Finding previous employees of a company on LinkedIn can be a great way to learn more about the company culture, better understand the types of people they hire, and potentially network with former co-workers. However, searching for current and past employees of a specific company on LinkedIn does take some strategy. Here are some tips on how to effectively find people who worked at a company on LinkedIn.
Search for the Company Page
The first step is to search for the company’s LinkedIn page. Simply type the company name into LinkedIn’s search bar at the top of the homepage. LinkedIn will pull up the company’s official page if they have one. On the company’s LinkedIn page, scroll down and look for the “See all XXX,XXX employees on LinkedIn” link. This shows you how many LinkedIn members currently work at that company. Click on that link and it will take you to a search results page showing current employees.
Use Advanced Search
LinkedIn’s advanced search allows you to enter more parameters to narrow down your search results. To use advanced search, click on the “Advanced” link next to the main search bar at the top of LinkedIn’s homepage. This will open up an advanced search form. Under “Company,” enter the name of the company you want to search. For the “Relationship” parameter, select “Current” to see present employees or “Past” to see former employees. You can also enter a keyword for their job title or location to narrow it down further.
Search Alumni Groups
Many companies have LinkedIn alumni groups you can join to connect with former employees. To find them, go to LinkedIn Groups in the “Interests” section and search for “[Company Name] Alumni.” For example, “Microsoft Alumni” or “Google Alumni.” Join the group that appears to be the official alumni group for that company. Once you’ve joined, you can browse through the other members to view profiles of ex-employees.
Follow the Company
Following a company page on LinkedIn will add current employees to your feed. To follow a company, go to their LinkedIn page and click the “Follow” button. This will allow you to see when current employees make posts and engage with content. Reviewing the followers list of a company can also show you employees that follow the company page.
Search by Job Titles and Keywords
Use specific job titles and keywords in LinkedIn’s main search to find relevant profiles. For example, search for “Software Engineer at [Company]” or “Marketing Manager at [Company].” You can also include keywords like the department, location, or unique terms used at that company. The more precise the job title and keywords, the better chance you have of surfacing former employees.
Search Shared Connections
If you have a connection who presently or previously worked at the target company, leverage shared connections. Go to your connection’s profile and click on “See all profiles at [Company].” This displays employees your contact is connected to from that company. Reach out to any shared connections to ask for an introduction.
Join Industry or Location Groups
Current and former employees will often join LinkedIn groups specific to their industry or city. For example, an “Advertising Professionals in Chicago” group may include people who worked at ad agencies in that city. Search for relevant groups and look through members to find any overlap with your target company.
Follow Company Hashtags
Some companies have unique hashtags employees use to tag content. Following along and engaging with those hashtags can expose you to current and past team members. For example, monitoring #LifeAtOracle or #GoogleLife. Click on any employee profiles that appear from the hashtag feed.
Search by Skills/Expertise
Think of niche skills needed for certain roles at the company and search those keywords. This works well for techie positions. For example, #python or #cloudcomputing attracts programmers and IT professionals. Similar expert skills apply for other industries. Review those profiles for any mention of your target company.
Look for Featured Skills
Employees who work at the same company often share some of the same featured skills on their profiles. Identify 5-10 key skills that would be common for the roles you want to find. Then enter those skills into LinkedIn’s search bar using the “Skills” filter to uncover relevant profiles.
Join Relevant LinkedIn Groups
Join groups specific to the target company’s industry, products, or services. Engage in group discussions and look through the member list for employees of your desired company. For example, join “#softwarecompany Users Group” or “Customers of #softwarecompany”. Connect with members who work(ed) there.
Follow Company Leadership Profiles
Find and follow the LinkedIn profiles of executives, founders, board members, and other leaders at the company. Oftentimes their profiles will list #secondconnections who are employees. Browse through those second degree connections.
Search by University Attended
Many companies recruit graduates from certain colleges. Search by the name of a university known for supplying talent to the organization. For example, “UC Berkeley Computer Science” for tech firms located in the Bay Area. Filter by past companies.
Look Through Mutual Connections at the Company
When on the Company Page itself, toward the top it will list 2nd-degree connections who work at that organization. Click “See all” to view the entire list. Look through mutual connections and consider reaching out to ask for an intro.
Join Employee Resource Groups
Some companies have LinkedIn groups for employee resource groups (ERGs) like Women@LinkedIn or BlackTechEmployees. Join relevant groups that align with your background to connect with current team members.
Follow Company Pages on Other Social Media
Follow the company’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram accounts too and look through their followers/engagement for employees. Oftentimes company insiders will follow, comment, share, etc. Reach out to them.
Search Company Partner Pages
Employees often connect with partners, vendors, clients, and affiliates of the company. Search “[Your Company] Partners” or similar variations and go through profiles of companies who work closely with your target organization. Message those connections asking about mutual contacts.
Attend Industry Events, Conferences, and Tradeshows
At in-person industry gatherings, introduce yourself to attendees and ask what company they work for as an icebreaker. If they mention your target organization, request to connect on LinkedIn and keep the conversation going.
Conclusion
Finding current and past employees of a company on LinkedIn requires perseverance and creativity. Utilize LinkedIn’s advanced search filters, groups, skills keywords, mutual connections, and other tips outlined above. Try different combinations to uncover the profiles you seek. With some targeted searching, you can discover and connect with the right people who worked at an organization.