LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 690 million users worldwide. As one of the most popular platforms for job seekers and recruiters, understanding how to optimize your LinkedIn job search is key to finding the right opportunities.
One of the most common questions job seekers have is whether LinkedIn’s job search supports Boolean search logic. The quick answer is yes, LinkedIn does allow you to use Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT to refine your job search results.
What is Boolean Search?
Boolean search, named after mathematician George Boole, is a method of combining keywords with operators like AND, OR, and NOT to filter search results. Using Boolean can help narrow down large result sets into more targeted and relevant matches.
Here are some examples of Boolean operators:
- AND – Requires both keywords to be present. For example, “project manager AND PMP” finds jobs with both project manager and PMP.
- OR – Requires at least one of the keywords to be present. For example, “project manager OR program manager” finds jobs with either term.
- NOT – Excludes keywords from results. For example, “project manager NOT intern” finds full-time project manager roles.
By combining Boolean operators and keywords, you can fine-tune your LinkedIn job search to surface more relevant opportunities.
How to Use Boolean Search on LinkedIn
Using Boolean operators on LinkedIn is easy. Here are the steps:
- Go to LinkedIn.com and click on Jobs in top navigation bar
- Enter your Boolean search query into the search jobs field. For example: “digital marketing AND manager”
- Hit enter to run the search. LinkedIn will return results that match your specifics.
LinkedIn will automatically detect and apply the Boolean operators as you type your query. You’ll see the keywords highlighted in different colors, indicating how LinkedIn is parsing the search string.
Boolean Search Examples
Here are some example Boolean searches to give you ideas of how to structure queries:
- “Social media manager AND New York City” – Social media manager jobs located in NYC
- “Registered nurse OR licensed practical nurse” – Jobs with either RN or LPN titles
- “Software engineer NOT intern” – Software engineer roles that are not internships
- “Project manager AND PMP OR Prince2” – Project manager jobs requiring PMP or Prince2 certifications
Mix and match the Boolean operators with relevant keywords for your skillset and location preferences to limit results to the most suitable job opportunities.
Boolean Search Limitations
While Boolean search gives you more control, there are some limitations to note:
- Must be precise – Boolean requires exact keywords to work. Spelling and terminology need to match.
- No phrase searching – LinkedIn does not support searching for multi-word phrases in quotation marks.
- No proximity searches – Cannot require keywords within a certain distance of each other.
Because of this, you may need to experiment with different keyword variations to get your desired results.
Tips for Effective Boolean Searching
Here are some tips to use Boolean effectively:
- Brainstorm relevant keywords – Make a list of must-have words and skills for the roles you want.
- Try different combinations – Switch up the Boolean operators and experiment with terminology.
- Be specific – More narrowly defined searches will give you more tailored results.
- Watch for highlighted terms – Pay attention to how LinkedIn is parsing your query.
- Review results – Scan through the job postings to evaluate relevance and tweak as needed.
Additional LinkedIn Job Search Tips
In addition to Boolean, here are some other tips for searching jobs on LinkedIn:
- Use titles, skills, companies – Enter these keywords instead of generic terms.
- Filter by date, location, type – Refine results using the filters on the left side.
- Look at “People Also Viewed” – Find other relevant openings that others looked at.
- Follow companies – Get notified when companies you’re interested in post jobs.
- Save search – Get email alerts when new jobs match your saved search.
Conclusion
Using Boolean operators like AND, OR and NOT in your LinkedIn job searches enables you to have more control over your results. Craft targeted queries with the right keyword combinations to surface job opportunities that closely match your skills and preferences.
It does require some trial and error to find the best search strings. Start broad and gradually narrow your focus. Analyze the results and tweak your Boolean terms until you get a relevant, manageable set of openings to evaluate.
Combining Boolean searching with LinkedIn’s powerful platform gives you unparalleled access to find your next great job opportunity among the company’s extensive database of open positions.