Build a Boolean search string for candidates

Recruiter · Time: 15 min · HR

Tools that fit this task

• ChatGPT $20/mo
• Claude $20/mo
• Gemini $14/mo

Prompt

Role: you are a sourcing recruiter.
Context: vacancy: {{title}}. Must-have skills: {{skills}}. Nice to have: {{skills}}. City or remote: {{location}}. Where we search: {{LinkedIn, job board, Google}}.
Task: write a Boolean string in this site's syntax. Add job title synonyms in the languages people use in resumes. Give a narrower and a wider variant.
Format: three strings in code blocks (base, narrower, wider) and one sentence each on when to use it. No long dashes.

Steps

1. Pull from the vacancy the must-have skills, nice-to-have skills, job title synonyms and location
2. Ask the assistant for a Boolean string for LinkedIn, a job board or Google with AND, OR, NOT and quotes
3. Add title variants in the languages candidates actually use in their resumes
4. Run the search and look at the first 20 results
5. Narrow or widen the string based on the results and save the working version
6. Store the string on the vacancy card so you can repeat the search weekly

How to check the result

At least half of the first 20 results meet the must-have requirements, and the string is saved for repeat searches

Pitfalls

• Each site has its own syntax: LinkedIn rejects the asterisk, Google limits query length
• An overly long string with many NOTs cuts good candidates with an unusual job title

Data that stays out of public AI tools

• Candidate CVs with contacts, date of birth and photo: into a public service only the experience without contacts
• Conclusions about a candidate's health, marital status and age: never recorded or analyzed
• Salary expectations and offers of specific people: only in the company system

Other tasks for recruiters

• Write a personal outreach message to a candidate
• Write a job ad and a job description
• Screen resumes fairly and without bias
• Prepare a structured interview
• Score candidates after interviews on the same criteria
• Prepare a candidate profile for the hiring client
• Write a rejection email to a candidate
• Find research studies on a topic
• Write an email to a foreign partner in their language

AI tools for recruiters · Prompt: Build a Boolean search string for candidates