The Challenges for Boolean "Beginners"

[Irina Shamaeva]

If you consider yourself a "beginner" in Internet sourcing and want to get going, what do you see as the main difficulties/challenges?
Is it:
* Boolean logic of the strings?
* difficulty with using search engine advanced operators?
* not being able to get the right results with seemingly good strings?
* too much info/manuals/cheatsheets to go through before you can even begin?

(your answer?)

Thanks,
Irina

[Marney Reed]

I'm not totally a beginner, but haven't done a whole lot. For me the 2nd, 3rd and 4th items you listed are the most difficult.
Marney

[Ken VanLieu]

My bigest problem is what site to search on: Linkedin, Google, Facebook...... I can manage the Boolean logic from the wonderful examples that you have provided. Thanks

[sally mcnamara]

Two and three are my challenges. I also need to know which search engins are used for specific types of searched. X-ray for example. How is it used.

[Lorraine Grimes]

The logic and not being able to get the right results.

[Stephanie Wolfe]

3 & 4 are where I seem to have the most difficulty.

[Shawna Doskocil]

I would have to say the 2nd, 3rd and 4th are my challenges too. I still feel that I need more information, but at the same time, I need to get comfortable with how to organize the information that I'm collecting to make it easier accessible. So far I have made a spreadsheet with my boolean strings that I'm using, but have not memorized all of the different definitions to understand why I should use this particular string, so that forces me to go through my notes, and usually I find other ways to get different results. I'm really looking forward to having this in my memory bank where I automatically know the variety of formulas I can try to get the results I need, and don't have to go through pages of notes or articles I've printed just to find a piece to the puzzle. It can be overwhelming at times, but once I find a few golden nuggets it makes the challenge more fun! ~Shawna

[Suzanne Wells]

My problem is finding candidates!!Looking for resumes and I keep getting job openings instead. Also, how to achieve getting lists of groups of specific candidites within a company. Also, what you mentioned above! Thanks!!

[Gurjit Ruprah]

What other sites apart from linked in are available ?

[Joseph Litvin]

not being able to get the right results with seemingly good strings?

[Brenda]

I create strings via trial and error and only know about Google.
Having more information about all would be helpful.
However, number 4 is the most challenging!

Brenda

[Joseph Pellenberg]

I am a number 3. I understand the logic,venn diagrams etc. I understand the search engine advanced operators,things beyond AND ,OR and AND NOT. What I need is a simple cheat sheet,one that says Google do this and how many characters are allowed,Monster do this and how many are allowed,Linked in the same etc. If I use a meta search engine,which ones can I use together etc

Joe pellenberg

[Brenda]

Brenda said:

I create strings via trial and error and only know about Google.
Having more information about all would be helpful.
However, number 4 is the most challenging!
Just enrolled with LinkedIn and am taking a class to learn how to use it!
Brenda