Did you know that LinkedIn is one of the leading professional networks with over 900 million users in 200+ countries?
Approximately 2 million posts, articles, and videos are published on LinkedIn daily. More than 50 million people use LinkedIn to search for jobs each week and over 87% of recruiters and hiring managers use LinkedIn to find candidates.
However, searching for people on LinkedIn can be challenging for a variety of reasons. Here’s a guide to some unconventional tools and tricks for finding people on LinkedIn.
How to Find Someone on LinkedIn
Hey there,
If you’re reading this post then most likely you’re looking for a person on LinkedIn and are having trouble finding them.
This can happen for a number of reasons:
- You do not have a registered LinkedIn account
- You would like to preserve anonymity
- You’re not sure what their full name is
- You’re not sure who exactly you’re looking for
Let’s go through a couple of out-of-the-box options for LinkedIn people search, but first, a little bit about me.
My name is Konstantin and I am the CEO & Co-Founder of Names and Facts, a people search engine, and I’m very passionate about research and data science. I have been a power user of LinkedIn since 2014 and had numerous occasions where I had to look up companies and people on LinkedIn.
I would like to share some proven methods that I’ve personally tried and use on a daily basis. Let’s dive in!
1. Using Search Engines Effectively
Even without a LinkedIn account, you can leverage search engines like Google to find LinkedIn profiles. Here’s how:
a. Search by Name
If you know the name of the person and their current or previous company then you could run a search within LinkedIn using the following query:
site:linkedin.com ‘Name’ ‘Company’This will return the list of all people on LinkedIn with the requested name and company mentioned on their profile.
Example: site:linkedin.com ‘Patrick Collison’ ‘Stripe’
The benefit of using search engines rather than looking up a person on LinkedIn directly is that the person won’t be notified that you viewed their profile (yes, LinkedIn shares profile view history with the profile owner unless you turn on private browsing).
Keep in mind, that once you do click on a link from Google you will be taken to LinkedIn and if you’re logged in then the person will know that you viewed their profile.
b. Search by Keyword
This method is useful if you don’t know exactly who you’re looking for or don’t know the full name of the person. Similar to the query above, you will need to add keywords in brackets for an exact result match.
site:linkedin.com 'data scientist' 'Stripe'This will return a list of all mentions of your keywords within LinkedIn. Whilst not the most precise method, it has its benefits – if you’re looking for a broad group of people for lead generation or outreach then this will be a solid approach, especially if you add more parameters to the query to include contacts.
Example: site:linkedin.com ‘data scientist’ ‘gmail’
You can add keywords to find the person by occupation, location/country, organisation, university, certifications, or an industry keyword (i.e. AI, FinTech, NodeJS, SaaS, etc.).
In order to display contacts of that person you will also need to specify a keyword specific to a contact method (i.e. phone, email, WhatsApp, etc.). For example, ‘gmail’ indicates that you’re looking for an email domain within your search and the results may include a personal email address.
c. Cross-Reference Social Media Platforms
Other social media platforms can be valuable sources of information that can guide you to the right LinkedIn profile.
Look for mentions of LinkedIn profiles on Twitter or Facebook. Many people share their LinkedIn profiles on these platforms.
'Name' 'LinkedIn' site:twitter.comThis query will return all tweets of a person mentioning “LinkedIn” and you can also try this with Facebook.
Example: ‘Mark Green’ ‘LinkedIn’ site:facebook.com
You can combine multiple methods to achieve the best results. Once you have the person’s profile you can then run additional searches to extract their contact information.
Please note, that all of these methods rely solely on open public information, meaning that if the person has enabled privacy settings to hide their profile from search engines or has not posted their contacts publicly then the above strategies will not work.
2. Anonymous LinkedIn Search
You can browse LinkedIn profiles using the inbuilt LinkedIn search but you will have to register first.
To preserve your anonymity while conducting searches, consider the following methods:
a. Private Viewing Mode
Make sure that you turn on private viewing mode if you want to browse discreetly as LinkedIn logs and notifies users who viewed their profile.
Additionally, us private or incognito browsing modes to prevent your search history from being stored.
b. VPN Services
A VPN service can mask your IP address, adding an extra layer of anonymity to your search activities. Alternatively, you may want to consider using TOR browser for this.
c. Disposable Email Accounts
If you do not want to use your own LinkedIn account or to sign up using your personal email during your search, you can use a disposable email account to avoid revealing your primary email address.
This method will guarantee complete anonymity but keep in mind that you may also have to send a connection request to the person first, as many users adjust their privacy settings to display contact information only to their connections.
This would mean that you will need to ensure that profile is not barely filled out prior to sending a connection request.
We do not recommend using disposable email accounts for social media registration.
Once you have configured your private browsing mode using one of the methods above, you can start using LinkedIn search.
3. Using LinkedIn Search
Using LinkedIn’s search functionality effectively can help you locate the person you’re looking for, even if you have limited information. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using LinkedIn search to find someone:
a. Basic Search
LinkedIn basic search is useful if you want to quickly find a new or existing contact to your connections. This works best if the person has a rare name – for more common names you will have to do a bit more digging.
Using basic search:
- Log In to LinkedIn: Start by logging in to your LinkedIn account. If you don’t have one, consider creating a basic profile to access more features (remember tips for anonymous browsing written above).
- Search Bar: Use the search bar at the top of the LinkedIn homepage. Enter the person’s name, if known. LinkedIn will display a list of matching results.
- People Filter: Select the filter “People” to ensure that you’re getting results related to LinkedIn user profiles and not all posts, news, groups, etc.
b. Advanced Search
LinkedIn advanced search is a way to narrow down the results and pinpoint the exact person our of all search results. Works best for common names or if there are multiple result pages.
Using advanced search:
- Search Bar: Start with a basic search to view the results page.
- All Filters: Click on the “All Filters” button next to the search bar to access advanced search filters. This will open a sidebar with multiple filtering options.
- Filter by Connections: Use the connections filter to narrow down your search by 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-degree connections.
- Filter by Location: Enter the city, state, or country to narrow down the search to a specific geographic area.
- Filter by Current Company: If you know where the person works, use the current company filter to narrow your search.
- Filter by Industry: Select the relevant industry to narrow down the profiles to those working in a specific sector.
c. Search for Specific Fields
Searching for specific fields or keywords could help in finding the right person faster. This method works just like a Google search with keywords.
- Titles and Positions: If you know the person’s job title, add it to your search. For example, ‘John Doe marketing manager’.
- Skills and Endorsements: Look for specific skills or endorsements. For example, ‘John Doe Python’.
- Education: If you know where the person studied, include the institution’s name. For example, ‘John Doe Harvard’.
d. Using LinkedIn Recruiter (Premium Feature)
LinkedIn Recruiter is a paid talent acquisition tool provided by LinkedIn that is designed specifically for recruiting professionals. It offers advanced search capabilities, candidate management tools, and features that simplify the hiring process.
If you have access to LinkedIn Recruiter then most likely you are already a pro in LinkedIn people search. Nevertheless, here are some key advantages of using LinkedIn Recruiter:
- Advanced Filters: LinkedIn Recruiter offers advanced search filters not available in the free version, such as years of experience, specific skills, and more.
- InMail: Use InMail to directly contact the person if you find their profile and they are not in your connections.
4. LinkedIn People Search Tools
There are third-party tools like Lusha, RocketReach, ContactOut, and others that can help find detailed contact information. Some of these tools come as a handy browser extension, allowing you to simply point to a profile to get their contacts.
The benefit of using LinkedIn search tools and extensions is that they remove all the guesswork and the need for manual search. The downside is that most of these services require a payment or a membership access to get the desired contact information.
Luckily, there are trials and free credits available so if you’re looking for one or two people then this would be your quickest and best option (and also free!). However, if you’re doing bulk lookups then this method could quickly become very costly.
5. Alternatives
If you’re looking for people in general (and not just on LinkedIn) then you could consider using a people search service like Names and Facts.
You will receive full contact information as well as additional valuable insights into the person’s past with an instantly compiled background check report – at a much lower price too!
To find information on people using Names and Facts:
- Search for a name
- Refine the results using filters
- View profile with a detailed background report
The benefit of having access to the Names and Facts membership is that you have unlimited access to a wealth of information on anyone at a flat monthly fee. Unlike pay-as-you-go services that could become very costly, Names and Facts has a simple fixed pricing model.
Conclusion
Finding someone on LinkedIn can be challenging, especially with constraints like not having a registered account, wanting to preserve anonymity, not knowing the full name, or being unsure who exactly you’re looking for. However, there are various out-of-the-box methods and tools that can help you in your search.
By leveraging search engines, using keywords and filtering techniques, cross-referencing other social media platforms, and utilizing LinkedIn’s own advanced search features, you can enhance your ability to locate individuals on LinkedIn. If anonymity is a priority, employing private viewing modes, VPNs, and disposable email accounts can help maintain your privacy.
For those with access to LinkedIn Recruiter or third-party tools like Lusha and RocketReach, the search process can be even more streamlined and efficient. Additionally, exploring people search services like Names and Facts can provide comprehensive background information beyond LinkedIn profiles.
By combining these strategies, you can effectively navigate LinkedIn’s vast network and find the person you’re looking for, even under challenging circumstances.
FAQ:
Can I search for people on LinkedIn without an account?
Yes, you can use search engines like Google to find LinkedIn profiles without having an account. Use queries like site:linkedin.com "Name" "Company" to find profiles. However, if you click on the links and view the profiles directly, LinkedIn might still notify the person if you’re logged in to your account.
How can I remain anonymous while searching on LinkedIn?
To maintain anonymity, use LinkedIn’s private viewing mode or browse profiles without logging into an account. Additionally, use incognito or private browsing modes, VPN services, or disposable email accounts to avoid leaving a trace.
What if I don’t know the full name of the person I’m searching for?
You can use keywords related to their job title, company, location, or industry in your search. For example, site:linkedin.com 'data scientist' 'Stripe' can help you find profiles even if you don’t know the person’s full name. Alternatively, use LinkedIn advanced search features to find the person that you’re looking for.
What tools can help me find contact information for LinkedIn profiles?
Third-party tools like Lusha, RocketReach, and ContactOut can provide detailed contact information. These tools often come as browser extensions that simplify the process. However, they usually require payment or membership access.
Are there alternatives to LinkedIn for finding people?
Yes, services like Names and Facts offer comprehensive people search capabilities. These platforms provide full contact information and detailed background reports at a flat monthly fee, making them a cost-effective alternative for finding people beyond LinkedIn.
