Advances in technology have made searching the Internet, completing tasks, and having a wealth of information at our disposal easier than ever. With Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri, users can simply voice a command and the device comes up with specific results. Many people use voice search to find answers to questions online, shop for products, listen to music, or get the score from the latest sporting event.
But that’s not all people are doing. They are also using voice assistants to search for job openings. What does this mean for recruiting and resumes?
Voice Search and Recruiting
Candidates are turning to voice technology to enhance their career search. Many voice applications are built around natural language processing, which makes them better able to understand common lines of questioning such as “what teaching jobs are available near me?” or “who is hiring accountants in [city/state]?”
To remain competitive, businesses and recruiters will need to update their websites to be more compatible with voice search. This means incorporating targeted keywords and phrases that job applicants may use in their queries. Job postings will need to contain well-structured and defined content as well to be included in search results. Since many mobile devices include geographic information to return results based on location, it will also be important for business to include specific cities within postings.
Voice Search and Resumes
Job seekers will need to take many of the same approaches when it comes to tailoring their resumes. Recruiters can use voice search to weed through dozens of applications more quickly and find candidates who fit specific requirements. Candidates should make sure their resumes read smoothly and clearly while integrating keywords and phrases they find on openings for jobs that interest them.
Resumes should be formatted in a neat, easy-to-understand structure so as not to throw off common algorithms. Rather than using flowery language and filler, focus on a straight-forward approach that fits the natural language a hiring manager would use when searching for applicants.
Will Voice Search Dominate Recruiting and Job Searching?
Not necessarily. While voice search can play an integral role in finding job openings or narrowing down candidates, it still has its limitations. For instance, it typically produces a single result that the algorithm feels best fits the voice command. It is also limited to how the question is worded. Other relevant results may be eliminated because they use different terminology. It is all auditory rather than visual.
Traditional online searches populate multiple results that users can scroll through and find what they want. Close matches are often included as well, so even if a skill is worded differently, it may still appear.
Voice search should not be the sole focus of job searching or recruiting, but it can certainly play a part in the process. As technology continues to evolve, the features available may change and improve the overall experience and results.
It is a good idea for job seekers to tailor their resumes to function well with recruiting technology such as applicant tracking systems, voice search, and online platforms. Reach out to Grammar Chic to ensure you have a resume that aligns with new technology platforms and processes. Contact us at resumewriting@grammarchic.net or (803) 831-7444 to get started.
