> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.kitahq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Advanced Candidate Search

Find the right candidates faster by searching across your candidate database using names, contact details, job titles, employers, skills, or education. KitaHQ also supports advanced search operators to help you narrow down results and find candidates who match specific requirements.

![Image](https://mintcdn.com/kitahq/fqIFfI8By17QDjy1/images/image-8.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=fqIFfI8By17QDjy1\&q=85\&s=79799875b063c7edb46b449ea6dc6181)

## How to Search Candidates

**1. Navigate to **Candidates** from the left sidebar.**

**2. Enter a keyword or combination of keywords in the search bar at the top of the page.**

**3. KitaHQ searches across candidate profiles and resumes to find matching results.**

**4. Use **Filters** to further refine your search, or select a candidate to view their full profile.**

## Use Advanced Search Operators

Combine keywords and search operators to find candidates more precisely.

| Search Example | What It Does |
| :- | :- |
| `Python SQL` | Finds candidates with both words anywhere in their profile or resume. |
| `McKinsey OR BCG` | Finds candidates matching either word. |
| `"Product Manager"` | Finds the exact phrase in the specified order. |
| `Manager NOT Intern` | Finds candidates matching Manager while excluding Intern. |
| `(McKinsey OR BCG) AND Python` | Finds candidates matching Python and either McKinsey or BCG. |

## How Keyword Matching Works

KitaHQ searches across candidate names, contact information, roles, employers, skills, education, applied jobs, and resume content.

* **Short keywords:** Terms such as `Go`, `R`, or `C++` must match the whole word.
* **Longer keywords:** Can match part of a word. For example, searching `Kinsey` can also return `McKinsey`.
* **Exact phrases:** Use quotation marks to search for words appearing together in a specific order.
* **Exclusions:** Use `NOT` to exclude candidates matching a particular keyword.

When using `NOT`, KitaHQ checks all searchable candidate information. Candidates with missing information may still appear, since missing data is not treated as a match.

> [!TIP]
>
> Use the search bar to quickly find candidates in your existing database, and combine it with Filters when you need to narrow down your candidate list.


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