> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cutshort.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How do I search relevant candidates on Cutshort? > Start a talent search from a job description, set key requirements, add filters, and optionally run Top 50. 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. ## 1. Start a new search Open [cutshort.io/profile/candidate-search/new](https://cutshort.io/profile/candidate-search/new), or use **Talent database** → **Start a new search**. Describe the role you are hiring for, with optional experience, location, salary, and skills 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. ## 2. Enter key requirements Cutshort generates a first set of requirements from what you wrote. Edit them before the search starts. Key requirements modal with mandatory and preferred criteria, plus Add a criterion 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**. ## 3. Tighten results with filters The results page shows relevant candidates for this search. Use the left **Filters** panel to narrow the list. Candidate search results with Skills, Experience, Location, Salary, Notice period, and Boolean search filters 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](/employers/what-is-a-talent-card) to read the resume before you unlock or invite. ## 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. Top 50 on, with Export to google sheet and Add all to a job pipeline 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?](/employers/find-top-50-candidates). ## 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](https://cutshort.io). ## Related * [How do I find Top 50 candidates who match all my requirements?](/employers/find-top-50-candidates) * [What is a Talent Card?](/employers/what-is-a-talent-card) * [What happens when you unlock a talent card](/employers/unlock-talent-card)