Every industry is on Big Data overload. There is so much information coming in, so much information to disseminate, that it is hard to make the most efficient use of that data.
That’s where machine learning comes in. As Bernard Marr wrote in Forbes, machine learning allows organizations to “scrub colossal amounts of data — much faster and more accurately than human scientists.” This results in scientific breakthroughs, improved contracting and procurement processes in supplier relationships, or even help make online searching more efficient.
It makes sense, then, that machine learning can help match job seekers with the best employment opportunities. iCIMS, Inc., a provider of cloud-based talent acquisition solutions, is participating in Google’s Cloud Job Discovery beta program. The goal is to match job candidates with the best career opportunities.
“Candidate experience is so critical to the success of every business, including our own, so we look forward to piloting this advanced functionality and introducing more powerful, next-generation job-searching tools that will benefit both job seekers and employers,” Al Smith, iCIMS vice president of technology, said in a formal statement about their partnership in the Google program.
Smith took time to participate in a Q&A to discuss iCIMS and the Cloud Job Discovery program.
IT Business Edge: How did the Cloud Jobs API program come about?
Smith: Last year, Google announced Cloud Job Discovery to better connect job seekers with employers through Google’s search engine and machine learning capabilities. This has since been used by more than 3,000 job boards and company career sites. Earlier this summer, Google announced Google for Jobs, which is aimed at developing smarter job searches and making recommendations for job seekers to discover the right jobs for them. Earlier this fall, Google announced that Cloud Job Discovery is entering beta.
IT Business Edge: Could you explain what it is designed to do?
Smith: Job Discovery provides plug-and-play access to Google’s search and machine learning capabilities, enabling the entire recruiting ecosystem – company career sites, job boards, applicant tracking systems, and staffing agencies to improve job site engagement and candidate conversion. Google is also introducing support for job search in more than 100 languages, further improving the job search process by making more jobs accessible to job seekers. Ultimately, the Cloud Jobs Discovery is designed to enrich the candidate experience and successfully match candidates with the right jobs.
IT Business Edge: What are the benefits and incentives for employers to use this program?
Smith: By participating in the beta program, iCIMS can connect the new machine learning technology to our customers to offer enhanced search capabilities on their career sites that can intelligently surface jobs to candidates based on specified preferences. This technology is not just recommending jobs to candidates based on keyword search results but it also understands the nuances of job titles, descriptions, skills and preferences, and matches job seeker preference with relevant job listings.
IT Business Edge: How can machine learning be a game changer for those seeking a job as well as for those doing the hiring?
Smith: Job seekers will find better candidate-to-job matching. Right now, the job search process is a dreadful experience for most job seekers. When using a keyword search on a job board, candidates can be left with irrelevant and frustrating results. For example, when searching with the word “java,” you could receive results for both a barista and a software developer. Basic search capabilities return poor search results, providing a negative experience for the job seeker, before they have even applied for the job. Machine learning provides a better experience for the employer and for the candidate. When companies can make the right hire quickly and easily, it positively affects your business. Empty seats cost companies money.
IT Business Edge: This program is just getting off the ground. What do you see as the next steps or what direction do you envision it going?
Smith: The changes that we’re making to our career portals will have a direct positive effect on a Google job search. Following the launch of Google for Jobs, we have seen a redistribution of traffic and a drop-off in traffic from sources other than Google. We are seeing larger organizations invest time and money in tools/reporting to help them better understand the effectiveness of their source traffic. Through our participation in Google Cloud Job Discovery, and as ATS and job board vendors across the industry are making changes, we expect to see even more of a positive impact later in the year.
Sue Marquette Poremba has been writing about network security since 2008. In addition to her coverage of security issues for IT Business Edge, her security articles have been published at various sites such as Forbes, Midsize Insider and Tom’s Guide. You can reach Sue via Twitter: @sueporemba
