

#Google boolean search tersm how to
A great Boolean search requires knowing the right keywords to use and then how to separate them out with the operators.īoolean methods can be used on any search engine: Google, LinkedIn, or even Facebook.īoolean is a term used to define the process of combining keywords with words called “operators.” These operators tell the search engine how to use the keywords in the search. Your brain naturally works this way, probably also using the terms in a Boolean search.įor example, “ I want a candidate with experience in design AND management but NOT graphic design.” However, there are a couple of tricks that can exponentially improve the results a search returns.
#Google boolean search tersm series
The word Boolean comes from the inventor of the method, George Boole, who proposed that most outcomes could be arrived at through a series of logical choices. Effectively using Boolean search and knowing how to navigate Google can separate finding good talent from being lost and floundering in the midst of search engine results. While using keywords to find the right person seems straightforward, the reality is quite different.

You have the opportunity to discover – literally – almost anyone, anywhere simply by typing. On the other side of typing the right words into a box on a screen is that rare undiscovered talent: the purple squirrel or four near-perfect candidates. In most cases, how you search massively influences the results you get. Searching Google can be a bit intimidating sometimes, however. But skipping the power of the top search engine when you’re looking for candidates would be a big mistake. We’re not saying you should use this instead of LinkedIn, GitHub, or a good recruiter. The flip side of this is that companies can (and should!) also use Google do the detective work to find top talent. If you’ve read some of our “ think like an online marketer” series recently, you might have noticed that we encourage companies to use marketing SEO and SEM tactics to attract candidates to their job postings and ads. If you are unsure how a database will interpret your search, consult the database's search tips or pages.īelow is example of the SIRS database search tips for using Boolean operators.Improve Your Company Branding With Zippia You'll learn more about phrase searching on the next page.Īs you can see in the examples above and on the previous pages, the use of AND or OR as a connector can have a significant effect on the results of your search. In this case, your results will include articles with ozone layer depletion just as it is written. A phrase search looks for words that are adjacent to each other in the exact order they are typed by you. Or a database may assume a phrase, requiring that the words be right next to each other. This will retrieve thousands of irrelevant records, with some containing just the word ozone, for example, and others just the word depletion. Other databases may assume the Boolean term OR between words and will search for items containing any of the terms. Your results will include all three words, but ozone could appear on page 1, layer on page 4, and the depletion on page 6 of an article. Most databases assume the Boolean term AND between words in a phrase and will search for records containing all three terms but not necessarily next to each other in that order. When you enter search terms without using a connector, such as the following search:īe aware that the database may be set up to do one of three things with your search terms: If you're having difficulty finding sources without them, the information below may be why. For example, Google automatically adds Boolean AND between every search term you enter. Some databases may add certain default Boolean Operators to your search terms.

You may find satisfactory search results without Boolean Operators.

Finding Resources in the Library's Online Catalog.Evaluating, Organizing, and Citing Your Findings.
