Quick Answer
Yes, it is possible to use a phone number to find someone on LinkedIn in some cases. LinkedIn allows you to search for profiles by phone number if the user has added their number to their public profile. However, many LinkedIn users choose to keep their phone number private or not include it at all. So a phone number search will not work for every profile. There are also some third party services that claim to provide phone number searches on LinkedIn, but their accuracy and legitimacy vary.
Searching LinkedIn by Phone Number
Here are the steps to search for a LinkedIn profile using a phone number:
1. Go to the LinkedIn homepage and log into your account if you aren’t already logged in.
2. Type the phone number into the main search bar at the top of the page. Make sure to include the country code if searching for an international number.
3. Hit enter to run the search. LinkedIn will display results for any members who have added that phone number to their public profile.
4. Scroll through the results to see if the profile you are searching for appears. Check for a name, location, company, or other identifying details to confirm it is the right person.
5. If the desired profile does not show up, it likely means they have not added that phone number to their public LinkedIn profile.
Tips for Phone Number Searching
Here are some tips to improve your chances when searching LinkedIn by phone number:
– Try different phone number formats – include or exclude the country code, parentheses, dashes, etc. to cover all variations.
– Broaden the search by only using a partial phone number such as the last 4 digits. This casts a wider net.
– Double check that the number you have for the person is current and correct. Make sure it is a number they would likely add to their professional profile.
– Utilize any other identifying information you know like full name, company, job title, location etc. to narrow down the results.
– If the profile doesn’t show up but you’re certain they have a LinkedIn account, they likely haven’t added their phone number publicly.
Limitations of LinkedIn Phone Number Search
While LinkedIn phone number searching can work in some cases, there are limitations to be aware of:
– **Phone number privacy** – Most LinkedIn members choose not to add their phone numbers to their profiles or set it to private so only connections can see it. This limits searchability.
– **Profile accuracy** – Even if a phone number is listed on a profile, it may be outdated or entered incorrectly. This will prevent the right profile from showing up.
– **International numbers** – Searching international numbers on LinkedIn seems to be unreliable and frequently does not produce results.
– **Lack of advanced search filters** – You can only search by a single phone number on LinkedIn. There is no way to combine it with name, location, company etc. to refine the query.
– **No reverse phone lookup** – LinkedIn only allows you to enter a number you already have. There is no reverse phone lookup based on a name to find an associated number.
Due to these drawbacks, a LinkedIn phone number search will fail to find a profile in many scenarios. It should not be relied on as a foolproof search method.
Third Party Phone Search Services
Some third party services claim to offer phone number searches on LinkedIn to uncover more profiles than the built-in search feature. Examples include:
– **RocketReach** – Provides reverse phone lookups by entering a name and location to find associated phone numbers and LinkedIn profiles. Offers a free trial.
– **PhoneInfoga** – Freeware that searches various data sources for phone numbers linked to names that can then be searched on LinkedIn. Command line interface.
– **PhoneInfoga** – Paid service that claims to search the “hidden” web and public sources to match phone numbers with LinkedIn profiles. Browser extension and mobile app available.
However, use caution with third party phone search services as many falsely overstate their capabilities and legitimacy. Make sure to vet them thoroughly before paying or providing any personal information. Their terms of service may also prohibit scraping and spamming LinkedIn data.
Ethics of Phone Number Searching
When considering searching LinkedIn by phone number, keep ethics in mind:
– Only use phone numbers you have legitimate access to and permission to search. Do not attempt hacking or illegal access of data.
– Avoid searching random numbers or bulk searching phone lists on LinkedIn which may be considered scraping.
– Respect people’s privacy. If their profile is not readily discoverable through a published phone number, move on.
– Limit searches about a person to what is required for your specific professional need. Avoid unnecessary digging.
– Be transparent if you need to contact someone you found by phone number on LinkedIn. Explain how you discovered them.
Following these ethical principles helps build trust and maintain your reputation on LinkedIn.
Can You Do Reverse Phone Lookups on LinkedIn?
Unlike some paid people search services, there is no legitimate way to perform a reverse phone lookup on LinkedIn.
You cannot take a person’s name and location and find phone numbers linked to their profile. This is because LinkedIn does not have any public directory connecting names and locations to phone numbers.
Some services falsely claim to offer reverse phone lookups on LinkedIn through questionable means. However, this likely violates LinkedIn’s terms of service and could involve scraping or spamming members.
If you only have someone’s name and location, your best option is to browse LinkedIn search results in the given location filtered by the name and any other details known. Visit their profile to possibly find a phone number listed publicly.
But there is no reverse phone lookup mechanism on LinkedIn itself to start with just a name and work backwards to discover associated phone numbers. This limits the site’s search capability compared to dedicated people search engines.
Is There a Way to Find Someone’s LinkedIn with Just a Phone Number?
While there is no foolproof way to find someone’s LinkedIn profile using only a phone number, here are some possible approaches:
– Search LinkedIn directly by inputting the phone number into the search bar. This works if they have added it to their public profile.
– Try searching major social networks like Facebook by the phone number. Look for common details like name and employer to find possible matching LinkedIn profiles.
– Run the phone number through a true people search platform like PeekYou that aggregates data from many sources. Filter to LinkedIn profiles in the results.
– Use the phone number to find their name via reverse phone lookup services, then search those names on LinkedIn.
– Look up the person’s email address with the phone number on sites like Sync.me. Search LinkedIn by the email address.
– For businesses, search company directories by their phone number to find the business name, then look for matching company LinkedIn pages.
– As a last resort, use a third party phone search service for LinkedIn specifically. But beware results may be inaccurate or unethical.
The chances of successfully finding a LinkedIn profile with only a phone number will depend on the specific number and how much information the person has made public elsewhere. But combining creativity, advanced searches, and diverse data sources gives you the best shot.
Conclusion
Searching LinkedIn by phone number can sometimes uncover profiles in cases where the user has made that number public. However, limitations like privacy settings and international search reliability mean it will not work for every profile. Ethics also demand exercising caution when searching for those who have not expressly made their information available. While no perfect reverse phone lookup exists for LinkedIn, a variety of creative strategies like multi-platform searches, aggregators, and company directories can help surface possible profile matches starting from just a phone number in some scenarios. But overall, LinkedIn’s advanced search functionality remains limited compared to dedicated people search engines when it comes to connecting phone numbers with profile identities.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| May reveal profiles if phone number is listed publicly | Many members keep phone numbers private |
| Simple search using just the LinkedIn platform | Unreliable for international numbers |
| Free basic search capability | No way to combine with other filters like name or company |
| Could provide critical identifying details about a person | No true reverse phone lookup based on name and location |
| May uncover professional details like employer and job title | Scraping and spamming concerns with bulk searches |
Key Takeaways
– Search LinkedIn directly by inputting a phone number into the search bar to find any profiles that have made that number public.
– Success rates are limited since most members keep phone numbers private or don’t add them at all. International searches are also unreliable.
– Ethics strongly discourage searching random numbers or bulk lists to avoid scraping and spamming concerns.
– There is no true reverse phone lookup on LinkedIn to take a name and find associated numbers. You have to start with the actual number.
– With creativity, using the phone number to find name and company details that can then be searched may uncover possible profile matches.
– But LinkedIn’s search capability lags dedicated people search engines when it comes to connecting phone numbers and identities.
