LinkedIn is a professional social networking site used by over 700 million users worldwide. With so many professionals on LinkedIn, you may need to search for a specific person’s profile. Here are some tips on how to find someone’s LinkedIn page.
Search by Name
The easiest way to find someone’s LinkedIn profile is to search for them by name. Go to the LinkedIn homepage and type the person’s full name into the search bar at the top of the page. For example, if you were searching for “John Smith”, you would type “John Smith” into the search bar.
LinkedIn will show you a list of profiles matching that name. Look through the results for the right person based on their photo, location, company, and position. Keep in mind that there may be multiple people with the same name. You can narrow your search by adding the person’s company or location after their name. For “John Smith in New York”, you would search for “John Smith New York”.
Search by Email Address
Another way to find someone is by searching for their email address. Type the person’s full email address into the search bar on LinkedIn’s homepage. For example, if you were searching for someone with the email [email protected], you would enter “[email protected]”.
This is often the most accurate way to find someone’s profile. Email addresses are unique, so you will either find that person’s profile or get no results if they don’t have a LinkedIn account. Just make sure you enter the complete and correct email address.
Use the “People” Search Filter
The regular LinkedIn search includes jobs, companies, content, and other items. To narrow your search to just people’s profiles, use the “People” filter on the left side of the results page.
After doing a name search, click on “People” to show only user profiles. This removes other irrelevant results and makes it easier to find the right person.
Search Within a Company
If you know the person works for a certain company but don’t know their name, you can search for them within that company’s LinkedIn page.
Go to the company’s LinkedIn page and click “See all ____ employees” on the right side. This will show you a list of people who work at that company. You can scroll through to find the person or search for their name in the search bar.
Check Who You May Know
LinkedIn gives recommendations for people you may know based on your connections and activity. Go to your LinkedIn homepage and see the “People Also Viewed” and “You May Know” sections.
Look through the profiles suggested here to see if the person you’re searching for appears. If you have any shared connections, they are more likely to show up in this section.
Ask for an Introduction
If you can’t find the person through searching LinkedIn, consider reaching out to someone who is connected to both of you. Ask them for an introduction to the person you wish to connect with.
Make sure you already have a relationship with the mutual connection before asking for an intro. Give them context on who you are and why you want to connect with the other person.
Use the LinkedIn Mobile App
The LinkedIn mobile app makes it easy to search for people nearby. Open the app and tap “Network” at the bottom.
Switch on “Nearby” to see LinkedIn members who are physically close to you. You can connect with them directly through the app.
Message the Company
If you still can’t find the person, consider messaging the company they work for through LinkedIn. Explain who you are looking for and ask if they can confirm if that employee has a LinkedIn profile.
Don’t abuse this method though – only message a company as a last resort if you have no other way to find the employee.
Do a Google Search
Perform a web search on Google for the person’s name and company. Sometimes their LinkedIn profile appears in the search results, even if it didn’t show up on LinkedIn.
You can also try searching their name plus “LinkedIn” to surface their profile.
Use Other Sites
Check to see if the person has public social media profiles on sites like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Often times their LinkedIn URL is listed on these profiles.
Or search their name on sites like ZoomInfo which aggregate professional contact information.
Consider They May Not Have a Profile
After exhausting all search options, the person you are looking for may simply not have a LinkedIn profile. While LinkedIn has over 700 million members, not everyone chooses to create an account.
If the person works for a company that doesn’t emphasize LinkedIn, or they are in a role that doesn’t require professional networking, chances are they haven’t made a profile.
Connect in Other Ways
If you still need to get in touch with someone who isn’t on LinkedIn, consider connecting through a different method:
- Email them directly
- Call or message them on their work phone number
- Ask the company receptionist to speak with them
- Connect via Facebook, Twitter, or other social networks
- Request an introduction through a mutual acquaintance
Conclusion
LinkedIn makes it easy to find and connect with professionals, with over 700 million users. Start by searching for their name or email address directly on LinkedIn. Try filtering by “People”, looking under their company page, or checking your recommendations. If their profile doesn’t appear after exhaustive searching, they may not have an account. Reach out through other methods to contact someone who isn’t on LinkedIn.