LinkedIn has evolved far beyond being a digital résumé platform — it’s now the most powerful B2B networking and lead generation engine in the world. Whether you’re looking to connect with potential clients, recruit top talent, or build partnerships, knowing how to search for people on LinkedIn is an essential skill.
With over 1 billion members across 200+ countries, the ability to find the right person — at the right company, in the right role, at the right time — can determine how successful your digital outreach or sales strategy will be.
In this detailed guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about how to search for people on LinkedIn effectively — from basic search tools to advanced filters and LinkedIn Sales Navigator hacks that can skyrocket your prospecting results.
Why Searching for People on LinkedIn Matters
Before diving into the “how,” it’s important to understand why mastering LinkedIn search is crucial.
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For Businesses: Find decision-makers, influencers, and partners who can help grow your business.
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For Recruiters: Identify candidates with specific skills, experience, and backgrounds.
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For Sales & Marketing Teams: Build highly targeted prospect lists for outreach and lead generation.
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For Job Seekers: Discover hiring managers, industry peers, and recruiters to expand your professional network.
In short — knowing how to search for people on LinkedIn efficiently saves you time and connects you directly with the people who matter most to your goals.
The Basics: Using LinkedIn’s Standard Search Bar
Every LinkedIn search begins at one place — the LinkedIn search bar at the top of the homepage.
Step 1: Enter a Keyword or Name
You can type a person’s:
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Full name (e.g., John Smith)
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Job title (e.g., Marketing Manager)
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Company name (e.g., Google)
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Skill or expertise (e.g., SEO Specialist)
Step 2: Filter the Results
After entering your search, click on the “People” tab.
Here, LinkedIn shows profiles that match your keyword.
To refine further, use filters like:
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Connections (1st, 2nd, 3rd degree)
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Location
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Current company
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Past company
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Industry
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School
These basic filters are available to all LinkedIn users and are often enough for casual networking or local business searches.
How to Search for People on LinkedIn by Name
If you already know the person’s name, searching becomes easier:
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Type their full name in the search bar.
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Choose the “People” filter.
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If too many results appear, narrow them down by adding their current company or location.
Pro tip: Use quotation marks (“ ”) around the name to find exact matches.
Example: searching for "Ravi Sharma"
will show profiles with that exact name only.
How to Search for People on LinkedIn by Company
Want to connect with employees from a specific company? Here’s how:
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Type the company name in the search bar (e.g., “The Info Technologies”).
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Select the Company Page.
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On the company’s profile, click the “People” tab.
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Use filters like:
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Job title
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Location
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Department
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Connection level
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This feature is incredibly helpful for sales professionals and recruiters who want to identify potential contacts within target organizations.
How to Search for People on LinkedIn by Location
If your goal is to build a local business network or hire regionally, the Location filter is your best friend.
Steps:
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Go to the LinkedIn search bar and click “People.”
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Click “All Filters.”
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Under Locations, select or type the city/region you’re targeting (e.g., “Mumbai, India”).
This is perfect for:
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Small businesses targeting local clients
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Regional recruiters hiring in specific cities
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Freelancers looking for opportunities nearby
How to Search for People on LinkedIn by Job Title
Looking for CEOs, marketing directors, or HR heads?
Type a job title keyword directly in the search bar — for example:
“Marketing Manager”
“Business Development Executive”
“Digital Marketing Specialist”
Then:
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Click on People.
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Refine with industry, company, or location filters.
You can even combine filters — such as “Marketing Manager” + “Bangalore” + “IT Industry” — to get hyper-targeted results.
How to Search for People on LinkedIn Using Boolean Search
LinkedIn supports Boolean search operators, allowing you to combine keywords strategically for more precise results.
Boolean Operators:
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AND – Combine multiple terms (e.g., Marketing AND Manager)
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OR – Search for either term (e.g., CEO OR Founder)
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NOT – Exclude a term (e.g., Manager NOT Sales)
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Quotation Marks (“ ”) – Exact phrase search (e.g., “Business Analyst”)
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Parentheses ( ) – Group terms (e.g., (Marketing OR Sales) AND Manager)
Boolean search is ideal for recruiters, marketers, or anyone doing advanced prospecting.
How to Search for People on LinkedIn Without Logging In
Yes — you can perform limited searches on LinkedIn without signing in.
Method:
Use Google with the syntax:
Example:
This lets you view public LinkedIn profiles directly from Google search.
However, note that detailed results and filters require logging into your LinkedIn account.
How to Search for People on LinkedIn Using Advanced Filters (Premium Users)
If you’re using LinkedIn Premium, you get access to advanced search filters that make prospecting effortless.
Premium Search Filters Include:
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Seniority level
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Company size
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Years of experience
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Function
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Interests
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Groups
These filters are particularly valuable for B2B marketers and recruiters who need highly targeted outreach lists.
How to Search for People on LinkedIn with Sales Navigator
If you’re serious about lead generation, Sales Navigator is the ultimate tool.
Benefits:
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Over 30 advanced filters
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Save and segment leads
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View expanded networks beyond 3rd-degree connections
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Receive AI-powered lead recommendations
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Send InMail directly to decision-makers
Steps to Search Using Sales Navigator:
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Go to Lead Filters.
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Use filters such as:
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Company headcount
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Geography
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Title or function
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Seniority level
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Industry
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Save your search and create alerts for new leads matching your criteria.
This feature alone can transform your LinkedIn into a sales powerhouse.
How to Search for People in LinkedIn Groups
LinkedIn Groups are treasure troves for networking.
To find people in specific groups:
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Search for a topic (e.g., “Digital Marketing Group”).
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Join the group.
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Inside the group, use the Members section to browse profiles.
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You can filter by relevance, activity, or role.
Connecting with people in niche groups increases your engagement rate and trust factor.
How to Search for People Who Viewed Your Profile
Sometimes, LinkedIn helps you find leads without searching at all.
Visit the “Who viewed your profile” section to see potential connections or prospects who already showed interest in your profile.
Premium users can view the complete list of visitors, while free users see only partial data.
How to Search for Alumni on LinkedIn
Networking with alumni from your college or university is an effective way to build trust quickly.
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Go to your school’s LinkedIn page.
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Click the “Alumni” tab.
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Filter by:
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Where they live
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Where they work
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What they do
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Skills they have
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This feature is perfect for building professional support networks and getting referrals.
Pro Tips for Smarter LinkedIn People Searches
Here are some expert strategies to maximize your LinkedIn search efficiency:
Use Keywords Strategically:
Add skills, certifications, and industries to narrow down searches.
Save Searches:
LinkedIn Premium allows saving your search filters for reuse.
Optimize Your Own Profile:
A complete and keyword-rich profile increases your visibility in others’ searches.
Engage Before You Connect:
Like or comment on posts before sending a connection request for a warmer introduction.
Personalize Connection Requests:
Always mention why you’re connecting — it boosts acceptance rates significantly.
How Businesses Can Leverage LinkedIn Search
For businesses, LinkedIn search isn’t just a tool — it’s a lead-generation engine.
Use Cases:
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Digital Marketing Agencies: Find CMOs or Marketing Heads to pitch services.
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Recruitment Firms: Identify qualified professionals with niche expertise.
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Consultants: Connect with business owners or startup founders.
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B2B Sales Teams: Build custom lead lists for outbound campaigns.
When paired with content marketing and targeted advertising, LinkedIn search can deliver high-quality leads at minimal cost.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Searching on LinkedIn
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Searching without filters — leads to irrelevant results
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Sending generic connection requests
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Ignoring Boolean search operators
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Forgetting to update your own profile visibility settings
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Overlooking Sales Navigator alerts
By avoiding these pitfalls, you’ll save time and improve your conversion rates.
Future of LinkedIn Search: AI and Smart Prospecting
LinkedIn’s future is powered by AI-driven search and predictive networking.
Features like AI-recommended leads, skills-based matches, and enhanced filters are already transforming how professionals connect.
As AI continues to evolve, LinkedIn will not only help you find people — it will predict who you should connect with next.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to search for people on LinkedIn is one of the most valuable digital skills today — whether you’re a marketer, recruiter, entrepreneur, or job seeker.
By using advanced filters, Boolean operators, and tools like Sales Navigator, you can find the right people, build meaningful relationships, and grow your professional network faster than ever before.
At The Info Technologies, we help brands and businesses optimize their LinkedIn presence, generate high-quality B2B leads, and scale their online visibility through data-driven digital marketing strategies.
Ready to Grow Your LinkedIn Network?
Let The Info Technologies help you dominate LinkedIn marketing, lead generation, and personal branding.
Email us at theinfotechnologies@gmail.com to start building your LinkedIn growth strategy today!
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