Here's your step-by-step guide to getting fast results with Boolean on Ladders.
Sections Skills/Keywords, Candidate Profile, Experience and Education all have Boolean search options. Sections where mistakes are often made have a clickable "i" icon for on-page help.
In Title under Candidate Profile you could type, for example, senior software developer. Your search would look for each word and show mixed results. Use Boolean to:
- Search an exact phrase using double quotation marks.
In Skills/Keywords combine Boolean operators: double quotation marks and parentheses.
Double, not single, quotation marks must be used for search phrases.
Boolean search operators and, or and not do not need to be capitalized on Ladders.
- The ampersand & is converted into and and will group items, so either can be used.
Always ensure that double quotation marks and parentheses are opened and closed.
Don't use question marks, single quotation marks, asterisks, periods, or exclamation points. Below is a good example of how NOT to conduct a search on Ladders
Commas and semicolons are ignored and cannot be used to group items.
Practice your Boolean search techniques on Ladders and gain the long term benefit of fast, accurate searches and great candidates.


Here we're looking for a senior software developer with experience in java programming and/or web development. The parentheses used around the two additional search items make the Boolean operator or effective and should always be used.

Here we're filtering our software developers who are not at the professional level we are seeking. The operator not excludes the item directly following it.

Using double quotation marks as shown above will group your words and get fast results.

Using single quotation marks as shown above looks similar but will not group your words.



Look closely at the entries above. Most frustrating searches result in this easily fixed issue.

A quick glance over your entries can make a huge difference
Saved search — don't lose those search results!
Once you've conducted a search, you'll see a Save this search link next to the Saved Searches dropdown at the top of the page. Click the link to save your search under any name you wish, then choose if and how often you want matching search results sent to your inbox.