How recruiters search for candidates on Naukri
By Nitin Panwar, former AVP of GenAI at Naukri.com · Updated 3 November 2026
Recruiters on Naukri search the resume database, called Resdex, with keywords (titles and skills, often combined with AND/OR), then filter by experience, current and preferred location, salary, notice period and how recently a profile was active. They call the profiles near the top that look right at a glance. To be found, your profile must contain their words and pass their filters.
Step 1: keywords
A recruiter starts with the words in the job: the title ("Java Developer", "Product Manager") and must-have skills ("Spring Boot", "Kafka"). Profiles that contain those words in the headline, key skills, current designation and resume rank for that search; profiles that don't, don't appear.
That's why the exact wording matters. "Software Engineer 3" or an internal title won't match a search for "Senior Backend Engineer".
Step 2: filters
Each filter removes people. A profile with a missing or outdated field can be filtered out before anyone sees it.
- Total experience range
- Current location and preferred locations
- Current and expected salary
- Notice period
- Recently active or modified profiles
- Education, industry and current company, when the role needs them
Step 3: the few seconds on your profile
From the result list, a recruiter sees your headline, current role, experience, location and notice period first. If those read like the job, they open the profile or download the CV, which is when Naukri emails you that someone "took action on your profile". If it still fits, they call or send an NVite.
What this means for your profile
- Put the target title and top skills in your resume headline.
- Keep key skills focused on the role you want.
- Keep location, notice period and salary fields current and honest.
- Stay recently active.
Questions people ask
- What is Resdex?
- Resdex is Naukri's resume database that recruiters pay to search. It's how most recruiters find candidates who haven't applied to their job.
- Can I see what recruiters searched to find me?
- Not directly. You can see who acted on your profile and which roles they invited you for, from Naukri's emails and notifications, which shows which searches you're appearing in.