Starting today, the answer boxes, embedded maps and other value-added features in Google will be joined by a new addition: a search tool designed to help users look for job postings.

The capability is the fruit of an initiative that the Alphabet Inc. subsidiary unveiled during its annual developer conference in May. When users look up a phrase that the search giant’s algorithms interpret to mean they’re seeking a new job, they’ll be greeted by a customized interface with relevant openings from around the web. Each item is displayed in a separate box that shows when it was published, the job title and other relevant details.

Clicking one of the listings brings up more information about the position along with employee ratings of the company that posted it from sites such as Glassdoor. If a user isn’t satisfied with the openings fetched in response to their initial query, the results can be customized using a set of filters.

Google provides the ability to narrow down postings based on location, freshness and practically every other factor that job-seekers typically take into account when looking for a new position. They can then set up an alert to notify them when an opening that fits their requirements comes down the pipe.

Nick Zakrasek, the Google staffer who led the development of the project, told TechCrunch that vacancies published to multiple sites are filtered to improve the user experience. The company’s goal is to make its search engine a more convenient alternative to manually browsing different job boards. Zakrasek stressed that Google’s ambitions don’t extend any further, which should come as a relief to the likes of Monster.com and Indeed.

But they can still expect to see a change in the industry’s competitive balance. The biggest factor is the fact that Google will index postings not only from job boards but also any corporate websites which implement the new formatting standard released in conjunction with the search feature. If the technology giant succeeds in making its platform the go-to address for job seekers, then many companies may lose incentive to use dedicated recruiting portals.

Google has been cooperating with key providers in the market to help them address the changes. The new feature only works with English-language postings on launch, but the company can be expected to add support for other languages in the future.

Image: Google