BBC: Googles job hunting

Google has secured several of the UKs largest recruitment services for a local version of its jobs-hunting tool.

Reed, Guardian Jobs, Haymarket and Totaljobs.com are among those providing listings, in addition to global sits such Linkedin and Glassdoor.

The facility automatically shows the "freshest and most relevant" openings based on a users location when they type relevant terms into Google Search.

But one expert said those involved might come to regret the tie-up.

For now, the US tech giant is not charging employment sites to feature their listings nor using the service to place any extra adverts beyond those that normally appear within its results.

In addition, applicants must still click through to the individual thirty-party jobs platforms to apply for a post.

But one industry-watcher suggested this arrangement could change.

"Google is a behemoth of search, it controls the gateway to the internet-so I can understand why others feel they have to be part of its jobs service," commented Robert Jeffrey, editor of People Management magazine.

"But undoubtedly it will start charging for placement and other premium services.

"And for third-party sites that represents a risk."

The Google For Jobs service already exits in the US, Spain and parts of Africa, where the firm claims to have already connected millions of people to new job opportunities.

In addition to the larger listing sits, Google has also partnered with thousands of smaller specialist platforms.

"What job seekers get is the ability to find jobs from all over the internet," product manager Joy Xi explained.

"What the employers get is easier discoverability."

She added that these were also other advantages over individual sites.

For example, Ms Xi said Googles "search smarts" meant applicants would not have to carry out multiple searches to find similar posts listed under different titles-for example: programmer, software engineer and developer.

In addition, she said, the firms Maps data had been referenced to let users see how long it would take to commute to each post.

Even so, one major vacancies site is refusing to share its data-Indeed.

The 14-year-old firm also acts as a listings aggregator and claims to be the worlds most popular jobs hunt service with more than 200 million unique visitors a month.

"At this time, Indeed has decided not to partner because we feel thats the best decision for jobseekers," its marketing chief Paul DArcy told the BBC.

"Moving forward, we will continue to evaluate this and other partnerships."

Indeeds recent efforts to maintain its lead include the acquisition of the CV-building service Resume.com, and launch of new tools for employers to help them tackle any hiring biases.

However, its decision to avoid the new service means links to Indeed pages now appear further down Googles results pages.

"Indeed is the biggest in the market at the moment, and it may feel like its got the most to lose by getting into bed with Google," said Mr Jeffrey.

"But its a brave move."