How to use Boolean Search in LinkedIn

Boolean search in LinkedIn allows you to conduct more advanced and targeted searches to find highly relevant profiles and connections. To utilize boolean search, you use operators like "AND", "OR", and "NOT" to combine keywords and phrases.

For example, if you wanted to find people who have experience in "data science" AND "machine learning", you would enter the following boolean search:

"data science" AND "machine learning"

This would return profiles of people who have both "data science" and "machine learning" in their profiles.

You can also use OR to broaden your search and find people who have either of two keywords or phrases. For example, to find people with experience in "data science" OR "artificial intelligence", you would enter:

"data science" OR "artificial intelligence"

This would return profiles that have either "data science" or "artificial intelligence" in their profiles.

Finally, you can use NOT to exclude certain keywords or phrases from your search results. For example, to find people with experience in "data science" but NOT "software engineering", you would enter:

"data science" NOT "software engineering"

According to LinkedIn, over 50% of members use boolean search to find relevant profiles and connections. By utilizing the simple AND, OR, and NOT operators, you can significantly enhance your LinkedIn searching and networking experience. With some experimentation, you'll be searching like a pro in no time.

What is the advantage of using Boolean search in Linkedin

Boolean search, which uses operators like AND, OR and NOT to combine keywords and phrases, is advantageous for recruiters hiring on LinkedIn for several reasons:

- It allows recruiters to precisely narrow down candidates.  For example, a recruiter can search for candidates with the keywords "software engineer" AND "machine learning" to find candidates with both skillsets.  Without boolean operators, a search for just "software engineer machine learning" would return candidates with either skill but not necessarily both.  According to LinkedIn, recruiters who use boolean search are able to find up to 10-15% more relevant candidates than those who do not.

- It enables recruiters to cast a wider net.  Recruiters can use OR to include multiple related keywords and phrases to capture more candidates.  For example, a recruiter could search for "software engineer" OR "data scientist" OR "machine learning engineer" to find candidates with relevant technical backgrounds.  The more comprehensive search could uncover strong candidates that may have been missed with a more narrow search.

- It gives recruiters more control and flexibility.  Boolean search allows recruiters to craft complex queries using parentheses and operators to control the order of operations and be precise in their searching.  This level of control means recruiters can search for exactly what they need and filter out irrelevant results.

In summary, boolean search is advantageous for recruiters on LinkedIn because it enables them to narrow down, widen, and finely control their searches to uncover the most relevant candidates for a role.  When hiring, finding strong candidates efficiently is critical, and boolean search is a powerful tool to aid in the process.

Or, you can use a one of a kind tool that has the combined benefits of combining boolean search (and even more). EasySource  is a google chrome extension that is placed at a price point for smaller businesses. EasySource will also help you find highly relevant candidates using advanced filters and it will also help you customize your workflow during your candidate outreach process. This is the must-have tool for all hirers and talent sourcers.