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Go to Talent database → Start a new search, describe the role, set key requirements, then use filters or Top 50 to get a shortlist you can act on. Open cutshort.io/profile/candidate-search/new, or use Talent database → Start a new search. Paste a job description or write a short role brief in the box. You can also set optional hard filters here:
  • Experience range
  • Locations — For job locations or Anywhere
  • Annual salary range
  • Skills (up to 2)
Click Search candidates. The button stays disabled until the description is at least 50 characters.

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2. Enter key requirements

Cutshort generates a first set of requirements from what you wrote. Edit them before the search starts. Write anything you would expect to see on a resume, for example:
  • Skills (Node.js, Figma, SQL)
  • Kind of work done (built APIs, owned a growth funnel, shipped a mobile app)
  • Team leading or management experience
  • College tier
  • Industry or domain (fintech, SaaS, healthcare)
Each line is auto-classified as Mandatory or Preferred. Use + Add a criterion for anything missing. Click Save and start search when you are ready. You can change these later from a talent card with Edit key requirements.

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3. Tighten results with filters

The results page shows relevant candidates for this search. Use the left Filters panel to narrow the list. Common filters include:
  • Boolean search — exact words from the resume (for example (kafka OR "event-driven") AND node)
  • Skills
  • Experience
  • Salary
  • Location
  • Notice period
  • Industry
  • Education pedigree
  • Candidate activity
Remove all filters clears the panel. Open a talent card to read the resume before you unlock or invite.

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4. Use Top 50 to shortlist

Flip the toggle from All relevant to Top 50. Cutshort reviews the search results against your key requirements and keeps people who match the mandatory ones. When it finishes you will see Successfully found top 50 after reviewing [N] most relevant candidates. Then you can:
  • Export to google sheet
  • Add all to a job pipeline
For the full Top 50 flow, limits, and what to do if no one matches, see How do I find Top 50 candidates who match all my requirements?.

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If something goes wrong

  • Search candidates is disabled — add more detail to the role description (50+ characters).
  • Could not generate requirements — add them with + Add a criterion, or start the search without them.
  • List is too broad — add a boolean, skill, location, salary, or notice-period filter, or turn on Top 50.
  • List is too thin — remove a filter, or click Edit criteria / Edit key requirements and relax a mandatory line.
Something else? Chat with us on cutshort.io.