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How to Use Semantic Search and AI Suggestions in PyjamaHR: Troubleshooting, Best Practices, and Advanced Tips

Updated over 3 weeks ago

Executive Summary

PyjamaHR’s semantic search and AI-powered suggestions are designed to help you quickly find the most relevant candidates in your talent pool and streamline your hiring process. This article covers how to use these features effectively, recent improvements, common pitfalls, and advanced strategies—so you can maximize your results and avoid the most frequent issues reported by users.

Detailed Overview

What Are Semantic Search and AI Suggestions in PyjamaHR?

Semantic Search in PyjamaHR enables you to locate candidates in your talent pool using keywords, Boolean logic, and contextual matching—going beyond simple keyword matching to understand the intent behind your queries.
​ AI Suggestions (Resume Match) analyze your job descriptions and recommend candidates whose profiles best align with your requirements, helping you shortlist top talent faster.

When and Why to Use These Features

  • Talent Pool Search: Quickly identify candidates with specific skills, experience, or backgrounds—even across large databases.

  • Job-Candidate Matching: Let PyjamaHR’s AI recommend the best-fit candidates for your open roles, saving manual screening time.

  • Boolean Search (Beta): Use advanced operators for complex queries (e.g., binance AND singapore) to refine your results.

Integration with Other PyjamaHR Features

  • Resume Parser: Extracts structured data from resumes to power search and matching (note: parsing accuracy impacts search results).

  • Screening Questions: Supplement search by collecting structured candidate data (e.g., location) for more precise filtering.

  • Talent Pool Management: Add, tag, and organize candidates for easier future searches.

Business Impact

  • Faster Shortlisting: Reduce time-to-hire by surfacing the right candidates instantly.

  • Improved Accuracy: Semantic and AI-powered matching reduces manual errors and missed candidates.

  • Scalability: Efficiently manage and search large candidate databases.

Step-by-Step Guide: Using Semantic Search and AI Suggestions

Prerequisites

  • Access to Talent Pool and Jobs modules in PyjamaHR.

  • Candidates uploaded or parsed into your talent pool.

  • (For Boolean Search) Beta access may be required—contact support if not enabled.

1. Searching Your Talent Pool

  1. Navigate to Talent Pool:
    Go to the “Talent Pool” tab from the main dashboard.

    Screenshot: Talent Pool navigation highlighted

  2. Enter Your Search Query:
    - For simple searches, type keywords (e.g., “Terraform Labs”).
    - For advanced searches, click the Boolean Search toggle (if enabled).
    - Hover over the info icon next to Boolean Search for operator guidance.

    Screenshot: Boolean Search toggle and info icon

  3. Use Boolean Operators:
    - AND (find candidates with both terms): binance AND singapore
    - OR (either term): binance OR coinbase
    - NOT (exclude term): binance NOT singapore
    - Use quotes for exact phrases: "machine learning"
    - (Check info icon for full list of supported operators.)

  4. Review Results:
    - Candidates matching your criteria will appear below.
    - Click on a candidate to view their full profile and parsed resume data.

2. Using AI Suggestions (Resume Match)

  1. Create or Open a Job:
    Go to “Jobs” and select or create a new job posting.

  2. Add Candidates to the Job:
    - Manually add candidates from your talent pool to the job.
    - (Note: AI suggestions currently work on candidates added to the job, not directly from the talent pool.)

  3. View Resume Match Scores:
    - Once candidates are added, PyjamaHR’s AI will score and rank them based on how well their profiles match the job description.
    - Use these scores to prioritize outreach and screening.

    Screenshot: Resume Match scores in candidate list

3. Filtering by Additional Criteria

  • Location Filtering:
    Currently, direct filtering by location in the talent pool is not available.
    ​ Workaround: Add a mandatory screening question (e.g., “Which country are you based in?”) to collect this data for future filtering.

Advanced Usage & Best Practices

Power User Tips

  • Combine Boolean and Keyword Search:
    Use Boolean logic for complex queries, but always double-check results for edge cases (see troubleshooting below).

  • Leverage Resume Match for Prioritization:
    After adding candidates to a job, use AI scores to focus on the best matches first.

  • Regularly Update Candidate Data:
    Ensure resumes are up-to-date and well-formatted for optimal parsing and search accuracy.

Optimization Strategies

  • Tag Candidates:
    Use tags for skills, locations, or experience to supplement search.

  • Standardize Resume Formats:
    Encourage candidates to submit resumes in common formats (PDF, DOCX) for better parsing.

  • Feedback Loop:
    If you notice missing or incorrect search results, report them—PyjamaHR is actively improving parsing and search algorithms.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:
- Use the info icon for Boolean operator guidance.
- Add screening questions for missing structured data.
- Manually review search results for critical hires.

Don’t:
- Rely solely on keyword search if results seem incomplete—try Boolean or AI suggestions.
- Assume all resume data is parsed perfectly; check candidate profiles for accuracy.
- Forget to update your team on new search features or improvements.

Troubleshooting & Common Issues

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue: Candidate not appearing in search results (e.g., “Alvin Chee” missing for binance AND singapore).
​ Solution:
- Check if the resume was parsed correctly (keywords may be missing from parsed data).
- Try both keyword and Boolean search modes.
- If still missing, contact support with candidate/job ID and search query for investigation.

Issue: Boolean search not working or producing unexpected results.
​ Solution:
- Confirm Boolean Search is enabled (beta feature).
- Use the info icon for correct operator syntax.
- If issues persist, report to support—feature is under active improvement.

Issue: Cannot filter by location.
​ Solution:
- Use screening questions to collect location data for future filtering.

Issue: AI suggestions not showing candidates from the talent pool automatically.
​ Solution:
- Manually add candidates from the talent pool to the job to enable Resume Match scoring.

Recovery Procedures

  • If you suspect a parsing issue, re-upload the resume or contact support for manual review.

  • For urgent searches, use both keyword and Boolean search, and manually scan candidate lists as a backup.

When to Contact Support

  • Persistent missing candidates despite correct queries.

  • Boolean search not available or malfunctioning.

  • Resume parsing errors affecting searchability.

Comprehensive FAQ

  1. Why isn’t my keyword search returning all relevant candidates?
    Parsing issues or incomplete resume data can cause this. Try Boolean search, check parsed data, and contact support if needed.

  2. How do I use Boolean operators in PyjamaHR search?
    Enable Boolean Search, then use operators like AND, OR, NOT. Hover over the info icon for syntax help.

  3. Can I filter candidates by location?
    Not directly. Use screening questions to collect this data for future filtering.

  4. How does AI Resume Match work?
    It scores candidates added to a job based on how well their profiles match the job description.

  5. Can AI suggestions automatically recommend candidates from my entire talent pool?
    Not currently. You must add candidates to the job first.

  6. Why are some candidates missing from search results?
    Likely due to resume parsing limitations. Re-upload or contact support.

  7. What resume formats work best for parsing?
    PDF and DOCX are recommended for optimal parsing accuracy.

  8. How can I improve search accuracy?
    Use Boolean search, keep resumes updated, and tag candidates.

  9. Where can I find documentation on Boolean search operators?
    Hover over the info icon next to Boolean Search in the UI.

  10. What should I do if Boolean search is not enabled for my account?
    Contact support to request beta access.

  11. How do I report a search or parsing issue?
    Provide candidate/job IDs, search queries, and screenshots to support.

  12. Can I save my search queries for future use?
    Not mentioned in current features—check for updates or request this feature.

Related Features & Next Steps

  • Resume Parser: Ensure resumes are well-formatted for best search results.

  • Screening Questions: Collect structured data for advanced filtering.

  • Tags: Organize and categorize candidates for easier search.

  • Job Management: Use AI Resume Match after adding candidates to jobs.

Recommended Articles:
- How to Use Resume Match in PyjamaHR
- Uploading and Parsing Resumes Effectively
- Managing Your Talent Pool

Still have questions?
If you encounter persistent issues or need advanced troubleshooting, contact PyjamaHR Support with detailed information (candidate/job IDs, search queries, screenshots). Your feedback helps us improve!

Keywords: semantic search, AI suggestions, Boolean search, resume match, talent pool, candidate search, PyjamaHR, troubleshooting, best practices

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