LinkedIn® Boolean search string builder

Build a Boolean search from job titles and skills, then paste it into the LinkedIn search bar or run it on Google as an X-ray search. Free, no sign-up.

Boolean search combines keywords with AND, OR and NOT to narrow down LinkedIn results. Writing the string by hand is easy to get wrong: a missing quote or parenthesis changes what you find. Fill in the fields below and separate terms with commas.

Any of these (OR).

All of these (AND).

At least one of these (OR). Add two or more; a single term works like a must-have.

None of these (NOT).

Your search string
Add at least one job title or skill.

Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to LinkTrack or LinkedIn.

How to use it on LinkedIn

  1. 1. Copy the string

    Fill in the fields and click "Copy".

  2. 2. Paste it into LinkedIn

    Paste it into the search bar at the top of LinkedIn and press Enter.

  3. 3. Narrow it down

    Choose People to see profiles, then add filters such as location or current company.

Boolean operators LinkedIn supports

"…"
Exact phrase. "product manager" finds the two words together, in that order.
AND
Every term must appear. Type it in capitals.
OR
Any of the terms can appear. Type it in capitals.
NOT
Leaves out profiles that contain the term. Type it in capitals.
( )
Groups terms. Parentheses are the only grouping characters LinkedIn recognizes.

LinkedIn reads a string in this order: quotes, parentheses, NOT, AND, OR. Use parentheses whenever you mix AND and OR; the builder does this for you.

Google X-ray search for LinkedIn profiles

An X-ray search uses Google instead of LinkedIn. "site:linkedin.com/in" limits the results to LinkedIn profile pages.

Google's rules are different: you do not type AND, because a space already means all terms. To leave a word out, put a minus sign in front of it instead of NOT.

Google only shows public profiles, and its copy of a profile can be out of date. Open the profile on LinkedIn before you contact someone.

Example

site:linkedin.com/in ("Backend Developer" OR "Software Engineer") Java ("Spring Boot" OR Kotlin) -junior -intern

Ready-made examples

Copy one as it is, or adapt it to your own job titles and skills.

Backend developer

("Backend Developer" OR "Software Engineer") AND Java AND ("Spring Boot" OR Kotlin) NOT (junior OR intern)

Sales representative

("Account Executive" OR "Sales Representative") AND SaaS NOT intern

HR specialist

("HR Specialist" OR "Talent Acquisition Specialist" OR Recruiter) NOT (intern OR student)

Data analyst

("Data Analyst" OR "Business Analyst") AND SQL AND (Python OR "Power BI") NOT intern

Product manager

("Product Manager" OR "Product Owner") AND (B2B OR SaaS) NOT assistant

Common mistakes

  • ▸Lowercase operators: LinkedIn reads "and", "or" and "not" as ordinary words.
  • ▸Multi-word titles without quotes: product manager without quotes also matches profiles where the two words appear apart.
  • ▸Square brackets or braces: LinkedIn treats [ ] and { } as ordinary characters, not as groups.
  • ▸The * wildcard: LinkedIn does not support it. List the variations instead, for example developer OR development.
  • ▸Mixing AND and OR without parentheses: the results are not what you expect.
  • ▸Short words inside quotes: words such as "in", "by" and "with" are left out of quoted searches.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I paste the search string?

Into the search bar at the top of LinkedIn. That is where LinkedIn's help page says Boolean search works. Then choose People to see profiles.

Does this tool search LinkedIn for me?

No. It only builds the text. You paste it into LinkedIn and run the search yourself. Nothing you type is sent to LinkedIn or to LinkTrack.

Why does the builder add quotes and parentheses?

Quotes keep multi-word titles together, and parentheses make OR groups work correctly next to AND, because LinkedIn applies AND before OR.

What is a Google X-ray search?

A search on Google that starts with site:linkedin.com/in, so the results are LinkedIn profile pages. It finds only public profiles. Switch the builder to Google X-ray to create one.

What should I do with the people I find?

Keep them in one place and follow up. LinkTrack's Chrome extension saves a LinkedIn profile you open into a pipeline with notes and reminders. The free plan holds up to 25 people.

Read more

Keep track of the people you find

Free to start. No automation: it never acts on your account.

Get started freeView pricing