Boolean Search Builder Skill

Great sourcing starts with a precise search. The skill is turning a role into the right combination of synonyms (titles and skills people actually use), must-haves, and exclusions — then refining as the results come back. This skill writes those strings, including X-ray searches that reach profiles via Google, and a plan to tune the funnel.

Working from a brief

Given "find senior backend engineers in Berlin", build the strings anyway — infer the likely title and skill synonyms, seniority signals, and sensible exclusions, labelling assumptions. Provide both a tight and a broad version. Never hand back questions instead of usable strings.

Required Inputs

Ask for these only if they aren't already provided (else infer and label):

• The role — title(s), seniority, and the core skills/tools that define a fit.
• Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves — non-negotiables vs. signals that just boost.
• Filters — location (and remote?), industry, language, or other constraints.
• Where you'll search — LinkedIn, a job board, GitHub, or general web (X-ray).

Output Format

Sourcing Search: [role]

1. Keyword map — the building blocks before the string:

• Titles (with synonyms/variants), Skills/tools (with synonyms), Seniority signals, Exclusions (junior, recruiter, intern, unrelated meanings).

2. Boolean strings — ready to paste:

• Tight (high precision) and (high recall) versions, using / / / quotes / parentheses correctly.