The August 2024 Google Core Update: What It Means for Your Recruitment Strategy
The recruitment world took a collective gasp in August 2024 when Google unveiled its latest core update. Headlines buzzed with words like "game-changer" and "shake-up," sending many recruitment professionals into a flurry of speculation. Was this the end of job boards as we knew them? Would careers websites suddenly rise to dominate all search results? The initial reaction was one of uncertainty and panic. But let’s take a step back—it's not quite that dramatic.
While Google’s update does introduce some important shifts, it’s not an overnight upheaval of the recruitment landscape. The changes, while subtle, are definitely worth paying attention to in the long run. Google is gradually prioritising direct links to company job listings over the usual dominance of big job boards. But don’t worry—this isn’t something that will throw your recruitment strategy into chaos just yet. It’s more of a trend that points to where things could be heading.
So, what’s changed, and how can your business leverage these updates to optimise your recruitment strategy?
A Shift Towards Direct Job Listings
Historically, large job boards like Indeed have dominated search results when candidates search for jobs using keywords, job titles, or locations. These job boards often outranked individual company job listings. With the August 2024 update, however, Google is giving more priority to direct job postings from company career pages.
This means that if a job seeker searches for "Marketing Manager jobs at Company X", they’re more likely to see direct job listings from Company X’s career page rather than a general search result from a job board. While this may not feel like an immediate, dramatic change, it signals a clear direction Google is heading towards—giving more visibility to company-specific job listings.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
At Further Media, we specialise in helping our clients create high-quality career page content and optimised job copy to improve search visibility. Here's how the August 2024 update could impact your recruitment efforts:
Increased Importance of Career Pages: Google’s prioritisation of direct job links from company career pages presents an opportunity for businesses to attract more direct traffic. With proper optimisation, your career pages can appear higher in search results, reducing your reliance on large job boards like Indeed. Now is the ideal time to review your career page content and ensure it’s structured effectively for SEO.
Optimising Job Copy Matters More Than Ever: With this update, well-written, optimised job adverts are crucial to ensuring visibility. Google continues to favour detailed and relevant content, so your job ads must be clear, engaging, and keyword-optimised. At Further Media, we help clients craft job adverts that not only resonate with candidates but also perform well in search rankings.
Opportunities for Niche Markets: If your company operates in a specialised field, this update could work in your favour. Niche job listings may gain more visibility in search results, allowing your business to stand out in your specific industry. Optimising your job listings to reflect the unique requirements of your sector is a smart strategy moving forward.
SEO is Critical for Career Pages: Although this update may not feel as dramatic in the short term, the trend towards prioritising direct, high-quality content from company pages is clear. By focusing on SEO optimisation for your career page content and job adverts, you can ensure that your listings stay competitive in an evolving search landscape. Ongoing optimisation is essential as Google continues to refine its algorithms.
The Future of Job Boards Like Indeed
While some anticipated a more immediate decline in the dominance of job boards like Indeed, the reality is likely to be more gradual. Platforms like Indeed will still play a role, and will probably still dominate the market, especially given that people naturally migrate to it if they’re looking for a job (yep, it’s that good!) but Google’s update indicates a shift towards giving company career pages more prominence. This trend may create a more balanced recruitment landscape from a search perspective, where businesses with optimised job listings can compete more effectively.
Why Should You Think About This Now?
Although this update hasn’t caused an immediate upheaval in the UK, it’s still a signal of where things are heading. Google is focusing on delivering high-quality, direct content to users, which means businesses must be proactive in optimising their career pages and job adverts.
At Further Media, we can help you make the most of this shift by refining your career page content and ensuring your job listings are optimised for search engines. Whether the changes are gradual or swift, staying ahead of these trends will be key to attracting the right candidates and maintaining visibility in an increasingly competitive landscape.
If you’d like to discuss how these changes could impact your recruitment efforts, or how we can help you optimise your job adverts and career page content, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
