When looking at someone’s LinkedIn profile, it’s important to keep in mind that you may not see their profile exactly as others do. LinkedIn allows members to customize what’s visible on their profile depending on the relationship they have with the viewer.
LinkedIn’s 3 profile visibility settings
LinkedIn gives members 3 main options for controlling profile visibility:
- Public: Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn
- Connections only: Visible only to 1st-degree connections
- Private: Visible only to you
So if you want to see someone’s profile as others would, you need to understand which visibility setting they have selected.
Viewing public profiles
Profiles set to public visibility can be viewed by anyone, whether logged into a LinkedIn account or not. This means that as long as the profile is public, you’ll see the same information as anyone else searching for that person.
To check if a profile is public:
- Go to their profile page
- Look for the globe icon underneath their name and headline. This indicates a public profile.
If you see the globe icon, you can be sure that you’re viewing their information as any other public visitor would.
Viewing connections-only profiles
For profiles limited to connections only, you’ll need to be connected to that person to see their full profile. If you aren’t connected, you’ll only see limited information such as their photo, name, headline, and industry.
To check if a profile is connections-only:
- Go to their profile page
- Look for the “Connections” text underneath their name and headline. This indicates a connections-only profile.
If you aren’t connected to them, you won’t see their full profile. To view it as their connections do, you’ll need to connect with them first.
Sending connection requests
If you want to view a connections-only profile, you’ll need to send that person a connection request. Here’s how:
- Go to their profile page
- Click “Connect” or “Add connection” near the top
- Customize the connection request message (optional)
- Click “Send”
Once they accept your request, you’ll be able to view their full profile just as their other connections can.
Viewing private profiles
Profiles set to fully private are only visible to the account owner. If you aren’t directly connected to someone with a private profile, you won’t be able to see any of their information at all.
When searching for someone with a private profile, you’ll get a notice that the profile is unavailable or doesn’t exist. The only way to view it is if that person changes their settings or connects with you first.
Changing your own profile visibility
You can also control who sees your own LinkedIn profile. Here’s how to update your profile visibility settings:
- Go to your profile page
- Click “Edit public profile & URL”
- Under “Privacy settings” choose from the 3 visibility options
- Click “Save changes”
Remember that reducing visibility limits how easily you can be found and contacted on LinkedIn. But increased privacy also means more control over who can view details about your work history and background.
Other factors that affect profile visibility
Beyond the main visibility settings, there are a few other factors that can impact what’s seen on your LinkedIn profile:
- Location settings: You can choose whether to display your location. Hiding this makes your profile less public.
- Education details: Academic details can be made visible to only connections or hidden entirely.
- Customizing public view: When set to public, you can still hide your current position and customize other sections.
- Joining open vs. closed groups: Closed groups don’t display your membership status to non-members.
Viewing profiles as an anonymous user
One way to see how fully public profiles appear to non-logged in visitors is to use LinkedIn’s “anonymous viewing” feature.
To view a profile anonymously:
- Go to the profile page you want to view
- Click on your own profile icon in the top right corner
- Select “Anonymous View Profile”
This will open the selected profile in a private browsing session that isn’t logged into LinkedIn. You’ll be able to verify exactly what someone sees if they view that profile when not signed into any account.
Using a secondary account
Another approach is to create a secondary LinkedIn account to view profiles. This allows you to check what types of information are visible when viewing a profile you aren’t connected to.
The downside to this method is that maintaining two active LinkedIn accounts goes against their terms of service. However, it does give you an option to independently verify profile visibility as an unconnected user.
Other tips for viewing LinkedIn profiles
Here are a few other things to keep in mind when viewing LinkedIn profiles:
- Bookmarks let you save profiles to refer back to later. Use bookmarks to revisit profiles and spot changes.
- The “View As” option under the “More” menu allows you to see your own profile as a connection or non-connection would.
- Turning on alerts for a profile will notify you whenever they add new work or education details.
- Premium subscriptions provide visibility into who has viewed your profile.
Limitations of LinkedIn profile viewing
While you can take steps to view LinkedIn profiles as others see them, there are some limitations:
- You can’t override someone’s privacy settings without them adding you as a connection.
- Private browsing and secondary accounts violate LinkedIn’s policies if used excessively.
- Job seekers sometimes restrict access to their current employer to avoid detection.
- The mobile app and desktop site display profiles slightly differently.
In the end, viewing a profile as others see it requires making educated guesses based on visibility indicators. To gain full access, you’ll need that person to adjust their settings or approve your connection request.
Conclusion
With knowledge of LinkedIn’s profile privacy options, globe and “Connections” icons, anonymous viewing, secondary accounts, and other tricks, you can approximate how your profile appears to the public. But some elements will remain hidden without a direct connection. Focus on showcasing your expertise, background, and capabilities publicly to make a strong impression.
| Profile Visibility Setting | What Anyone Sees | What Connections See |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Full profile | Full profile |
| Connections only | Limited profile | Full profile |
| Private | Nothing | Full profile |
This summarizes the key differences in what public users, connections, and profile owners see for each main LinkedIn visibility setting. Use the visibility settings wisely when managing your own profile and viewing others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see who views your LinkedIn profile?
With a premium account, you can see the identities of users who have viewed your profile within the last 90 days. This includes anonymous users not logged into any account. But most basic LinkedIn accounts can only see aggregate profile view data.
Does LinkedIn notify someone if you look at their profile?
No, LinkedIn does not proactively notify users when someone views their profile. The exception is when premium account holders look at their “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” section, where they can see the list of visitors.
What happens if you change your LinkedIn visibility from public to private?
Changing from a public to fully private profile removes your profile from search engine listings and prevents non-connections from accessing any of your information. Existing profile views by non-connections will no longer display any details either.
Can I see someone’s LinkedIn profile without them knowing?
Beyond private browsing and secondary accounts, LinkedIn doesn’t provide many stealth viewing options. Some browsers have extensions that may bypass restrictions, but this violates LinkedIn’s terms. Your best option is viewing public information only.
Why can I only see certain people’s work history on LinkedIn?
If someone has limited work history visibility to their connections only, you’ll need to connect with them directly to see details beyond their current position. Many people restrict past position visibility to maintain privacy.
More LinkedIn Profile Tips
Here are some additional recommendations when working with LinkedIn profiles:
- Keep your own profile updated, especially as you take on new roles or learn new skills.
- Customize your profile URL to make it easy to share.
- Use your headline effectively by highlighting relevant keywords.
- Utilize all sections, including volunteer work, certifications, and publications.
- Add rich media elements like images, slides, and videos if permitted.
- Join industry and interest-specific groups to expand your network.
- Consider getting profile recommendations from managers and colleagues.
- Follow companies you are interested in working for.
- Use keywords strategically to help with discoverability.
- Research connections when job searching to find mutual ties.
- Keep your profile consistent with your resume but personalized.
Maintaining a strong LinkedIn presence is important for job seekers, business owners, and professionals looking to advance their careers. Take advantage of all LinkedIn’s options for showcasing your background while still protecting your privacy.
Profile Optimization Strategies
Here are some additional tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile:
Use a professional photo
Pick a high-quality headshot that conveys your professionalism. Dress as you would for an interview and avoid casual backgrounds. Get a friend to take candids until you get the right shot. LinkedIn research shows profiles with photos get up to 21x more profile views.
Craft an engaging headline
Summarize your experience and value proposition in your headline. Include keywords that align with your industry and role. Change it regularly to reflect major accomplishments or new positions.
Showcase core skills
List out key hard and soft skills that make you a strong candidate. Leverage LinkedIn’s skill endorsement feature to get colleagues to vouch for your top abilities.
Provide detailed work descriptions
For each role, go beyond just job titles and company names. Describe your specialized contributions, projects, and achievements at each position.
Collect diverse recommendations
Build social proof by getting recommendations from managers, direct reports, clients, partners, and others who can vouch for your work. Showcase different capabilities through varied recommenders.
Join industry groups
Participate actively in LinkedIn groups relevant to your field. This expands your reach while demonstrating your subject matter expertise.
Establish your influence
Link to articles, slides, videos, podcasts, or other media that you’ve authored or contributed to. Position yourself as a thought leader.
Track profile analytics
Use LinkedIn’s analytics to see who has viewed your profile and optimize sections based on viewer attention. Identify ways to further boost your profile’s visibility.
Personalize connection requests
When sending connection invitations, customize them based on how you know the recipient or why you’d like to connect. This builds rapport and gets better response rates.
By regularly updating your LinkedIn profile and strategically expanding your network, you can establish yourself as an authority in your field and advance your career or business goals.
Additional LinkedIn Profile Best Practices
Here are some more recommendations for creating a complete, professional LinkedIn profile:
Showcase awards and honors
Include any relevant honors, awards, or specialized certifications you’ve received. These highlight talents and expertise that set you apart.
Share volunteer work and causes
Volunteer leadership and participation in social impact organizations demonstrate desirable soft skills.
Don’t overshare personal details
While you can list interests and hobbies, don’t provide too many personal or political opinions. Stay focused on your professional brand.
List relevant coursework
If you’re a student or recent grad, list notable courses and projects that demonstrate abilities employers want.
Provide lots of keywords
Incorporate relevant keywords throughout your profile to help you appear in searches for your skillset and background.
Showpersonality and passion
While maintaining professionalism, infuse your profile with some warmth and individuality to build connections.
Link to external media
Links to your company website, portfolio, GitHub, published articles, etc. give added context about you.
Follow relevant companies
Following companies you want to work for or partner with positions you on their radar.
Maintain consistency
Keep your LinkedIn profile details closely aligned with your resume. But use more narrative descriptions on LinkedIn.
Optimizing your LinkedIn requires dedicating time to build out your profile completely and keeping it up-to-date. The payoff is expanded career opportunities and visibility as an industry thought leader.