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Free Boolean Search Builder

Build boolean search strings visually for LinkedIn, Google X-ray, GitHub, Stack Overflow, and Twitter. Below the tool you'll find a complete sourcing guide.

Searches public LinkedIn profiles. Combine with location and title for precision.

Search terms
Search string

Add terms above to build your search string

What is boolean sourcing?

Boolean sourcing is the practice of using logical operators — AND, OR, NOT — to build precise search queries that surface specific candidate profiles. Instead of searching “software engineer” and getting millions of results, you build a string that narrows to exactly the profiles you want.

The three operators:

  • AND — both terms must appear. “React AND TypeScript” returns profiles containing both.
  • OR — either term can appear. “React OR Vue” returns profiles with either framework. Use OR for synonyms.
  • NOT — excludes a term. “engineer NOT intern” removes profiles containing “intern.”

Platform-specific sourcing strategies

LinkedIn

LinkedIn's built-in search has limitations on free accounts. Boolean operators still work in the search bar: use AND, OR, NOT, and quotes for exact phrases. Combine with location and industry filters for best results.

Google X-ray

X-ray searching uses Google to search within LinkedIn: site:linkedin.com/in/ followed by your boolean string. This bypasses LinkedIn's search limits and gives you access to all public profiles. Add location terms and title variations.

GitHub

GitHub's search supports boolean and advanced filters: language:python, followers:>50, location:"San Francisco". Search users for engineers, repos for specific projects and contributions.

Boolean templates by role

Senior React Engineer

("react" OR "react.js") AND ("typescript" OR "javascript") AND ("senior" OR "lead" OR "staff")

Product Manager B2B SaaS

("product manager" OR "product owner") AND ("saas" OR "b2b") AND ("roadmap" OR "strategy")

Data Scientist ML

("data scientist" OR "machine learning engineer") AND ("python" OR "r") AND ("tensorflow" OR "pytorch" OR "scikit-learn")

DevOps / SRE

("devops" OR "site reliability" OR "sre") AND ("kubernetes" OR "docker") AND ("aws" OR "gcp" OR "azure")

Sales Enterprise AE

("account executive" OR "enterprise sales") AND ("saas" OR "software") AND ("quota" OR "closed")

UX Designer

("ux designer" OR "product designer") AND ("figma" OR "sketch") AND ("design system" OR "user research")

Also try
Resume-to-JD Matcher

Screen the candidates you source. Match resumes to your JD in seconds.

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JD Bias Checker

Make sure your JD attracts a diverse pipeline before you start sourcing.

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Frequently asked questions

What is boolean search in recruiting?
Boolean search uses logical operators — AND, OR, NOT — to combine search terms for precise candidate sourcing. AND narrows results (both terms required), OR broadens them (either term), and NOT excludes terms. Parentheses group terms. This tool builds the syntax for you so you don't have to remember the rules.
Which platform should I use for sourcing?
LinkedIn is the largest professional network and should be your primary source for most roles. Google X-ray searches LinkedIn profiles without LinkedIn's search limitations. GitHub is essential for engineering roles. Stack Overflow is strong for developers. Twitter/X can surface niche communities and thought leaders.
How do I know if my search string is good?
A good search string returns relevant profiles in the first page of results. If you're seeing too many irrelevant results, add more AND terms to narrow. If you're seeing too few results, add OR synonyms to broaden. The sweet spot is typically 20-200 results per search.
What are common boolean mistakes?
The most common mistakes: using too many AND terms (over-narrowing), forgetting to use OR for synonyms (missing candidates who use different terminology), not using quotes for multi-word phrases, and not testing the search before sending it to a sourcing team.
Can I save or share my search strings?
Copy the generated string and save it wherever your team keeps sourcing documentation. For recurring searches, build a library of strings organized by role type. This tool is browser-only — nothing is saved on our end.

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