If you are wondering about this question, read this guide to understand the differences between AI search and Boolean search. It will also explain when to use which for best results.
History of AI in recruitment
Old AI
AI search has been around for many years. Most recruiting platforms use AI to match candidates to jobs.
However, the results were grossly underwhelming.
Modern AI with LLMs
The advent of large language models (LLMs) has revolutionized AI search.
LLMs like GPT-4 have greatly improved the accuracy and efficiency of AI search.
Boolean Search
Boolean search uses operators (AND, OR, NOT) to create precise searches.
It's an exact match approach where you control what you're looking for.
E.g. ("software engineer" OR "developer") AND (Python OR Java) AND (AWS OR "cloud computing") NOT ("entry level" OR intern)
AI Search looks for the context, not keywords
AI Search (aka "Semantic search") uses language understanding technologies and algorithms to understand the intent behind a query, rather than the exact words used.
Its goal is to NOT to match all the keywords. It tries to find candidates who match the overall role.
E.g. "Mobile developer with React Native and Frontend experience"
Comparison table
The winning combination is to use both
Step 1: Use Semantic search to find the relevant pool first.
Semantic search uses language understanding to find candidates with a good overall fit, even if they don't have all the keywords.
Step 2: Use boolean search to drill down by exact skills
Boolean search uses operators like AND, OR, and NOT to create precise searches for specific keywords.
How to combine AI search with Boolean search
Here is a demo on how to do this on Cutshort:
AI search also helps in
Initial Market Research
Semantic search is ideal for understanding the talent landscape and discovering new talent pools.
Understanding skill Relationships
Use semantic search to understand what skills typically go together in your industry.
Conclusion: Using the right tool is important
Like everything in recruiting, it's not about this vs that.
It's all about understanding the tools and using the right tool for the right job.
AI and Boolean searches are complementary tools for effective candidate sourcing. While Boolean search allows you to filter for specific skills and keywords, AI search can help you discover a broader pool of candidates who fit the overall role.
Combining the two approaches - using AI search to build an initial candidate pool, and then refining it with Boolean search - can be a winning strategy.
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Is AI Search now better than Boolean Search?