LinkedIn is useful for finding job vacancies, networking, and business relationships. One of the most valuable features of LinkedIn is the option to search for people by name, which is helpful whether you’re trying to connect with industry professionals, find potential employees, or reconnect with an old colleague. You may save time and grow your professional network by learning how to find people on LinkedIn fast by name.
Why Search for People by Name on LinkedIn?
- One of the most straightforward methods to connect with individuals in your business or profession on LinkedIn is to search for them by name. Here’s why having this functionality is crucial:
- Opportunities for Networking: You may widen your professional network by looking up people by name, whether you’re trying to connect with influencers, industry experts, or coworkers.
- Recruiting: If you’re a hiring manager or recruiter, looking for possible applicants by name will help you locate certain talent fast.
- Commercial Development: Establishing personal connections with influential decision-makers, company executives, or prospective customers can lead to new commercial ventures and cooperative efforts.
- Reestablishing contact: LinkedIn lets you contact previous coworkers, students, or acquaintances. Searching for people by name allows you to locate them more quickly.
How to Search for People by Name on LinkedIn
Finding someone by name on LinkedIn is straightforward. Follow these steps to locate individuals on both desktop and mobile:
Using the LinkedIn Search Bar on Desktop
- Log in to Your LinkedIn Account: Open your browser and log in to LinkedIn.
- Locate the Search Bar: You’ll see a search bar at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. This is where you’ll type the name of the person you’re looking for.
- Enter the Name: Start typing the person’s full name or a part of their name. LinkedIn will begin to show you suggestions as you type.
- Select the Right Profile: If the correct profile appears in the suggestions, click on it. If not, press “Enter” to view all profiles with matching names.
- Use Filters to Refine the Results: If you get too many search results, use the available filters (Connections, Locations, Companies, etc.) to narrow your search.
- View the Profile: Once you find the person you’re looking for, click on their profile for more details.
Using the LinkedIn Search Bar on Mobile (App)
- Open the LinkedIn App: Launch the LinkedIn app on your mobile device and log in.
- Tap the Search Icon: At the app’s top, you’ll see a magnifying glass icon. Tap this to open the search bar.
- Type the Person’s Name: Enter the name of the person you’re looking for. LinkedIn will suggest profiles based on your type, as with the desktop version.
- Browse the Results: If the correct profile appears, select it. Otherwise, tap “Search” to see all matching profiles.
- Use Filters: Use filters like location, connections, or companies to help refine your search if the results are too broad.
How to Use Filters to Refine Your Search Results
- Too many profiles may be returned when you search for someone only by name, mainly if their name is familiar. LinkedIn provides several filters to assist you in focusing your search results:
- Filter for Connections: Choose from connections that are closer to you (1st-degree connections), connections that are farther out in your network (2nd-degree connections), or connections that are already connected to you (3rd-degree connections).
- Places Filter: Use this filter to locate people in a certain city, nation, or area. This is particularly useful if the person you’re looking for is employed in a certain region.
- Companies Filter: Use the company filter to look for profiles associated with a particular organization if you know where the individual now works or has previously worked.
Using these filters together can help you quickly zero in on the exact profile you’re searching for.
Advanced Tips for Finding People by Name
If you’re having difficulty finding someone by name, here are some advanced search tips to improve your results:
- Use Quotation Marks for Exact Searches: When searching for someone, enclose their whole name in quotation marks (e.g., “John Smith”). Telling LinkedIn to search for specific matches can help weed out irrelevant results.
- Search by Partial Name: You may do a partial name search if you’re not sure how to spell or spell the entire name. To refine the results, combine this with filters.
- Include Job Title or Company: If you include a job title or company name in your search query (e.g., “John Smith Google” or “John Smith Marketing”), LinkedIn will be able to identify better the person you are looking for.
- Verify Mutual Connections: If you cannot locate someone by conducting a direct search, look through the profiles of your mutual connections. The individual may be listed.
How to Connect with or Message People You Find
Once you’ve found the person you were searching for, you may want to take the next step and connect or send a message. Here’s how:
- Send a Connection Request: The individual’s profile may have a “Connect” button. It’s ideal to add a customized message with your connection request that explains how you know the other person or why you’d like to connect. This makes it more likely that they will grant your request.
- Send a Direct Message (InMail): If you have a premium LinkedIn account, you can message someone directly without first establishing a connection. This is a fantastic method to connect with people on Linkedin for business or networking.
- Verify your privacy settings: Certain accounts can have privacy settings that restrict your ability to see certain LinkedIn content or even send messages.
Troubleshooting: What to Do If You Can’t Find Someone by Name
If you’re unable to find the person you’re searching for, here are a few common issues and solutions:
- Common Names Issue: If the person you’re looking for has a common name, your search may return too many results. Use filters like location, job title, or company to narrow the results.
- Profile Visibility: The person may have privacy settings enabled that limit profile visibility. This means only their connections or limited information is shown in the search results.
- Misspelled Names: Double-check the spelling of the name. Consider variations or alternative spellings of first or last names, especially if the person uses a nickname.
- Inactive Profiles: The person you’re looking for may have an inactive LinkedIn account or have deactivated their profile, making it difficult to find them in the search results.
Conclusion
A straightforward yet effective method for expanding your professional network, locating possible customers, or hiring new staff is to search for people by name on LinkedIn. You can find and connect with the people you need fast with LinkedIn’s sophisticated search options and filters. Using the techniques described in this article, you will be able to effectively identify the appropriate individuals and establish valuable professional relationships on LinkedIn.
FAQs
Can I search for people by name without logging into LinkedIn?
No, you must be logged into your LinkedIn account to perform searches and view full profiles.
What should I do if I don’t know the person’s full name?
To refine your search, use partial names or include additional details like their job title, company, or location.
Can I search for people using LinkedIn’s mobile app?
Yes, the LinkedIn mobile app has a search function that works similarly to the desktop version. It allows you to search by name and apply filters.
Why can’t I find specific people even though I know their names?
They may have restricted their profile visibility or deactivated their account. To improve your chances, use filters and double-check the spelling of their name.
How can I avoid getting too many search results when searching for familiar names?
Use LinkedIn’s filters to refine your search by location, company, industry, or connections. You can also use quotation marks for an exact name search.
