Using Boolean search techniques to search LinkedIn for jobs

1. A Better Way to
Locate Online Jobs
Boolean Search
Mark W. Biersdorf
MSR Solutions
July 17, 2012

2. Advanced Searches
Most job programs have an
advanced search option
– Check boxes
– Fill in fields such as:
• “All of these words,” “This exact phrase,”
“None of these words,” “Any of these
words”

3. LinkedIn Adv. Search
• Try different words
• Delete words that
don’t apply
• Narrow Search

4. Boolean Search

5. Why Boolean Search?
• More tools than “advanced search”
• Get higher quality, more accurate,
search results
• Can use the same string in other
programs and not just LinkedIn

6. Boolean Works Almost
Anywhere
• Universal terms
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• TwitJobSearch & Others
• Google

7. Search Concepts
• A search is a process. Start with words or
terms that have meaning to you.
• Read the results of the search. Some jobs will
be inappropriate to your needs. Alter the
search.
• For example, “IT Manager” search brings up
Nurses. Remove them from the search and try
again.

8. Search Concepts
• Searches are meant to be revised, never done
once
• Think like the hiring company; job titles like
“Controller” may be listed as “CPA”
• Start with a broad search, narrow it down
• The odds of you getting your first search
correct are very low. Keep trying!

9. Boolean Terms
• Operators
– Always in capital letters
– AND – narrows search results
– OR – expands search results
– NOT – removes terms

10. Boolean Symbols
• Parentheses – ( ) – Around terms with Operators
• Quotations – “ “ – Two or more words in phrase
• Minus – “‐” – Used to delete term from search
• Plus – “+” – Used to add term to search
• Tilde – “~” – Searches for synonyms

11. Trial Advanced
Search

12. TwitJobSearch
• Great site for
building and
testing search
strings
• Cut and paste
results into
LinkedIn

13. Define Job Terms
Define the terms you want to use in
your search.
– Looking for an IT senior manager or
director position
– Interested in tech teams, business
relationship manager, projects
– Chicago or Milwaukee

14. Write String
• Start with basics – i.e., IT Manager Director
• Type string, search, alter, search
• Goal is to get 70‐80% accurate string
• Expand string with basic terms:
– "IT" (manager OR director) AND (Chicago OR
Milwaukee) ‐Sales ‐fitness ‐ merger ‐accountant ‐
chain ‐voice ‐developer

15. Unwanted Results
• Review results
• Identify unwanted
results
• Minus out term

16. Final Results
• Final:
– "IT" (manager OR director) AND (Chicago OR
Milwaukee) ‐Sales ‐fitness ‐ merger ‐accountant ‐
chain ‐voice –developer
• Ready for LinkedIn

17. LinkedIn Results
• Save search string

18. Email Alerts with Results
• Name search
• Select email alert schedule
• Search string results mailed to you daily

19. Search String Alerts

20. Set up Multiple Searches

21. Email Alert Message

22. Questions?