When was the last time you used Google to search for something you wanted more information on? In any given second, Google receives and processes 63 thousand searches from people all over the world. It works hard to bring people the most specific, keyword-targeted information related to their search so that it’s accurate.
This process is no different for people searching for job opportunities. Candidates aren’t only using popular job seeking platforms to find the right position for them; Google is quickly becoming a widely-used resource for people to search for opportunities and submit applications.
If you’re a job seeker, there’s no question that the hunt for the perfect position is draining, time-consuming, and frustrating. However, if you know how to leverage Google properly, you can find the opportunity that’s the right fit for both you and the company you want to be a part of.
Let’s look at a few different ways you can use Google to boost your job search.
Set up Google Alerts
What if there was a way to notify you every time there are specific keywords added related to your job search? You can set up Google Alerts so that you’re the first to know when Google adds new information to its database related to your job hunt. This increases your chances of getting hired especially by a company in an industry you’re interested in working for.
Go to Google Alerts and type in keywords relevant to your job search. For example, if you search for jobs in a specific location, it’ll look like this:
You don’t only have to use Google Alerts to find specific job opportunities, as that’s not really what it’s made for. Instead, keep tabs on important keywords, locations, and job types which will pop up on the platform and notify you instantly.
Use Google Maps
You don’t only have to use Google Maps if you’re trying to reach your next destination. If you aren’t only searching for remote opportunities, there’s a high possibility you want a job not too far from where you live. Or, perhaps you want a job specifically downtown rather than in the suburbs. Where you work greatly affects your day-to-day working experience which is why location is a key factor to take into consideration.
Luckily, you can use Google Maps to ensure that only the job ads in your specified location pop up in your results. You can target employers and companies in a specific area to make sure you find opportunities where you want them. Google also allows you to filter results based on the company’s rating, relevance, and distance.
You can search for jobs in a direct location simply by using the search bar:
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You can also search directly on Google Maps to find businesses in the same niche that you could possibly apply to:
Take advantage of Google’s filters
When you type something into the search bar looking for answers, Google gives you various ways to filter through that information since there’s an overwhelming amount of it. This makes it easier for people to find exactly what they’re looking for and gives Google direct insight into how people search for their information.
Some of the different ways job seekers can filter their searches include:
- Time frame
- Location
- Verbatim wording
- Company name
- Industry or niche
- Job title
- Excluding or including specific websites
You can set Google to show you content based on what you’ve typed word for word by choosing their Verbatim filter by clicking on Tools> All Results > Verbatim:
Choose the dates you want the search engine to filter out so you receive the most up-to-date listings:
Search yourself
It may seem weird to need to search yourself up on Google prior to a job search, but this step is critical. If you’re going to present yourself positively to potential employers, you need to make sure that when they look you up, nothing has a chance of tarnishing your reputation and making them throw out your application.
How you present yourself online can and will be found by employers. If not now, then in the future where the stakes are much higher. You need to make sure there isn’t any negative information about you online that decreases your chances of getting hired or makes employers not want to hire you.
Search yourself on Google and see what pops up. Unfortunately, there are certain types of content that are difficult to get rid of, as everything you post online stays there to some capacity. However, you might find content on social media or an old blog that you posted a long time ago but forgot existed. If it’s something you don’t want potential employers to see, take this opportunity to purge the information that’s no longer relevant and doesn’t improve your online reputation or image.
What’s next
Searching for jobs is a tough, tolling process. It takes a lot of time and energy to find the opportunity that’s right for you, but thanks to Google, this process can become a whole lot easier. Take advantage of Google Alerts and Google Maps when refining your search for specificity. Use filters so you get the most relevant information and remember to search yourself online so you’re aware of what employers can see about you when they look you up. How will you use Google to find your next job opportunity?