Finding people you share connections with on LinkedIn can be a great way to expand your professional network. When you have mutual connections with someone, it means you likely have overlapping networks and could benefit from connecting.
LinkedIn makes it easy to find people you share connections with using their search tools. Here are some tips on how to maximize your LinkedIn search to find people with the most mutual connections.
Use Advanced Search
The easiest way to find people you share connections with is to use LinkedIn’s advanced search. Here are the steps:
- Go to linkedin.com and log into your account
- Click on the search bar at the top of your LinkedIn homepage
- Type the name of the person or company you want to find connections at in the search bar
- Click on the “Filters” button next to the search bar
- Check the box next to “2nd Connections”
- You can also select “3rd Connections” to broaden your search
- Hit enter to run your search
This will show all the people in your extended network who match the name you searched. You can then sort by the number of mutual connections to see who you share the most connections with at the top.
Optimize Your Profile
To find more mutual connections, make sure your own LinkedIn profile is optimized to show all your connections. Here are some tips:
- Make sure you have added all your work experience and education history so LinkedIn can map your networks
- Connect with all colleagues from current and past jobs to fully populate your network
- Join LinkedIn Groups related to your industry or interests to expand your network
- Follow companies you want to build connections at so others know you have an interest
The more robust your own network, the more mutual connections you’ll have with others.
Use Company Pages
An easy way to find people at a specific company you share connections with is by following the company page. Here’s how:
- Search for the company page you want to find connections at
- Follow the company by clicking the “Follow” button
- Go to the company page and click on the “See all ### employees on LinkedIn” link
- This will show you all employees at that company who have LinkedIn profiles
- Sort by mutual connections to see who you share the most connections with
Focus on employees who work in departments or roles you want to network with.
Leverage Your School or University
Fellow alumni from your university or graduate school program are great mutual connections. To find them:
- Search for your university’s LinkedIn page and follow it
- Go to the alumni tab to see alumni who have profiles
- Sort by mutual connections to find those you share the most links with
- You can also join university alumni groups on LinkedIn to expand your network
Connecting with fellow alumni is a great way to establish mutual trust and opportunities.
Use LinkedIn’s “People You May Know” Section
LinkedIn will recommend connections for you to help grow your network. Here’s how to use it:
- Go to the “My Network” tab in LinkedIn
- Scroll down to the “People You May Know” section
- This lists people LinkedIn thinks you may share connections with based on your profile and activity
- The people with the most mutual connections will be at the top – focus on connecting with them
Regularly check this section and connect to people as LinkedIn suggests them to you.
Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Attending conferences and events for your industry is a great way to meet new connections in person.
- Use LinkedIn to research people who are attending the event and share connections with
- Sort event attendees by mutual connections to prioritize who to meet
- Introduce yourself to these mutual connections at the events
- Follow up after the event to connect on LinkedIn if you hit it off
Nothing beats an in-person meeting for building a strong connection.
Join LinkedIn Groups
Participating in LinkedIn Groups related to your interests and industry is a easy way to expand your connections.
- Search for active LinkedIn Groups for your role, industry, or interests
- Join Groups that have lively discussions and engagement
- Participate actively in Group conversations to get noticed
- Connect directly with Group members you build rapport with
Choose small niche Groups instead of huge generic ones to best expand your network.
Follow Company Pages and Influencers
Following leading voices and companies in your industry signals others what you’re interested in.
- Search for top influencers and company pages in your niche and follow them
- Like and comment on their posts to get noticed
- People who also follow those pages likely share your interests and make good connections
This helps like-minded professionals find you more easily.
Conclusion
Finding mutual connections on LinkedIn is about being strategic with your profile and search techniques. Optimize your own profile, utilize advanced search filters, and actively participate on LinkedIn to organically grow your quality connections over time. Mutual connections can open career doors and lead to satisfying professional relationships.
Tip | How it Helps Find Mutual Connections |
---|---|
Use Advanced Search Filters | Easily search 2nd and 3rd degree connections for mutual ties |
Optimize Your Profile | Shows the full breadth of your network for more mutual connections |
Follow Company Pages | See all employees of a company to find shared ties |
Leverage School and Universities | Alumni from your school are likely 2nd degree connections |
“People You May Know” | LinkedIn’s recommendations based on your profile and activity |
Attend Industry Events | Meet new mutual connections in-person |
Join LinkedIn Groups | Connect with like-minded professionals in your niche |
Follow Companies and Influencers | Get noticed by others interested in the same organizations and people |
Key Takeaways
- Optimize your LinkedIn profile to fully showcase your network connections
- Leverage advanced search filters, alumni networks, and “People You May Know”
- Engage with company pages, Groups, and influencers to get noticed
- Attend industry events to meet mutual connections in-person
- Focus on quality over quantity of mutual connections
Following these tips will organically grow your meaningful mutual connections on LinkedIn over time. The more strategic you are, the more LinkedIn will surface the right potential connections for you. Mutual connections create trust and opportunities to advance your career.