The company’s career portal job exploration is one of the largest influences on candidate engagement, yet it remains largely underestimated. Were you aware that some candidates abandon your firm’s career portal if there is no job search feature at all?
If you already possess a career portal job search, it must be exceptional.
Technology-savvy candidates expect the job search experience to be as swift and pertinent as the searches they conduct almost daily on ChatGPT, Google.com, Amazon.com, Netflix.com, etc.
The less friction (clicks!) you create between the candidate and their eagerness to examine your job offerings, the more favorable the outcome.
The Importance of This
The examples below are not confined to a singular ATS or platform. What unites them is a contemporary method to career portal job search — frequently supported by technology that operates outside the ATS.
This mirrors the approach we utilize with Ongig’s Career Site Builder and Enhanced ATS Job Search, created to enhance job visibility and candidate experience without superseding your ATS.
If you’re interested in the job search technology illustrated in any of the examples below, don’t hesitate to contact us at heather@ongig.com.
Discover more about the Career Site Builder
Explore how the enhanced ATS job search functions
Presented are ten of the premier company career portal job searches recognized for their user-friendly designs, sophisticated search features, and efficient candidate interaction.
Common Features of Exceptional Career Portal Job Searches
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Swift, predictive search outcomes
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Few clicks between the search and job view
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A unified search experience (even across multiple ATSs)
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Filters that align with candidates’ thought processes, not how systems archive information
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Performance that feels more akin to AI, Google, or Amazon rather than an ATS
- Job Count is Apparent — Stripe displays the current number of available positions without any action from the candidate. Candidates appreciate this as it reflects the organization’s scale/growth.
- Jobs appear as you type in the search field (no loading/wait time) — Input “sal” and the job search provides “sales” roles in the outcomes. Type “soft” and it reveals software job listings. The candidate doesn’t have to click anything…just type
- Incredibly Fast Results — We typically are not fans of multi-field searches. However, Stripe’s left-most search box (below) offers candidates a remarkably speedy first search. The additional three search filter fields are simple to quickly refine the results

- Job search fueled by Google A.I. — This A.I. Job Search yields pertinent results even when there are few or no exact word matches. Search “cloud dev windy city” (in the image below) and it returns all developer-related roles in Chicago (even though “cloud”, “dev”, and “windy city” aren’t in the job title)!
- No misleading results — The job search is intuitive, displaying only the most relevant outcomes. Observe that the search below yielded only 7 results despite there being 49 job openings in Chicago. Other career portal job searches might return 49+ results.

- Above-the-fold Search! — Merck prominently positions the job search above the fold on their career homepage. They are explicit about the call-to-action (job searching!). After all, is there any job content that surpasses your job descriptions in importance!?
- Single-field Search — If you can achieve relevant/intuitive job search results (utilizing Google A.I. or search technology from Elastic), then a single search box is preferable to numerous search fields.
- Upon clicking the search bar, all of Merck’s job departments drop down.

- If you do not select a job category, job listings drop down as you type in the search box.

- The Job Search is Embedded into the hero media. J&J’s implementation stands out as the best example of this we’ve encountered.
- Military Job Code Assistance — Their job search is notably effective. It even returns specific jobs when you look up military codes (e.g. the “66B” (military code for Community Health Nurse) that we entered below retrieves the closest jobs related to J&J nurse positions. We delve into more military search cases on A Secret & Easy Way to Recruit Veterans from Your Career Site.

- They amplify their job search utilizing their proprietary Elastic search technology. This is the same technology that drives Netflix’s career portal job search.
- As you enter text into the search bar, you receive a drop-down of the most likely positions (demonstrated in the images below).
- Flexible for Candidates — The candidate can opt to persist with the term they typed or other phrases/job titles displayed in the drop-down. For instance, in the search below we typed “marketing” and can select that, or “marketing campaign” or “marketing campaign manager”

Here’s an additional illustration searching Elastic for “software”. The applicant receives other pertinent selections.

Career Webpage Constructor vs ATS Employment Search
Most ATS systems encompass fundamental job search capabilities. However, that does not indicate they are aimed at candidate experience.
ATS employment search is structured to assist applications. Career webpage job search is formulated to facilitate exploration.
Here’s the distinction:
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ATS search is constrained by how positions are contained
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Career webpage search is refined for how applicants seek
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ATS search encounters difficulties across various systems
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Career webpage constructors offer a unified experience
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ATS updates frequently necessitate workarounds
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Career webpage constructors provide teams with enhanced control
That’s the reason many teams utilize a Career Webpage Constructor to enhance job search on the front end while maintaining their ATS precisely where it is.
👉 Discover how Ongig’s Career Webpage Constructor functions

- Job hunters can inquire by job title or location to swiftly discover new roles that align with their interests and abilities effectively.
- Emphasizes the company’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workspace – addressing obstacles to critical concerns such as gender identity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, racial equity, and veteran status
- Highlights its dedication to employing individuals with disabilities by offering accommodations aimed at supporting them, enabling success during the interview process and throughout their careers at Google. Applicants can also explore more about Disability Alliance, a community of Googlers that provide mutual support, lead initiatives like accessible product hackathons, create awareness on disability inclusion at all organizational levels, and ensure technology is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.
- Features a comprehensive step-by-step outline of Google’s recruitment process—from how job candidates can self-evaluate their career choices based on their skills and passions before job hunting to crafting a resume, applying online, interviews and assessment methods, and making decisions and obtaining a job offer. It also includes candidate FAQs to address common inquiries candidates might have regarding applying at Google.
- Discover stories from Google’s active employees, interns, and alumni on their pathways to Google, their responsibilities, and even some interview suggestions.
- The site provides an in-depth examination of various business sectors, encompassing Corporate and Investment Banking, Consumer and Community Banking, Asset and Wealth Management, and others. Each sector is dissected into particular roles and career trajectories, guiding candidates on how to align their skills and ambitions with the opportunities available.
- Numerous vacant positions are available across various regions, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. This international scope permits candidates to explore opportunities in diverse markets, catering to those keen on global careers.
- A strong focus on technology-oriented careers is evident, particularly for individuals aiming to make an impact in influential positions. The site underscores numerous job prospects in domains such as software development, cybersecurity, data science, and fintech innovation. It illustrates the significance of technology in shaping the bank’s future.
- Student-friendly career platform. It offers a multitude of entry points, including school initiatives and apprenticeships, pre-internships, internships, to full-time roles available for undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD- and MBA-level candidates. It also showcases narratives from students regarding JP Morgan’s programs and experiences to assist students in deciding which path to pursue.
- Promotes hybrid jobs and mobile work, reflecting the organization’s dedication to flexibility and work-life equilibrium. It underscores the availability of remote and hybrid roles across various functions, enabling employees to operate from diverse locations.
- Showcases a wide range of roles across 190+ nations globally, reflecting the company’s international footprint.
- The career platform encourages professions that contribute to addressing global issues, appealing to candidates interested in meaningful employment. Siemens emphasizes its role in fostering innovation in areas
like automation, electrification, and digitalization, appealing to applicants enthusiastic about making a beneficial influence through their labor.
- Siemens offers extensive chances and extra resources for advancement. These encompass business growth initiatives, internships, apprenticeships, and finance commercial and excellence programs tailored for both seasoned professionals and learners.
- The site highlights Hilton’s status as a worldwide leader in hospitality, with employment opportunities accessible throughout various regions and positions: hotel management, corporate roles, and unique programs for students and recent alumni. It offers information on internships, apprenticeships, and leadership programs.
- The employment website’s organized design facilitates easy navigation. Applicants can seamlessly search the latest job openings, create personalized profiles that they can access at any time, and bookmark jobs.
- Hilton acknowledges its standing as a premier employer by proclaiming its recognition as “the #1 World’s Best Workplace,” according to Fortune’s Great Place to Work. The site includes information on diversity and inclusion, exclusive travel discounts for employees, industry-leading training and development initiatives, and internal mobility options.
- Prospective applicants who are uncertain can join the company’s Talent Community, allowing them to receive job notifications that align with their interests.
- Candidates can effortlessly locate jobs by entering the Job Title (or relevant keyword associated with the position they are seeking) along with the City or Area. Beyond healthcare roles, they are also recruiting for non-medical and even remote positions.
- Mayo Clinic asserts its reputation as a leading medical employer, claiming it is ranked highest in more specialties than any other hospital. More than 1.4 million individuals from 140 nations seek treatment at Mayo Clinic facilities each year.
- In addition to DEI and educational prospects, Mayo Clinic promotes attractive employee perks. This includes competitive salaries and benefits that extend to family members. Employee futures are also protected through the Mayo Pension Plan.
- The site also features Equal Employment Opportunity statements, Reasonable Accommodations, and even information on Recruitment Fraud to safeguard job seekers from illegitimate job offers.
- Applicants can enter their email address to enroll in the company’s Talent Community and receive job notifications.
Job Search Doesn’t Conclude at Your Career Site
An effective job search on a career site is only part of the entire experience. Candidates frequently find positions through LinkedIn, Indeed, Google for Jobs, and various job boards before deciding to proceed to your career site.
This is why the search capabilities of your career site and external job discovery must work in tandem.
When your job search integrates smoothly with social media and external job boards, you:
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Reach applicants who aren’t actively browsing your career site
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Facilitate easier access for job seekers to discover roles that match their expertise
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Minimize drop-off when candidates transition between platforms
Distributing job postings across multiple job boards and social channels enhances visibility, but the experience shouldn’t stop there. Once candidates click through, they should arrive at a career site that is rapid, pertinent, and easy to search through.
This is particularly crucial for mobile job seekers, who anticipate the same speed and relevance from their everyday search tools.
The most proficient career sites regard external platforms as entryways — and utilize the job search within the career site to guide candidates the rest of the way, aiding them in exploring roles, saving jobs, and applying with assurance.
Why I Composed This
Job search is the initial step for most candidates. If it fails, nothing else on your career site matters.
The finest career sites view job search as an integral part of the candidate journey, not a mere technical afterthought.
Whether you enhance search within your ATS or employ a Career Site Builder to craft a superior front-end experience, the objective is identical: assist candidates in locating the right job more swiftly. Visit Ongig.com for further insights.