Boolean Search for Job Hunting

EP 3038 Ronnie and Bobby showcase how to use Google to bypass LinkedIn's search limitations, finding individuals and information not readily accessible through standard LinkedIn searches. ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTERPeople hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS job search coaching and career advice globally because he makes job search and succeeding in your career easier. Schedule a discovery call to speak with me about one-on-one or group coaching during your job search at⁠www. TheBigGameHunter.us. You will also find great info and job search coaching to help with your job search at⁠⁠JobSearch. Community⁠⁠ You can get free copies of 25 Interview Questions and Answers, How to Craft a Compelling Elevator Pitch in 20 Seconds or Less, Get Ready for the Job Jungle, Diagnosing Your Job Search Problems, No BS Resume Advice, and Prove Your Worth First, Then Negotiate. Receive free weekly suggestions and more. Subscribe to No BS Job Search Advice Radio, the #1 podcast in Apple Podcasts for job search with more than 3000 episodes. Connect onLinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/T⁠⁠heBigGameHunter⁠ We grant permission for this post and others to be used on your website as long as a backlink is included to⁠www. TheBigGameHunter.us⁠ and notice is provided that it is provided by Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter as an author or creator. Not acknowledging his work or providing a backlink to⁠www. TheBigGameHunter.us⁠ makes you subject to a $1000 penalty which you proactively agree to pay. Please contact us to negotiate the use of our content as training data.

• 0:00Speaker 00

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• 0:59Speaker 02

  Okay, so you know how tough it can be to find a job online?

• 1:03Speaker 03

  Oh, yeah.

• 1:04Speaker 02

  It's like you're drowning in a sea of job postings and you just can't find the right one.

• 1:08Speaker 03

  Right, you're totally lost.

• 1:10Speaker 02

  Exactly, like especially if you're fresh out of college, you know?

• 1:13Speaker 03

  Yeah, you have that new diploma and all.

• 1:15Speaker 02

  And ready to take on the world, but then you hit those job boards and it's just overwhelming.

• 1:19Speaker 03

  Yeah, you see a ton of jobs, but none of them feel like the right fit.

• 1:23Speaker 02

  Right, and it can be such a time suck going through all those irrelevant listings.

• 1:27Speaker 03

  Totally.

• 1:28Speaker 02

  So what if I told you there's a secret weapon?

• 1:31Speaker 03

  Ah, okay, I'm listening.

• 1:32Speaker 02

  A way to talk directly to those search engines.

• 1:35Speaker 03

  Oh, really?

• 1:35Speaker 02

  And make them give you exactly what you're looking for.

• 1:37Speaker 03

  Like a secret code or something?

• 1:39Speaker 02

  Exactly, it's called Boolean search.

• 1:41Speaker 03

  Boolean search, I've heard of that.

• 1:43Speaker 02

  Yeah, it's not just for librarians anymore.

• 1:45Speaker 03

  So how does it work for like job hunting?

• 1:48Speaker 02

  Well, it's all about using specific words and symbols to refine your search results.

• 1:53Speaker 03

  Okay, so instead of just typing in random keywords?

• 1:55Speaker 02

  Right, you're basically speaking the search engine's language. Yeah. Giving it very precise instructions.

• 2:01Speaker 03

  Hmm, interesting.

• 2:02Speaker 02

  So it's kind of like building a recipe for your ideal job.

• 2:05Speaker 03

  A recipe?

• 2:06Speaker 02

  Yeah. Each ingredient represents a specific keyword or requirement.

• 2:10Speaker 03

  Oh, okay, I see.

• 2:11Speaker 02

  And you use operators like AND, OR, and NOT to combine those ingredients.

• 2:16Speaker 03

  To create like a super specific search query?

• 2:18Speaker 02

  Exactly.

• 2:19Speaker 03

  So for example, if I'm looking for a marketing job in Chicago?

• 2:22Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 2:23Speaker 03

  I wouldn't just type in "marketing Chicago", right?

• 2:25Speaker 02

  Right, you'd want to use those Boolean operators to narrow it down.

• 2:28Speaker 03

  Okay, so like how would I do that?

• 2:30Speaker 02

  Let's say you're interested in social media marketing.

• 2:32Speaker 03

  Yeah.

• 2:32Speaker 02

  You could search for marketing and social media and Chicago.

• 2:37Speaker 03

  Hmm.

• 2:38Speaker 02

  That tells the search engine to only show you listings that include all three terms.

• 2:43Speaker 03

  So I'm basically telling the search engine exactly what I want.

• 2:46Speaker 02

  You got it.

• 2:46Speaker 03

  That's way better than scrolling through pages of random jobs.

• 2:49Speaker 02

  And that's just the beginning. The OR operator is really helpful for finding variations in job titles.

• 2:55Speaker 03

  Oh, I see. That makes sense.

• 2:56Speaker 02

  Like, let's say you're looking for a job as a project manager.

• 2:59Speaker 03

  Yeah.

• 2:59Speaker 02

  Companies might also use titles like project coordinator or program manager for similar roles.

• 3:05Speaker 03

  Right, right.

• 3:06Speaker 02

  So you could search for project manager, or project coordinator, or program manager.

• 3:11Speaker 03

  To make sure I'm not missing out on anything.

• 3:12Speaker 02

  Exactly. It gives you a much broader range of relevant results.

• 3:16Speaker 03

  And what about the not operator?

• 3:18Speaker 02

  Ah, not. That's great for excluding things you definitely don't want.

• 3:22Speaker 03

  Okay, like what?

• 3:23Speaker 02

  Like, let's say you're a graphic designer, but you're not interested in freelance work.

• 3:27Speaker 03

  Hmm, yeah.

• 3:28Speaker 02

  You could add not freelance to your search query.

• 3:32Speaker 03

  To get rid of all those freelance gigs.

• 3:34Speaker 02

  Exactly. It's like creating a laser-focused filter for your job search.

• 3:37Speaker 03

  So I'm making the search engine work for me instead of the other way around.

• 3:41Speaker 02

  Precisely. And these basic operators are just the tip of the iceberg.

• 3:44Speaker 03

  There's more.

• 3:45Speaker 02

  Oh, yeah. There are even more advanced techniques you can use.

• 3:48Speaker 03

  Like what?

• 3:49Speaker 02

  Well, for starters, there's the magic of quotation marks.

• 3:52Speaker 03

  Quotation marks?

• 3:53Speaker 02

  Yeah. When you put a phrase in quotation marks, you're telling the search engine to find that exact phrase.

• 4:00Speaker 03

  Not just the individual words.

• 4:01Speaker 02

  Right.

• 4:01Speaker 03

  So like, if I'm looking for a user experience designer.

• 4:04Speaker 02

  You put the whole phrase in quotes.

• 4:06Speaker 03

  To make sure I'm only seeing listings with that exact title.

• 4:08Speaker 02

  Exactly. It's crucial for targeting very specific roles.

• 4:11Speaker 03

  Okay, that's really helpful.

• 4:13Speaker 02

  And then there are parentheses.

• 4:14Speaker 03

  Parentheses.

• 4:15Speaker 02

  They're all about grouping and prioritizing your search terms.

• 4:19Speaker 03

  Hmm. How do they work?

• 4:21Speaker 02

  They work just like they do in math, controlling the order of operations.

• 4:24Speaker 03

  Oh, interesting.

• 4:25Speaker 02

  Let's say you're a software engineer looking for a job in either San Francisco or Seattle.

• 4:30Speaker 03

  Okay.

• 4:31Speaker 02

  But you're specifically interested in working with Python or Java.

• 4:35Speaker 03

  Right, so that's a lot of criteria.

• 4:37Speaker 02

  Right, so you could structure your search like this. Python or Java, and D, San Francisco or Seattle.

• 4:42Speaker 03

  Wow, that's pretty complex.

• 4:44Speaker 02

  The parentheses tell the search engine to first find all listings that mention either Python or Java.

• 4:49Speaker 03

  Okay.

• 4:50Speaker 02

  And then narrow those results down to listings that also mention either San Francisco or Seattle.

• 4:54Speaker 03

  So I'm basically creating a multi-layered filter. Exact. To pinpoint exactly the jobs that fit my criteria.

• 5:02Speaker 02

  You got it. It's a whole new level of job searching.

• 5:05Speaker 03

  This is amazing.

• 5:06Speaker 02

  And the best part is, you don't need to be a tech whiz to master these techniques.

• 5:11Speaker 03

  Really?

• 5:11Speaker 02

  With a little practice, anyone can become a Boolean search ninja.

• 5:15Speaker 03

  Okay, I'm feeling pretty empowered already.

• 5:18Speaker 02

  But let's get down to brass tacks. How do we actually use Boolean search on popular job sites?

• 5:24Speaker 03

  Yeah, like Indeed and LinkedIn.

• 5:26Speaker 02

  That's where the real magic happens, right?

• 5:28Speaker 03

  Absolutely. Each job site has its own quirks and nuances, so let's dive into some real-world examples.

• 5:34Speaker 02

  Okay, lead the way, I'm all ears.

• 5:35Speaker 03

  All right, so let's start with Indeed.

• 5:38Speaker 02

  Indeed, okay.

• 5:39Speaker 03

  Yeah, it's known for its huge database of job postings.

• 5:42Speaker 02

  Like, tons of jobs on there.

• 5:43Speaker 03

  And the great thing about Indeed is that you can use Boolean operators right in the search bar.

• 5:47Speaker 02

  Oh, that's convenient.

• 5:48Speaker 03

  Super easy to refine your search.

• 5:50Speaker 02

  So I can just plug in those ANDs, ORs, and NOTs directly?

• 5:53Speaker 03

  Yep, no special tricks required.

• 5:55Speaker 02

  Nice.

• 5:56Speaker 03

  Remember those examples we talked about earlier?

• 5:57Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 5:58Speaker 03

  Like, searching for .NET developer jobs in Connecticut?

• 6:01Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah.

• 6:02Speaker 03

  You could literally type in .NET and developer, engineer, or programmer, or analyst, or consultant, and Connecticut.

• 6:09Speaker 02

  Wow, that's a mouthful.

• 6:11Speaker 03

  But it works. You'll only see listings in Connecticut that include .NET and at least one of those other job titles.

• 6:17Speaker 02

  So it's like I'm having a direct conversation with the Indeed algorithm.

• 6:21Speaker 03

  Exactly. You're in control. You're guiding it to show you the most relevant results.

• 6:26Speaker 02

  I like that, taking control.

• 6:27Speaker 03

  It's a game changer.

• 6:29Speaker 02

  Now, what about LinkedIn?

• 6:30Speaker 03

  Ah, LinkedIn.

• 6:31Speaker 02

  It's great for networking and researching companies.

• 6:33Speaker 03

  For sure.

• 6:34Speaker 02

  But the free search can be a little limited.

• 6:36Speaker 03

  Yeah, you're right about that.

• 6:37Speaker 02

  Is there a way to use Boolean search on LinkedIn?

• 6:40Speaker 03

  There is. There's actually a clever workaround.

• 6:42Speaker 02

  Oh, really?

• 6:43Speaker 03

  We can use Google to search LinkedIn.

• 6:44Speaker 02

  Wait, what, Google?

• 6:45Speaker 03

  Yep, it's a little-known trick, but it works wonders.

• 6:48Speaker 02

  Okay, I'm intrigued. Tell me more.

• 6:50Speaker 03

  It's all about using the site. Operator.

• 6:53Speaker 02

  Site, okay.

• 6:54Speaker 03

  You start your Google search with site.linkedin.com and then you add your Boolean operators and keywords.

• 7:02Speaker 02

  So if I'm looking for software engineers in the Bay Area.

• 7:05Speaker 03

  Uh huh.

• 7:05Speaker 02

  Who specialize in machine learning.

• 7:07Speaker 03

  Okay.

• 7:07Speaker 02

  I would type site.linkedin.com now. A N D, software engineer or machine learning. And D, Bay Area or San Francisco or Silicon Valley.

• 7:18Speaker 03

  Or Google.

• 7:18Speaker 02

  Into Google.

• 7:19Speaker 03

  Exactly.

• 7:20Speaker 02

  And that will show me LinkedIn profiles that match those criteria.

• 7:23Speaker 03

  Yep, you're bypassing LinkedIn's limitations and getting hyper-specific with your search.

• 7:28Speaker 02

  That's awesome. I had no idea.

• 7:30Speaker 03

  It's a powerful tool.

• 7:31Speaker 02

  Sometimes, though, I struggle with LinkedIn's search, even without Boolean.

• 7:35Speaker 03

  Oh, yeah, it can be tricky.

• 7:36Speaker 02

  Like, I know the right keywords, but I'm still not finding the right people.

• 7:40Speaker 03

  I hear you. That's where the job title filter comes in.

• 7:42Speaker 02

  Job title, okay.

• 7:43Speaker 03

  It helps you narrow down your search to people who are currently in a specific role.

• 7:47Speaker 02

  Even if their profiles don't mention all the keywords.

• 7:50Speaker 03

  Exactly.

• 7:51Speaker 02

  Okay, give me an example.

• 7:52Speaker 03

  Let's say you're a recruiter looking for a senior product manager with experience in fintech.

• 7:57Speaker 02

  Okay, a very specific role.

• 7:58Speaker 03

  You could start by typing product management and fintech in the general keyword search.

• 8:03Speaker 02

  Okay.

• 8:04Speaker 03

  Then go to the job title filter and enter senior product manager.

• 8:08Speaker 02

  So I'm using two filters at the same time?

• 8:10Speaker 03

  Yep, one based on your Boolean search and the other on the job title.

• 8:13Speaker 02

  That's smart.

• 8:14Speaker 03

  It helps you laser focus on your target audience.

• 8:17Speaker 02

  This is like LinkedIn search on steroids.

• 8:20Speaker 03

  You could say that.

• 8:21Speaker 02

  It sounds really helpful for recruiters, but what about job seekers like me?

• 8:25Speaker 03

  It's just as valuable for job seekers.

• 8:27Speaker 02

  Oh, really? How so?

• 8:28Speaker 03

  Let's say you're a data scientist and you want to connect with people who are data science managers at companies you admire.

• 8:34Speaker 02

  Okay, yeah.

• 8:36Speaker 03

  You could use this combo approach to find those exact people.

• 8:40Speaker 02

  So I could reach out to them for informational interviews or networking?

• 8:43Speaker 03

  That's the idea, and maybe even uncover some hidden job opportunities.

• 8:47Speaker 02

  I see the potential there.

• 8:48Speaker 03

  And remember, Boolean search is an iterative process.

• 8:51Speaker 02

  Iterative.

• 8:52Speaker 03

  You might need to refine your search a few times.

• 8:55Speaker 02

  Like adding or removing keywords?

• 8:56Speaker 03

  Exactly, or trying different operators.

• 8:58Speaker 02

  Until you find the perfect formula.

• 9:00Speaker 03

  It's all about experimentation.

• 9:02Speaker 02

  And before we move on to more advanced techniques.

• 9:04Speaker 03

  Yes.

• 9:05Speaker 02

  Any practical tips for crafting those complex searches?

• 9:08Speaker 03

  Absolutely. You know how small LinkedIn's search field is?

• 9:11Speaker 02

  Oh, yeah, it's tiny.

• 9:12Speaker 03

  It's easy to make typos.

• 9:14Speaker 02

  Definitely.

• 9:14Speaker 03

  So the pro tip is to write your search in a separate notepad first.

• 9:19Speaker 02

  Oh, that's a good idea.

• 9:20Speaker 03

  Then you can easily see all your terms and make edits before pasting it into LinkedIn.

• 9:24Speaker 02

  That makes so much sense. I can't believe I never thought of that.

• 9:28Speaker 03

  It's a lifesaver.

• 9:29Speaker 02

  And one last thing, LinkedIn's free search does have its limitations.

• 9:33Speaker 03

  True.

• 9:34Speaker 02

  What about Sales Navigator?

• 9:36Speaker 03

  Ah, Sales Navigator.

• 9:39Speaker 02

  Isn't that more for salespeople?

• 9:40Speaker 03

  It is, but it also offers much better search capabilities.

• 9:43Speaker 02

  Really?

• 9:44Speaker 03

  Including more extensive Boolean search options.

• 9:46Speaker 02

  Hmm, interesting.

• 9:47Speaker 03

  You can create targeted lists, save your searches, and get deeper insights into people and companies.

• 9:53Speaker 02

  Sounds like it might be worth the investment.

• 9:55Speaker 03

  It depends on your needs.

• 9:56Speaker 02

  But even with the free version of LinkedIn, we can still achieve great results with Boolean search.

• 10:01Speaker 03

  Absolutely, if you know how to use it effectively.

• 10:04Speaker 02

  Right. I'm feeling pretty confident in my Boolean search skills now.

• 10:07Speaker 03

  Good to hear.

• 10:08Speaker 02

  But I bet you have even more tricks up your sleeve.

• 10:10Speaker 03

  Maybe a few more.

• 10:12Speaker 02

  What other advanced techniques can we use to unlock the full potential of Boolean on LinkedIn?

• 10:18Speaker 03

  Let's dive into some more nuanced strategies that can help you really refine your search and target very specific audiences.

• 10:25Speaker 02

  Okay.

• 10:25Speaker 03

  I'm happy. So, you know, we've covered the basics of Boolean search.

• 10:29Speaker 02

  Yeah, we've talked about how to use it on Indeed and LinkedIn.

• 10:32Speaker 03

  Right, but you know, there's more to it.

• 10:34Speaker 02

  Oh, really?

• 10:35Speaker 03

  Like what? Well, one of the coolest things about Boolean search is that you can really use it to showcase your, you know, your unique skills and experience.

• 10:43Speaker 02

  You mean like those passions and side projects that we don't usually put on our resumes?

• 10:47Speaker 03

  Exactly.

• 10:47Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 10:48Speaker 03

  Yeah, because sometimes we think they're not relevant, but they can actually be incredibly valuable.

• 10:52Speaker 02

  Especially to the right employer.

• 10:54Speaker 03

  Right. It's all about setting yourself apart.

• 10:56Speaker 02

  So instead of just focusing on, you know, my main skills, I can use Boolean to highlight those other interests and experiences.

• 11:03Speaker 03

  Exactly. Yeah, like, let's say you're a software developer.

• 11:06Speaker 02

  Oh, great.

• 11:07Speaker 03

  But you're also really passionate about sustainability.

• 11:10Speaker 02

  Right.

• 11:10Speaker 03

  Instead of just searching for software developer jobs.

• 11:13Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 11:13Speaker 03

  You can search for companies that care about both.

• 11:16Speaker 02

  So I could look for jobs that mention both software development and sustainability?

• 11:20Speaker 03

  Exactly. You could search for something like software development and sustainability, or environmental, or green.

• 11:27Speaker 02

  So I'm not just limited to software development roles?

• 11:29Speaker 03

  Right. You're expanding your search to include companies that might also value your passion for sustainability.

• 11:36Speaker 02

  Hmm. That's really interesting.

• 11:39Speaker 02

  I never thought about using Boolean search that way.

• 11:41Speaker 03

  It's about connecting those seemingly unrelated dots, you know?

• 11:45Speaker 02

  Yeah, it's like I'm giving those hidden gems a chance to shine.

• 11:48Speaker 03

  Exactly, and you might be surprised at what you find.

• 11:51Speaker 02

  It's like Boolean search is becoming more than just a tool. It's like a secret weapon.

• 11:55Speaker 03

  A secret weapon.

• 11:56Speaker 02

  Yeah, for my job search.

• 11:57Speaker 03

  It's really about showcasing your multifaceted self.

• 12:00Speaker 02

  Right, not trying to fit into some kind of box.

• 12:03Speaker 03

  Yeah, exactly. You're telling employers, hey, I'm not just a software developer, I also care about this.

• 12:09Speaker 02

  And that could be really appealing to certain companies.

• 12:12Speaker 03

  For sure, and the beauty of it is that you can experiment.

• 12:15Speaker 02

  Experiment how?

• 12:16Speaker 03

  Well, you can try different combinations of keywords. You can refine your search based on what you find.

• 12:21Speaker 02

  So it's a process.

• 12:22Speaker 03

  It is a process.

• 12:22Speaker 02

  But fine tuning until you find the perfect formula.

• 12:25Speaker 03

  That's right, it's like a game.

• 12:27Speaker 02

  A game?

• 12:27Speaker 03

  A treasure hunt.

• 12:28Speaker 02

  A treasure hunt for the perfect job.

• 12:30Speaker 03

  Exactly, the one that really aligns with everything you're passionate about.

• 12:34Speaker 02

  That sounds a lot better than just sending out resumes blindly.

• 12:37Speaker 03

  It's about being strategic and proactive.

• 12:40Speaker 02

  So to wrap things up, it sounds like Boolean search is really about finding the right job, not just any job.

• 12:44Speaker 03

  Absolutely, the job that fits your skills, your experience, and your passions.

• 12:49Speaker 02

  And you know what you are more than just a set of keywords.

• 12:53Speaker 03

  That's so true.

• 12:54Speaker 02

  Embrace your multifaceted self and don't be afraid to let those hidden gems shine.

• 12:59Speaker 03

  You never know what opportunities are out there.

• 13:01Speaker 02

  That unique combination might just be the key to your dream career.

• 13:05Speaker 03

  Couldn't have said it better myself.

• 13:07Speaker 02

  Well, that's it for this deep dive into Boolean search.

• 13:10Speaker 03

  Thanks for having me.

• 13:11Speaker 02

  It's not just for librarians and tech wizards anymore. It's a skill anyone can learn and it can make all the difference in your job hunt.

• 13:18Speaker 03

  Go out there and conquer those search engines.

• 13:20Speaker 02

  Happy hunting, everyone.

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