Boolean Search: all you need to know about this tool

Also known as search or logic, Boolean search is a technique that uses the combination or exclusion of some concepts - the so-called "Boolean operators" - to refine a search. The use of this methodology is intended to make the search more assertive and efficient.

You know when you search for a profile on Linkedin and 20 thousand results appear? With the use of Boolean search logic, you make Linkedin search for combinations of keywords in the registered profiles, this way, you can find profiles more accurately, optimizing the entire recruiting process.

BUT BEFORE THE PRACTICE, LET'S UNDERSTAND A LITTLE OF THE ORIGIN:

In 1847, British mathematician George Boole developed a algebra system - published in the pamphlet The Mathematical Analysis of Logic - that consisted of a joint sequence of two binary operations, one unary operation, and two constants. Mathematically speaking, this concept is much more complex, but Boole's algebra was key to the progress of modern computing. And more: this abstract algebra is also the principle of Boolean search, and in practice you will see that it is not such a big deal.

LET'S PRACTICE UNDERSTANDING BOOLEAN OPERATORS:

The use of operators in Boolean search makes your search more specific. When you search a database (let's call Linkedin a database) using the Boolean combination operators, the database will bring you only profiles that contain exactly the words you are looking for.

AND
This operator is used when you want your search to have results that follow mandatory parameters, including all items in a list and restricting the results. In practice - within Linkedin - you use this operator when you need to find a person who has experience as an accountant AND financial AND accountant, for example.

OR
This operator works for when you need to find results that have one or another keyword from your search, to include one or more items in your list and expanding the results. In practice - within Linkedin - you use this operator when you need to find a person who has experiences such as sales OR marketing OR advertising, for example.


NOT
This operator is used to exclude a term from your search, when you want the filtered results to not have this word, restricting the results. In practice - within Linkedin - you use this operator when you need to find profiles that have experiences such as programmer NOT manager, for example.

( )
Parentheses should be used for when you need to group a set of words, making the search more complex. In practice - within Linkedin - you use this operator when you need to find someone who has experiences as VP in the profile, but exclude VP assistant or SVP, the search would be VP NOT (assistant OR SVP), for example.


" "
Quotation marks are an operator that should be used when you need to group compound terms and search for them accurately. In practice - within Linkedin - you use this operator when you need to find a person who has a job title with more than one word. For example, "product manager" is searched with quotation marks.

OTHER SEARCH TOOLS ON LINKEDIN

Boolean search makes the process of hunting on Linkedin easy, but the platform also has some features that can enhance your search for the perfect person for that position. When you search for a profile, click on "people" to enable filter features by connection, location, current company, previous company, industry, and educational institution - making your recruiting experience much more direct and assertive.



Now that you know how Boolean search works, your hunting processes will certainly be more agile, less bureaucratic and procedural, and more consistent with the job descriptions.

Start practicing now and let us know in the comments what improvements you have noticed in the way you prospect candidates, what your difficulties have been and how 99Hunter can continue to contribute with you for the best recruiting and selection experiences.