Are you trying to find former employees of a company on LinkedIn? Luckily for you, we have crafted this guide which covers the benefits of using LinkedIn for researching people, and companies they work at. Also, you will learn multiple ways you can search for someone on this social network.
You can easily find former employees with one of these three methods:
1. Search for their first and last name, and use the advanced filters. In the advanced filters, set the past company filter to where the employee was working at.
2. Open the current company they are working at, go to the “People” tab, and search for them there.
3. Open up the school they went to and go to the “Alumni” tab and search for them there.
LinkedIn search features and functionalities
LinkedIn’s search functionality allows users to find resources, information, and individuals that match their research requirements. To utilize this feature effectively, users can employ the following search functionalities:
- Basic search: The main search bar grants access to users, jobs, content, groups, companies, and more within the platform. Basic searches can be filtered by criteria such as location, job title, company size, and industry.
- Advanced Search: Advanced search can be accessed by clicking the “All Filters” button next to the search bar, enabling users to refine their search further with specific parameters or input combinations. Users can search based on keywords, job title or function, industry, company name, location, language, and degree of connection.
- Boolean Search: Boolean search techniques can be employed in the main search bar to employ logical operators like AND, OR, and NOT for refined and targeted search results. Essential when searching for niche subjects or combining multiple keywords, Boolean search proves to be indispensable for effective research.
- Alumni Search: Utilizing the Alumni search feature on a school or university page can provide invaluable data on career paths, locations, and industries where fellow alumni have found success. This can be beneficial for understanding employment trends, networking, or generating ideas for research projects.
- Groups and Hashtags: A wealth of information awaits within industry-specific or interest-based groups on LinkedIn. Joining and following these groups facilitates connections with like-minded professionals and access to group-exclusive information. Users can also follow specific hashtags to monitor relevant conversations and subject matter in their field.
Utilizing LinkedIn as a research resource is an innovative, productive, and efficient way to network, uncover valuable information, and stay informed about industry trends in the digital age. By consistently engaging with the platform and optimizing search functionalities, LinkedIn can become an indispensable resource for personal and professional growth.
How to Find Former Employees Through Search
Exploring the company’s LinkedIn page
LinkedIn company pages provide valuable information on an organization’s employees, jobs, and related industries. By exploring a company’s LinkedIn page, you can also gain insight into the organization’s structure and identify potential contacts.
The first method is to review the employees listed on a company page. Navigate to the company’s LinkedIn page and click on the “People” tab.
From here, you can use the search bar to find the former employees of a company on LinkedIn. This is useful if you know where this person is currently working, but cannot find his profile. However, what if we are looking for a former employee, but don’t know which company he is currently working in?
In that case, you can use the advanced search feature on LinkedIn. Simply search for the person’s name, and when the search result shows up, select “All filters“.
A sidebar will pop up, and inside of it you’ll need to find a feature that says “Past Company“. You will need to scroll down in the sidebar a bit. When you find the filter, either select one of the available companies or select the “Add a company” button and write your own.
Now, when you select “Show results”, you’ll see exactly the person you are searching for. By leveraging the LinkedIn search bar and company pages, you can conduct a thorough search to find former employees.
If the person doesn’t show up, don’t give up yet. You can still try to find a mutual connection and see his connections to see if you can find the former employee there.
If you search for a person but put his current company in the “Past Company” filter, you won’t find the profile.
LinkedIn’s Alumni Tool
LinkedIn’s Alumni Tool is an advanced search feature that allows you to find and follow or connect with people who are a part of the same school as you. Also, this can be helpful if you are looking to find a former friend from college on LinkedIn.
To use the LinkedIn Alumni Tool, you can search for a specific school/university in the search bar and navigate to its page. From there, click on the “Alumni” tab.
This will provide you with a list of profiles associated with the company. You can filter the search results by similar criteria as on the company page. If everything else fails, it is possible that the person either doesn’t have a LinkedIn profile or has custom privacy settings.
Analyzing the list of profiles to determine former employees
Once you have the list of profiles filtered according to your requirements, you can start analyzing the results to identify former employees of the company. Also, pay attention to the profiles’ current positions, companies, and dates of employment to determine if they are former employees.
By utilizing advanced search features like Boolean search techniques and LinkedIn’s Alumni Tool, you can make your online searches more targeted and accurate. This will save you time, but also it will ensure that you’re only reviewing relevant information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How can I utilize LinkedIn Search to find a company’s ex-employees?
Using LinkedIn’s advanced search feature, enter the company name in the “Past Company” field and select the desired location, function, or industry. This will generate a list of professionals who have previously worked at the specified company.
2. Can LinkedIn’s Alumni tool help trace former staff members?
Yes, LinkedIn’s Alumni tool can assist in finding ex-employees of a company. Go to the university’s LinkedIn page, click on the “Alumni” tab, and filter the results by various criteria such as what they do, what they are skilled at, or where they currently work.
3. Is it possible to use industry and skill filters to narrow down my search for ex-employees?
Indeed, incorporating industry and skill filters can refine the search for former employees on LinkedIn. Select specific sectors or relevant skills in the search filters, along with the company name in the “Past Company” field, to obtain more targeted results.
4. Can I save my LinkedIn search to monitor the list of ex-employees regularly?
Yes, you can save your search results on LinkedIn by clicking the “Save search” option after conducting an advanced search. This feature enables easy access to updated results, which can be useful for ongoing monitoring.
5. How do I connect or initiate a conversation with a found former employee on LinkedIn?
After locating a former employee, visit their profile and click the “Connect” button or send them a personalized invitation. Also, you can use the “Message” button to initiate a conversation and seek their insights or input. If you don’t like the idea of contacting them through LinkedIn, find their email address instead.
6. How effective is using LinkedIn Groups to discover former staff members?
LinkedIn Groups can be valuable in identifying ex-employees by joining industry-specific or company-related groups. Engaging in conversations or viewing member lists may reveal individuals who have worked for the targeted company in the past.
