For the longest time, Google accepted resumes through its jobs site via e-mail only, which I always found strange for a company that makes such cool and useful Web applications. But I noticed recently that Google has updated its careers site with "job cart" functionality and an online application.

Like Google Maps and the Google personalized home page, the apply online uses AJAX to make everything happen on a single Web page without links or page refreshes. Adding or removing education and employment entries can be done with a single click, so can toggling between plain-text resume entry or uploading a local resume file.

The most effective feature of the Google form is that it's all on one page. Despite almost every careers Web site best practices article and research study stating that online applications should not require logins, should be simple and should have as few steps as possible, few applicant tracking systems follow that guidance. Google has become known for simplicity and it shows here.

It would be interesting if Google took its online application out to employers so they could use it in place of a homegrown system or ATS. Employers would be able to set up an account, link it to their Web site and post jobs online. Those jobs would automatically be pushed out to Google Base, and candidates would use the Google technology to apply online. Other products such as Google Maps could be integrated as well to show the exact location of opportunities.

Oh yeah, and it would be free. Google wouldn't make that kind of move if it didn't also shake things up along the way

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