After the COVID-19 crisis emerged, tech giant Google has launched several unique services to help people secure suitable employment based on their educational qualifications and experience. In fact, data from the US reveals that the number of people who searched with the tag ‘great jobs without a degree’ witnessed an 850-per cent increase during this period. 

Meanwhile, the effects of Google’s new initiatives on the traditional academic system are being keenly watched by the world. Already, the certificate issued by Google to people without a formal university degree has earned jobs for several people in top firms such as Deloitte, Infosys, Target and Horizon in the US, claims Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Now, Google is planning similar study programmes for India.

Google Career Certificates

Recently, Google added several new courses to its ‘Google Career Certificates’ programme, including Data Analytics, Project Management, User Experience and Associate Android Developer. 

While the Associate Android Developer course is offered free of cost, a fee of around Rs 10,000 is charged from candidates to write the exam. Meanwhile, the other courses are available for people who have subscribed to the online learning programme, Coursera, which involves a monthly payment of around Rs 2,800. Google has also arranged around one lakh scholarships along with several of its partners to support people who wish to enrol for these courses.

How recruitment takes place

More than 130 US companies have joined the ‘Google Career Certificates Employer Consortium’ network formed by Google and firms such as Deloitte, Intel and Accenture now recruit candidates having only Google’s certificates for entry-level jobs. Moreover, people completing Google’s courses can apply for postings on the firm’s own job platform. According to Sundar Pichai, Google is currently engaged in efforts to set up such a consortium in India also. More details are available on grow.google/certificates. 

Jobs without a degree

Another initiative launched by Google in the US enables a search for jobs that don’t require a degree. By searching ‘no-degree jobs’ on Google, anybody in the US can obtain a list of such openings in their neighbourhood. This facility too would be available in India soon.

In a related development, Google is also planning to partner with firms like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter and CareerBuilder to list more ‘No Degree Jobs.’