workforce, but also on creating authentic content to target key audience groups.

• Ensuring that more employees participate in EVP development is going to be critical to ensure true representation of the employer brand, especially for large enterprise employers who span many talent groups across many geographies.

• It’s a growing trend that people want to hear less from brands and more from real people. Creating an authentic voice will become the majority of the employer brand, meaning employers will control less of the employer brand directly.

• Ensuring a high standard end-to-end candidate experience is going to be critical, especially in terms of providing valuable, helpful and regular communications and feedback to candidates.

• Employee advocacy will become more important and should form part of employers’ social strategies, encouraging employees to leave helpful tips, advice and endorsements on career site pages, and even on live jobs.  

• A good offboarding experience will become paramount to ensure disgruntled employees do not share their views in ‘Notes’ on career site content pages.

• For users that ‘Follow’ searches for key updates, employers will need to consider creating regular content for key audience segments, helping them get notified of new content via another alert channel.

SEE ALSO: Google’s Generative AI Search for Talent Acquisition