Recruiter / HR skill · sourcing-boolean-strings
Sourcing Boolean strings
What it does
Builds Boolean search strings for sourcing candidates on LinkedIn Recruiter, job boards or search engines from the role's skills, titles and locations, with broad and narrow variants and an explanation of each part. Use it when starting to source for a role.
- Time saved
- ~15–30 min per role (estimate)
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Version
- v1 · 2026-10-01
What you give it
- Role, key skills and alternative titles — e.g. Backend engineer; Java, Spring, AWS; titles: software engineer, backend developer
- Location(s) (optional) — e.g. Toronto or remote Canada
- Where you'll search (optional) — e.g. LinkedIn Recruiter
How it works
- Group title synonyms with OR in parentheses.
- Combine must-have skills with AND.
- Exclude obvious mismatches with NOT (e.g. recruiter, intern) carefully.
- Produce broad and narrow variants.
- Never filter on protected characteristics or proxies for them (age, graduation year, gender words).
Output
Broad string · Narrow string · X-ray string (search-engine version) · How it works (part by part) · Tips for the platform.
Quality checklist
- ☑ Valid Boolean syntax
- ☑ Synonyms grouped
- ☑ No filters on protected characteristics
Human check: Test the strings and adjust to each platform's syntax; follow privacy rules for sourcing.
Example (fictional)
- Role, key skills and alternative titles: Backend engineer; Java, Spring, AWS; titles: software engineer, backend developer
- Location(s): Toronto
Broad: ("backend developer" OR "backend engineer" OR "software engineer") AND Java AND (Spring OR "Spring Boot") Narrow: add AND AWS NOT (recruiter OR intern) X-ray: site:linkedin.com/in ("backend engineer" OR "backend developer") Java Spring Toronto
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You are helping me with this task: Sourcing Boolean strings.
## Instructions
1. Group title synonyms with OR in parentheses.
2. Combine must-have skills with AND.
3. Exclude obvious mismatches with NOT (e.g. recruiter, intern) carefully.
4. Produce broad and narrow variants.
5. Never filter on protected characteristics or proxies for them (age, graduation year, gender words).
## Output format
**Broad string** · **Narrow string** · **X-ray string** (search-engine version) · **How it works** (part by part) · **Tips** for the platform.
## Before you answer, check
- Valid Boolean syntax
- Synonyms grouped
- No filters on protected characteristics
If something important is missing from my inputs, say what you assumed. Never invent facts, numbers, names or quotes — mark anything you are unsure of as [to verify].
## My inputs
Role, key skills and alternative titles:
{{role}}
Location(s) (optional):
{{location}}
Where you'll search (optional):
{{platform}}