What is a Boolean search?
A Boolean search is an advanced keyword search method used to target specific results. When searching resumes on the internet, it can be invaluable in maximizing your time spent searching!
When running Boolean searches, it is important to remember that no search is ever final. Once run, you might find that your Boolean string needs to be modified still.
Running Simple Boolean Searches
The logic behind running a Boolean search is very simple. Basically, by using words such as AND, OR, and AND NOT (to name the most common!), you can quickly cut through the web to find the results that you are looking for.
Other Simple Boolean Search Methods
Though less commonly used, sometimes they're just what you're looking for.
ROOT WORD Searches
Root word searches allow you to pull words that contain the same prefix. The operator for root word searches is an asterisk (*).
For example, if you constructed the following search…
Search For: nurs*Using: Boolean SearchThe results would include "nurse," "nurses," and "nursing."
STEM WORD Searches
Stem word searches allow you to pull words that contain the same base stem. The operator for stem word searches is two asterisks (**).
For example, if you constructed the following search...
Search For: fly**Using: Boolean SearchThe results would include "fly," "flew," "flown," "flying," etc.
Running More Advanced Boolean Searches
Once you can create a simple Boolean string, moving on to a more advanced search is really not much harder. It's all in how you group things!
Parentheses
The most important tool when constructing more advanced Boolean strings are the parentheses (i.e. the characters that are enclosing this clause).
While they seem intimidating at first, using parentheses is actually very easy.
If you think back to high school math, things that are in parentheses are always "grouped together"...
2 * 3 + 1 = 7but2 * (3 + 1) = 8
The parentheses add clarification on which operation should be performed first.
The parentheses function much the same in a Boolean search. For example, if you were looking for an engineer who has CAD experience and either mechanical or electrical experience, you could use the following:
Search For: CAD and engineer* and (mechanical or electrical)Using: Boolean SearchThe results would be everyone who has "CAD," "engineer" / "engineers" / "engineering," and "mechanical" listed, or everyone who has "CAD," "engineer" / "engineers" / "engineering," and "electrical" listed.
Double-Quotes
Another very important set of operators is double-quotes. Double-quotes allow you to search for a specific phrase, not just individual words. For example:
Search For: "web design" and htmlUsing: Boolean SearchThe results would be everyone who has the phrase "web design" in their resume and the word "html."
Showing posts with label Vitality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vitality. Show all posts
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Burned Badly by Reference Checking
I was involved in a search recently that ended abruptly after the hiring company went through an exhaustive reference checking process.
After the second interview the candidate provided references and the HR Manager only did his job when he reached out to those references and began asking questions about the candidate. Those questions stimulated a deeper discussion about the position the candidate was interviewing for and then into a discussion about career path and so on.
When the call was over the professional reference called the candidate and said "what are you doing? and what would make you consider a job change in this current market?", the candidate immediately pulled themselves out of the process!
The learning experience was that references have always been and always will be a delicate and tricky process. You just never know what is going to happen. When the war for talent was on, the professional reference would call the candidate and try to hire them back versus in this case- tell them to stay put and wait it out. Beware out there!
After the second interview the candidate provided references and the HR Manager only did his job when he reached out to those references and began asking questions about the candidate. Those questions stimulated a deeper discussion about the position the candidate was interviewing for and then into a discussion about career path and so on.
When the call was over the professional reference called the candidate and said "what are you doing? and what would make you consider a job change in this current market?", the candidate immediately pulled themselves out of the process!
The learning experience was that references have always been and always will be a delicate and tricky process. You just never know what is going to happen. When the war for talent was on, the professional reference would call the candidate and try to hire them back versus in this case- tell them to stay put and wait it out. Beware out there!
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