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

# Searching for Candidates

Our search tools help you quickly find qualified candidates by using natural language, parsing job descriptions, and accessing your search history.

## Search for Candidates with Natural Language

You can find candidates by typing your search criteria in plain language, just as you would describe them to a colleague. The system analyzes your query to identify key requirements like skills, location, and experience.

### Write Effective Search Queries

To get the best results, include specific details in your search. You can enter criteria such as:

* Job title
* Skills
* Location
* Years of experience
* Education level
* Work preferences (e.g., remote, onsite, hybrid)

For example, you could type a query like: `"React developer in Atlanta with 3+ years of experience"`.

## Generate Search Criteria from a Job Description

Save time by automatically creating a structured search from a full job description. This feature analyzes the text and extracts the key criteria for you.

### How to Generate Criteria from a Job Description

1. In the search bar, click the **Paste job description** icon.
2. A dialog box will appear. Paste the full job description into the text area.
3. Click **Continue**.
4. The system will analyze the description and generate a set of search filters based on the content.
5. You can review and adjust these filters before clicking **Search** to find candidates.

## Access and Manage Your Search History

Revisit or resume previous searches without starting over. Your search history is saved for easy access.

### How to Use Your Search History

* **Access History**: Click the **History** icon in the search bar to open a dropdown of your recent searches.
* **View Past Results**: For a completed search, click **View** to see the list of candidates found.
* **Resume an In-Progress Search**: If a search is still running, click **Resume** to continue monitoring its progress.
* **Rerun a Search**: Click on any search in the history dropdown to load its criteria into the search bar. You can then view the original results or modify the filters and run a new search.
* **Remove a Search**: Click **Remove** next to a search in your history to permanently delete it.

## How Search Works Behind the Scenes

The Search feature uses a multi-step process to deliver relevant results:

1. **Criteria Extraction**: AI parses your natural language query into a structured set of job criteria.
2. **Eligibility Check**: The system performs an initial filtering of your candidate database based on firm requirements like location, availability status, and minimum experience.
3. **Deep Evaluation**: Remaining candidates undergo a deep semantic evaluation against all job criteria, scoring them on various factors to determine the best fit.
4. **Ranked Results**: Candidates are ranked by their overall match score and presented in the results list.