LinkedIn is a great platform for expanding your professional network and connecting with new contacts. However, some LinkedIn users choose to keep their contacts private or “hidden” for various reasons. If you want to find these hidden contacts on LinkedIn, there are a few techniques you can use.
Understanding Hidden Contacts on LinkedIn
When a LinkedIn user has their “Connections” privacy setting turned on, their full list of connections is hidden from public view. You will only see a partial number of that person’s connections displayed on their profile. This allows users to keep the full breadth of their network private if they wish.
Some common reasons LinkedIn users hide their contacts include:
- Privacy – They don’t want the full list of their connections viewable to just anyone.
- Confidentiality – They have connections in roles or industries where confidentiality is important.
- Controlling perceptions – They want to manage perceptions of their network size or influence.
Regardless of the reason, if you want to uncover some of these hidden contacts, there are a few approaches you can take.
Use LinkedIn Search
The LinkedIn search function allows you to search for other users even if you are not already connected to them. Try searching for contacts who work at the same company or in the same industry as the LinkedIn user with hidden contacts. You may find overlapping connections this way.
For example, if John Doe works at XYZ Company and has 300 hidden connections, try searching:
- “XYZ Company” to find other employees there
- Industry terms like “Software Engineering” if that is John’s industry
- XYZ Company + location like “Seattle” if John is based there
Any contacts found this way are more likely to also be connected to John Doe, even if his connections are hidden.
Leverage Shared Groups
LinkedIn Groups that users have joined in common can also indicate a connection between them. To leverage groups:
- Go to the profile of the person with hidden contacts.
- Scroll down and click “See all” under Groups to view the full list of groups they have joined.
- Click into each group and browse the members list – any members you are mutually connected to are more likely to also be connected privately.
This takes some manual searching but can uncover hidden contacts that share group memberships.
Look for Mutual Connections
Even if a user’s full contact list is hidden, you may still see a few mutual connections displayed on their profile. Study these closely:
- Do any of these mutual connections work at the same company or industry as the profile you are researching? They likely introduced you both.
- Are these connections located in the same city or region? There may be an offline connection.
- Do these mutuals share education or interests? This can indicate why you were connected.
Look up these mutual connections yourself and look for additional overlaps that indicate possible hidden contacts. Reach out and ask how they know the person in question and request an introduction.
Connect with Colleagues
Another option is to reach out to your own 1st-degree LinkedIn connections and see if they can make introductions to the hidden contacts. Some ways to do this:
- Ask if they are connected to the person with the hidden network and can introduce you.
- Inquire whether they know of any employees at the company in question that they can connect you with.
- Utilize TeamLink on LinkedIn to see 2nd-degree connections at the target company and request introductions.
Your own trusted network is a great asset for accessing new contacts. See if your network can bridge the gap and facilitate a connection.
Connect In Real Life
Attending in-person events, conferences, trade shows, or networking meetings that the person with hidden contacts will also be at can help you meet face-to-face. Some ways to do this:
- Look for events, meetings, or conferences listed on their LinkedIn profile and attend those to meet them and their associates.
- Join industry associations or groups that the person is a member of to connect at group events.
- Follow their company and alumni groups on LinkedIn for event listings to uncover networking opportunities.
Introduce yourself in-person at professional events and request to add them on LinkedIn after meeting.
Send a Thoughtful Connection Request
If all else fails, send a personalized LinkedIn connection request explaining why you would value being connected. Some best practices for doing this:
- Research the person and company to reference shared connections, interests, or associations.
- Note any in-person meetings you have had or conferences you both attended.
- Explain how you feel you could add value by being connected.
- Make the request thoughtful and specific to increase the odds it is accepted.
While rejection is possible, a sincere connection request can get you on the radar of those with hidden contacts if you share aligned interests and goals.
Conclusion
Uncovering hidden contacts on LinkedIn takes some detective work, persistence, and relationship-building. But by leveraging search, groups, mutual connections, your own network, in-person events, and thoughtful requests, it is possible to gain access to those coveted private connections. Keep working at expanding your professional network and you will be surprised at how connections uncover over time.
