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Boolean Search: A Simple Guide for Recruiters

Every recruiter should know how to perform the Boolean search. Learning a few simple tricks will enable you to source better candidates faster. So what are you waiting for? Start reading our guide and get ready to master the art of Boolean search

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Why is Boolean search such a big deal in recruitment?

Imagine being able to find at least 20 perfect candidates in under half an hour

And by perfect I don’t just mean candidates who have the right skills and experience. I mean real hidden gems

Candidates who match the exact skills, experience and education required for a position you are looking to fill, live in a commutable radius, are likely to be happy with the compensation you offer, and passionate about your company’s mission and vision.

Sounds crazy or impossible?

Well, it’s not

Welcome to the wonderful world of using Boolean search in recruitment! 😊

Why should every recruiter master the basics of Boolean search?

Mastering the art of Boolean search will enable you to find that perfect candidate - even when it seems impossible

➡️ Discover additional effective methods for finding top candidates: Download FREE eBook “The Ultimate Guide for Finding Qualified Candidates in 2019”.

These days, only 12% of people are actively looking for a job.

Passive-candidate-sourcing-Boolean-search

This means that recruiters must proactively source passive candidates in order to fill open job positions. 

This is where the Boolean search comes in. 

What is a Boolean search?

Boolean search is an advanced method of online search. 

By using a Boolean search, recruiters can find better candidates faster

You can apply the Boolean search to:

All these sources are a huge repository of potential candidates. Instead of wasting time sifting through a ton of resumes and potential candidate profiles, with the Boolean search you can filter out suitable candidates quickly.

In a nutshell, a Boolean search is a process of combining keywords with other words (called operators) and symbols (called modifiers) in order to narrow down the search. 

Example of using Boolean search in recruitment

Still puzzled about this whole Boolean search thing? 😕

Boolean search enables recruiters to find exactly what they are looking for.

Let me illustrate it with an example

Let’s say you are sourcing a sales representative in London.  Type in “sales representative resume London” in Google. What do you get?

A bunch of irrelevant results: job ads, resume templates and examples, recruiting agency websites, etc. 

Non-Boolean-search-recruitment-example

This search is completely useless

But what happens when you apply Boolean search

Let’s type in a very simple Boolean search string:

Boolean-search-recruitment-example

Now would you look at that? 😮 You get only resumes of potential candidates. Pretty cool, huh?  🙂

Let’s proceed by learning how to perform this crazy effective Boolean search magic! ✨

How to perform a Boolean search?

It’s quite simple actually. You go to Google, type in your keywords and add a few additional words and symbols to get more relevant results. 

These additional words (called operators) and symbols (called modifiers) make up the foundation of the Boolean search. 

3 basic Boolean search operators

Boolean search operators are used to combine or exclude the keywords.

There are 3 basic Boolean search operators:

1. AND

If you add AND operator between your two keywords, the search results will show only results that include both of your keywords.

Boolean-search-recruitment-AND-example

Useful tip: You can an ampersand (&) instead of typing in the word AND.

2. NOT

If you add NOT operator between your two keywords, the search results will show only results that contain the first keyword, but not the second one.  

Boolean-search-recruitment-NOT-example

Useful tip: You can a minus symbol (-) instead of typing in the word NOT.

3. OR

If you add OR operator between your two keywords, the search results will show results that include either of the two keywords or both of them simultaneously.

Boolean-search-recruitment-OR-example

Useful tip: You can a vertical bar symbol (|) instead of typing in the word OR.

⚠️ Important remark: 

Each of the 3 mentioned Boolean operators should always be written in uppercase. Otherwise, they won’t work! 

3 basic Boolean query modifiers

Boolean search query modifiers are symbols you can use to organize keywords and further refine your search.

There are 3 basic Boolean search operators:

1. Quotes

Quotation marks are used when searching for exact phrase that consist of more than one word.

For example: "product manager"

2. Asterisk 

Put an asterisk at the end of your keyword if you would like to include all of its variations

For example: recruit* = recruiter, recruitment, recruiting

3. Parentheses

Parentheses are used are most commonly used to wrap OR search. 

For example: Sales (director OR manager) 

Additional Boolean search tips and tricks

Here are 5 more useful tips and tricks that can help you create advanced Boolean search strings: 

Tip #1: Use filetype syntax

Use site search syntax if you want to limit your search to specific file types.

For example, you can search for Word, text of PDF document formats.

Here is what the filetype syntax looks like:

Tip #2: Use site search syntax 

Use site search syntax if you want to limit your search to a specific website.

For example, if you want to search only a certain social network, you should type in the site search syntax before you enter your keywords:

Tip #3: Title search syntax

Use title search syntax if you want to limit your search only to websites with certain keywords in their title.

Type in this syntax before entering your keywords: 

For example, if you want to search for websites that have the keywords “resume” or “bio” in their title, you should type in:

Tip #4: Text search syntax

Use text search syntax if you want to limit your search only to websites with certain keywords in the text on the web page.

Type in this syntax before entering your keywords: 

For example, if you want to search for websites that have keywords “resume” or “bio” in the text, you should type in:

Tip #5: URL search syntax

Use URL search syntax if you want to limit your search only to websites with certain keywords in their URL.

Type in this syntax before entering your keywords: 

For example, if you want to search for websites that have keywords “resume” or “bio” in their URL, you should type in:

Advanced Boolean search

Want to learn more about the Boolean search and its use in recruitment?

I suggest you watch this video to learn some cool next-level sourcing tips straight from a sourcing guru Glen Cathey.

In this video, Glen will show you how to use Boolean search to find the best and most qualified candidates - rather than simply the ones who are easiest to find.

How can TalentLyft help you source the best candidates?

Our recruitment software TalentLyft has a powerful, machine learning-powered sourcing solution as well as sourcing extension

TalentLyft-source

This means that you don’t have to bother with learning complicated Boolean search strings.

Leave it to TalentLyft to find the perfect candidates for you! 🙂

Frequently asked questions

What is Boolean Search and Why is it Important for Recruiters? 

Boolean search is an advanced method of online search that allows recruiters to find better candidates faster. By using specific operators and modifiers, recruiters can create targeted search strings, enabling them to source candidates on search engines, social networks, resume databases, and professional directories more effectively.

How Do Boolean Search Operators Work in Recruitment? 

Boolean search operators like AND, OR, and NOT are used to refine search queries. The AND operator shows results including both keywords, OR displays results with either keyword, and NOT excludes the second keyword from search results. These operators help recruiters narrow down their search to more relevant candidates.

What Are Some Basic Boolean Search Modifiers Used in Recruitment? 

Basic Boolean search modifiers include quotation marks for exact phrases, asterisks for keyword variations, and parentheses for grouping keywords in an OR search. These modifiers help in refining the search to be more precise, ensuring that the results are more relevant to the specific requirements of the job position.

Can Boolean Search Techniques Be Used on Different Online Platforms? 

Yes, Boolean search techniques can be applied across various online platforms. Recruiters can use them on search engines like Google, Yahoo, or Bing, social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and in searching resume databases and professional directories. This versatility makes it a powerful tool in the recruitment process.

What Are Some Additional Tips for Effective Boolean Searching? 

Additional tips for effective Boolean searching include using the filetype syntax to search for specific document formats, the site search syntax to limit searches to a specific website, and the title, text, and URL search syntaxes to find websites with certain keywords in their title, text, or URL. These advanced techniques allow for even more precise searches, making it easier to find the best candidates.

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Further reading

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