<img src="https://secure.leadforensics.com/47968.png" alt="" style="display:none;">

Posted by CareerBuilder UK on 10 April 2015 in HR Glossary, Big Data, Recruiting Workflow & Efficiency | No Comment

HR-Glossary_B

We now use search engines such as Google and Bing in all areas of life to quickly find the most relevant information online. So-called Boolean operators can be very helpful by allowing an even more accurate search - also ideal in recruitment. A Boolean search assists in the active sourcing of suitable candidates via search engines, in CV databases, business networks and company talent pools, based on specific keywords and complex search criteria, often with longer "search strings" (Boolean strings). In the second step, the search engine, external database or professional HR software then returns a list of results with detailed information about potential candidates, sorted according to how well they fit the search profile.

An overview of the most important Boolean operators:

AND               

A conjunction used when the search results must contain both criteria. Example: Engineer AND Manchester

OR

For searching for alternatives. Example: engineer in Manchester OR engineer in Bristol

NOT

To exclude certain search criteria. Examples: engineer NOT London, assistant NOT marketing

filetype:pdf

To show all pdf documents on a website, for example, to find candidates' original documents in business networks.

inurl:career

Returns all domains with URLs containing the term "career".

intext:engineer

Shows all pages containing the term "engineer'' in the text (not however in the title).

intitle:engineer

To show all pages containing the term "engineer" in the title.

A Boolean search should, through its quickness and accuracy, determine the most relevant candidates for a vacancy in the shortest time, thus minimising your recruitment costs. This procedure makes sense particularly where there are a large number of candidates and contacts (talent pool); and equally so, when looking for people with very specific skills and knowledge.

Discover the efficient CV search from CareerBuilder and find out more about how to find the best talent in the shortest time.

 

Further information about Boolean searches and useful tools:

http://booleanbar.ourtoolbar.com/

 

Image: © Rawpixel, Ptich-ya, Margarita Tkachenko - shutterstock.com