Why More People in HR Should Be Using NotebookLM from Google

This blog is for recruiters, sourcers, L&D teams, HR professionals, and talent leaders who constantly wade through documents, reports, and research. NotebookLM from Google is like having a personal research assistant who works 24/7 and never complains. It helps you turn information into insights, fast. 🏃

TL;DR – Why You Should Try NotebookLM from Google Today

✅ Free AI tool by Google to analyse, summarise and interact with your content
✅ Accepts links, PDFs, Google Docs, and YouTube links (with transcripts)
✅ Generates podcasts, mind maps, reports, flashcards and blog drafts
✅ Ideal for HR teams, recruiters, trainers, students, marketers and content creators
✅ Helps turn research into action quickly and efficiently

Key Facts About Notebook LM from Google

Feature	Details
Tool Name	NotebookLM
Developer	Google Labs
Launch Timeline	Pilot in 2023 (Project Tailwind), rebranded in 2024
Main Function	AI-powered notebook that learns from your own sources OR it can select its own sources of information on any topic you give it
Accepted Inputs	PDFs, Google Docs, URLs (websites), YouTube links with transcripts
Outputs	Summaries, blogs, podcasts, mind maps, quizzes, reports
Cost	Free to use (as of October 2025); Pro tier expected in the future
Ideal For	HR professionals, recruiters, researchers, L&D pros, content creators (and basically anyone 😉)

What Is NotebookLM from Google?

NotebookLM from Google is an experimental AI tool that lets you upload your own content, like white papers, frameworks or even YouTube links, and then query it, summarise it, and generate content from it.

Think of it as ChatGPT meets Google Drive, with a sprinkle of Canva’s creativity. You create notebooks, add your chosen sources, and then use built-in tools to learn faster, explain better and repurpose smarter.

What Can You Upload into NotebookLM from Google?

Here’s what I’ve personally uploaded and used successfully with NotebookLM from Google:

🌐 Web pages – industry blogs, sourcing articles, research sites, potential clients’ websites
📄 PDFs – like the “2025 Recruiter Nation Report: Evolution in Hiring”, which you can download here.
🎥 YouTube links – especially ones with transcripts like this one.
📰 Google Docs – training content, sourcing frameworks, interview guides

You can select “Create New” and choose to Discover sources (auto-curated) or add your own (manual).

Use Case: Researching Recruitment Trends in the UK – using this report from LinkedIn

Let’s say you want to quickly get across what’s happening in the UK hiring market in late 2025. You need to describe your query in NotebookLM from Google, for example:

“State of the recruitment industry in the UK for the second half of 2025”

NotebookLM from Google fetches sources from across the web, including reports, websites and relevant PDFs. Then you can select which ones to import into your notebook.

Now ask:

“What are the top 3 trends in this content?”
“Summarise the recruitment outlook”
“Give me a visual overview”

Here’s what it highlighted from just 10 sources:

Increased adoption of AI in strategic recruitment functions
Ongoing skills shortages, especially in tech and healthcare
Demand for flexible work and better compensation packages

It took less than 10 minutes – here is a link to this exact Notebook that I created myself using NotebookLM.

My Favourite Features of NotebookLM from Google

Once you’ve added your sources, the Studio workspace on the right-hand side becomes your playground. Here are my go-to tools in NotebookLM from Google:

1. Podcast Generator

📢 It turns your content into a playable podcast. Perfect if you prefer audio learning while walking the dog, commuting or making lunch.

2. Video Overviews and Mind Maps

📹 NotebookLM from Google creates visual overviews and mind maps from your sources. I use these in presentations, sourcing sessions, or to explain trends to clients.

3. Flashcards and Quizzes

📚 A gem for L&D pros. I’ve created flashcards to test myself and others on key research points.

4. Blog and Report Generator

✍️ My personal favourite. It drafts blogs and reports from your sources. I run those drafts through ChatGPT to tweak the tone and make it sound more like me.

Another Example: Turning Recruitment Report White Papers into Action

Recently, I uploaded:

NotebookLM from Google gave me:

A mind map for a keynote
A podcast I could listen to in the car
A quiz to test my recall
A blog draft I could use as a base

And the best bit? It’s still free to use for anyone living anywhere in the world. Here is the link to this notebook that I created.

Pitfalls to Watch Out For

Here’s what to be mindful of when using NotebookLM from Google:

🐢 Generation time: Some tools, like podcast creation, take 10 to 30 minutes, but it is worth the wait.
🔍 Source quality: Garbage in, garbage out. Make sure your content is current and clear
🧱 Export limitations: No direct WordPress export yet, so copy-paste and formatting are still manual
🔐 Privacy: Don’t upload confidential or client-sensitive data.

FAQs About NotebookLM from Google

Q1: Is NotebookLM from Google free to use?
Yes, as of October 2025. However, a Pro version with extra features may be coming in the future.

Q2: Can I upload confidential client docs?
No, it’s not secure for sensitive information. Use public or shareable content only.

Q3: Does it integrate with ChatGPT or other tools?
Not directly, but you can copy content into your favourite editor to repurpose.

Q4: What file types does it accept?
PDFs, Google Docs, web pages, and YouTube links (with transcripts).

Q5: How accurate are the podcasts or blogs it generates?
Very useful as a first draft. You’ll want to review and tweak to add your own voice.

Q6: Is it only for recruiters?
Not at all. Students, trainers, HR professionals, researchers and marketers will all benefit.

Q7: Can I collaborate with others on a notebook?
Not yet. Shared notebooks aren’t available right now, but you can share Notebooks that you have created via a link with others.

Q8: Is NotebookLM from Google available globally?
Yes, it works in most regions. You’ll need a Google account to sign in.

👩🏼‍💻 About the Author

Vanessa Raath is a globally recognised powerhouse in Talent Sourcing and AI, known for her game-changing training and dynamic keynotes delivered across five continents. Since launching her business in 2019, she’s helped teams from Auckland to Seattle find hidden talent and build standout personal brands. A passionate trainer, speaker, and advocate for practical, no-BS recruitment, Vanessa’s mission is to future-proof the profession, one recruiter at a time.

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