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Boolean Search

Boolean search helps you mix and match different words to find exactly who you need.

Updated over a week ago

What is a Boolean search?

Think of Boolean search as a smart filter for finding candidates. It's a way to combine words in your search to get precise results. This helps you quickly find candidates with specific skills or backgrounds.

Boolean search strings are pivotal in recruitment, enabling you to find highly specific candidate profiles. This technique combines keywords with Boolean operators, refining your search to the most suitable candidates.

Understanding the basic operators

Operator

Example

Result

AND

Sales AND SaaS

Finds people with both Sales and SaaS skills

OR

Sales OR SaaS

Finds people with either Sales or SaaS skills

NOT

Sales NOT SaaS

Finds people with Sales skills, excluding SaaS skill

" "

"Sales Manager"

Searches for this exact phrase

( )

Sales AND ("Manager" OR "Lead")

Combines Sales with either Manager or Lead keyword

~

Sales ~5 Senior

Searches for 'Senior' within 5 words of 'Sales'

[ ]

[JAN1 TO JAN31]

Finds date within the specified range

Building Your Search:

  • Start with core skills or titles: Use 'AND' to combine essential qualifications.

  • Expand your search: Use 'OR' for similar roles or skills.

  • Exclude non-relevant terms: Use 'NOT' to filter out unwanted results.

  • Be precise: Use quotes for specific job titles or qualifications.

Example Searches:

  • 'Developer AND (Java OR Python) NOT "Entry Level"' – Find Developer CVs with Java or Python skills, excluding entry-level.

  • '"Project Manager" AND construction AND (budget OR timeline)' – retrieves Project Managers in construction focusing on budget or timeline.

For more detailed assistance, you can refer to the following link:

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