Boolean search, what is it?
Boolean search means searching on the keywords a CV or candidate has to match, combined with specific operators. Get that combination right and the most suitable candidates come straight to the top. Very useful. At Sennasearch we use Boolean search whenever we look for CVs on job boards. It is a smart way to find relevant CVs and candidates faster, in a sea of thousands.
An example from practice
You have no doubt searched for CVs at some point. Search for “account manager” alone and a job board will often return hundreds of results. You will then spend a long time filtering out the right candidates. Boolean search cuts the number of results down and lets you filter on the qualities you are looking for in a candidate.
Boolean operators
- Keyword AND keyword. You use AND when you are looking for a specific combination, such as: account manager AND telephony. That rules out account managers without telephony experience.
- Keyword OR keyword. OR lets you distinguish between specific keywords, such as: account manager OR sales manager.
- Double quotation marks. Use double quotation marks to return a specific combination of words, such as: “account manager”.
Is Boolean search the answer to everything?
According to Glen Cathey, of the blog Boolean Blackbelt Recruiting, Boolean search finds some people, but not everyone. Not everyone uses the same search terms you do. So make sure you use different keywords and synonyms. Use Boolean search as a handy tool, but not as your only one.
