Boolean Search 101

There are a few basic set of principles that can be successfully used in nearly all the search engines to find exactly what you are looking for. The most basic techniques is using the add and subtract symbols in your web search query. This is commonly known as Boolean search. It is simple, yet remarkably effective, and it works in nearly all search engines and search directories on the Web.

Pronunciation: BOO-le-un

Also Known As: Boolean, boolean logic, boolean search, boolean operators, boolean operands, boolean definition, boolean searching, boolean commands

Where does the term Boolean originate?
George Boole, an English mathematician in the 19th century, developed "Boolean Logic" in order to combine certain concepts and exclude certain concepts when searching databases.

Is Boolean Search Complicated?
It sure sounds fancy, but using Boolean Logic to broaden and/or narrow your search is not as complicated as it sounds.

What is Boolean Search?
Boolean searches allow you to combine words and phrases using the words AND, OR and NOT (also known as Boolean operators) to widen, limit, or define your search. Most Internet search engines and Web directories use these Boolean search parameters. A good Recruiter, Sourcer, Web searcher should know how to use basic Boolean operators. Most online databases and search engines support Boolean searches. These search techniques can be used to carry out effective searches, cutting out many unrelated documents.
Boolean logic is just the term used to describe certain logical operations that are used to combine search terms in many search engine databases and directories on the Net.

How do I do a Boolean Search?
You can either use the standard Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT, or NEAR) or you can use their math equivalents.

Boolean Search Operators
The Boolean search operator AND is equal to the "+" symbol.
The Boolean search operator NOT is equal to the "-" symbol.
The Boolean search operator OR is the default setting of any search engine; meaning, all search engines will return all the words you type in, automatically.

AND: If you would like to search for two unique terms, you can separate them with the uppercase word AND. The following examples, therefore, would return the same results. Example: Software AND engineer Example: Software + engineer
OR: Broaden your search to find profiles that include one or more terms by separating them with the uppercase word OR. Example: Helpdesk OR “Help Desk” OR “Technical Support” Example: “account executive” OR “account exec” OR “account manager” OR “sales executive” OR “sales manager” OR “sales representative”
NOT: If you would like to do a search that excludes a certain term, type that term with an uppercase NOT immediately before it. Your search results won’t include that word. Example: “Software engineer” NOT Telecom

The Boolean search operator NEAR is equal to putting a search query in quotes. You're essentially telling the search engine that you want all of these words, in the specific order. You can search for an exact phrase by enclosing it in quotation marks. You can use quotes with other modifiers as well.
Example: Java AND (Developer OR Architect OR “Team Lead”)
The example above will return results for Java Developer, Java Architects as well as Java Team lead.

Boolean Search is very useful for Efficient Searching
Finding the right talent often means looking for precise combinations of skill sets and experience— not to mention certain personality or culture-fit traits. Boolean searches are great at pinpointing these types of candidates because they allow you to use operators that produce highly relevant results.
Boolean search technology is one of the foundation concepts underneath modern day search engines. Without even realising it, we are taking advantage of this simple search process almost every time we type in a search query. Understanding the process and knowledge of Boolean searching will give us the necessary expertise we need to make our searches even more efficient. Boolean searches are so useful in the world of recruiting that it’s still worth it to learn how they work.

Check out this YouTube video for more help using Boolean Search.