“* * developer|engineer” (c rust OR c++ rust) inurl:resume -inurl:pdf.“* * developer|engineer” (c rust OR c++ rust) inurl:resume.pdf.site:com/author “software developer|engineer” “rust”.Here’s some Advanced Boolean String examples created by Jung Kim: Let me know in the comments what you’re going to experiment with first! So, if you’re not already using Boolean strings in your work as a recruiter, it’s time to test it out for yourself. For instance, you could use this for “tec* writer” to find: tech writer, technology writer, technical writer, etc.Īs you can see, using Boolean search strings is easy once you know the terms to use, but they can make a major impact in the quality of the results you’re getting. This is helpful for finding all variants of a keyword without listing them out. Wild Card: Use the asterisk (*) to add a wild card to your search. For instance, if you want a content writer who works in tech, but isn’t a freelancer, your search would look like: “content AND (creator OR editor) AND (technology or tech) -freelancer.Įxact Matches: Tired of finding irrelevant or half matches to your searches? Try using quotes around terms to find the exact phrase in your search. The and, or, and not operators are the easiest way to start using Boolean searches and they are powerful on their own, but additional modifiers will help you get even more specific when looking for candidates.Īdd Emphasis: Put parenthesis around words to give priority to them. Instead of typing “not” in your searches, use the hyphen on both Google and LinkedIn, making your search query look like the above.

content AND writer OR editor NOT developer.For instance, if you want a content writer and/or editor, but not a content developer, you can use the “not” operator to remove the keywords or skills you do not want to find. Using the “not” operator will help you further limit your search results by ruling out specific terms. If you want to use the “or” operator, use the pipe character (|) on Google, LinkedIn, Bing, and Monster instead of spelling out “or” in your search. customer service AND tech support OR technical supportĪs you can see in the last two examples in the above list, the “or” operator can also be used to help you find candidates when multiple spellings of a term may be used, like in the case of “Lightroom” or “Light Room” or “tech support” vs “technical support.”.graphic designer AND Lightroom OR Light Room.content AND writer OR creator OR developer.For instance, if you are looking for a content writer who is also either a content creator or content developer, your search query would look like: If you have specific alternatives for a role or skill in your search, the “OR” operator will help you get the right results. So, simply type “content writer editor” or “customer service tech support” and you’ll only get results that match all keywords in your string. What’s more, you’re probably already using this operator! Just by putting a space between keywords, you’re applying the “and” operator to your searches in LinkedIn and Google. This operator will help you narrow down results to individuals who match your specific criteria. Note Google no longer requires the AND keyword in searches instead just include a space. Using the “and” operator, you can broaden your search by adding multiple keywords that apply to the individual you’re searching for. Applying Boolean search strings will take some practice, but once you learn the process, you’ll have the ability to compile well-defined lists of candidates, whether searching for specific job titles, targeting social media sites, or procuring resumes according to experience. Fortunately, Boolean search string tools can make the task less challenging for recruiters and is easily incorporated into searches on LinkedIn, various job portals, and on Google.īy using the basic Boolean search operators and modifiers, you’ll be able to incorporate specific keywords into your searches. Even with an assortment of filtering options, narrowing down a list to only include the best of the best is difficult and time consuming. Finding the best candidates in an ocean of choices can be likened to finding a needle in a haystack.

Boolean search string for recruiters