FREE X-Ray LinkedIn Search Tutorial

FREE X-Ray LinkedIn Search Tutorial

Oct 23, 2023

FREE X-Ray LinkedIn Search Tutorial
FREE X-Ray LinkedIn Search Tutorial

Table of Contents

  1. What is an X Ray search?

  2. LinkedIn Search has X Ray capabilities?

  3. What is an X-ray search on LinkedIn using Google?

  4. How to use LinkedIn X Ray Search?

  5. Who is benefitting from X Ray LinkedIn using Google?

  6. Why do people use X ray on google search to find people on LinkedIn?

  7. List of google operators to perform LinkedIn X Ray search

  8. Most common X Ray operators to perform on Google for Linkedin

  9. List of boolean operators one can use on Google for LinkedIn X Ray search

What is an X Ray search?

X-Ray search, also known as Boolean search, is a method we use to locate highly relevant and precise results from websites by combining phrases, keywords, and symbols into the search bar.

LinkedIn Search has X Ray capabilities?

LinkedIn search in itself is very powerful. Users who wanted to perform more targeted searches can use LinkedIn Search tab on the top left corner.

Here are some examples of how users use search and filters on LinkedIn:

  1. Basic Keyword Search: To find profiles related to a specific skill or job title, you can use basic keyword searches.

    For example:

    • "Data Analyst"

    • "Marketing Manager"

    • "Python Developer"

  2. Boolean Search: To find profiles that have multiple keywords, use Boolean operators:

    • "Data Scientist" AND "Machine Learning"

    • "Sales OR Marketing" (to find profiles with either of these keywords)

    • "Web Developer NOT Junior" (to exclude profiles with the word "Junior")

  3. Exact Phrase Search: To search for an exact phrase, enclose it in quotation marks:

    • "Project Management"

    • "Digital Marketing Specialist"

  4. Company Search: To find employees of a specific company, use the company's name as a keyword:

    • "Google employees"

    • "Microsoft staff"

  5. Location Search: To find people in a specific location, use the location filter:

    • "Software Engineer" location:"San Francisco Bay Area"

  6. Industry Search: To find professionals in a specific industry, use industry-related keywords:

    • "Finance industry"

    • "Healthcare sector"

  7. Title Search: To search for profiles with specific job titles, use the "title" filter:

    • title:"Product Manager"

    • title:"HR Director"

  8. School or University Search: To find alumni of a particular educational institution, use the school's name as a keyword:

    • "Harvard University alumni"

    • "Stanford University graduates"

  9. Connection Level: To filter results by your network connections, use filters like "1st connections" or "2nd connections."

  10. Past Company Search: To find people who used to work at a specific company, use the "past company" filter.

Keep in mind that LinkedIn's search capabilities may change over time, so it's a good idea to explore the platform's search options and filters directly on LinkedIn to make the most of your searches.

What is an X-ray search on LinkedIn using Google?

An X-ray search on LinkedIn using Google involves using advanced search operators to find specific LinkedIn profiles and information through the Google search engine. It allows you to perform highly targeted searches for professionals, job candidates, or content on LinkedIn.

How to use LinkedIn X Ray Search?

People are using Google to perform more targeted searches for LinkedIn profiles, you can use specific search operators and filters. LinkedIn profiles are often indexed by Google, and you can leverage this to find profiles that match your criteria. Here are some search operators and techniques you can use:

  1. Site Search: Use the "site:" operator to search only within the LinkedIn domain. For example:

    • site:linkedin.com "Data Scientist" "San Francisco"

    This will return LinkedIn profiles containing the phrase "Data Scientist" in the San Francisco area.

  2. Quotes for Exact Matches: To find an exact phrase, use double quotes:

    • site:linkedin.com "Machine Learning Engineer"

    This will look for profiles with the exact job title "Machine Learning Engineer."

  3. Boolean Operators: Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to combine keywords and phrases:

    • site:linkedin.com "Data Analyst" AND "Python" NOT "Junior"

    This will help you find Data Analyst profiles with Python skills but excluding those with "Junior" in the profile.

  4. Inurl Operator: You can use the "inurl:" operator to search for specific terms in the URL of LinkedIn profiles. For example:

    • site:linkedin.com inurl:in "Marketing Director"

    This will look for LinkedIn profiles with "Marketing Director" in the URL, which often indicates a personalized LinkedIn URL.

  5. Location and Company Filters: You can include location or company information in your search:

    • site:linkedin.com "Software Engineer" "San Francisco" "Google"

    This will help you find LinkedIn profiles of Software Engineers located in San Francisco who work at Google.

  6. Filetype Operator: If you're looking for specific types of documents on LinkedIn, you can use the "filetype:" operator. For example, to find LinkedIn resumes:

    • site:linkedin.com filetype:pdf "Data Scientist" "New York"

    This search will return PDF resumes of Data Scientists in New York.

Please note that Google's indexing of LinkedIn profiles may not always be up-to-date, and it depends on LinkedIn's settings for profile visibility. Also, keep in mind that LinkedIn's terms of service and privacy policies may affect the information that is accessible through search engines like Google.

When conducting searches on Google or any search engine, be sure to respect privacy and data protection regulations, and use the information you find responsibly.

Who is benefitting from X Ray LinkedIn using Google?

The use of search operators and filters in Google to find LinkedIn profiles is primarily employed by individuals and professionals in various fields for networking, recruiting, and research purposes.

Here are some common use cases:

  1. Recruiters and HR Professionals: Recruiters often use these techniques to identify potential candidates for job openings. They can search for specific skills, job titles, and locations to find qualified candidates.

  2. Job Seekers: Job seekers can use these methods to find recruiters or companies in their desired industry and location. They may also research professionals in similar roles for networking and job-seeking purposes.

  3. Sales and Business Development: Sales professionals can use Google to find potential leads and clients on LinkedIn. They can search for decision-makers or individuals in target industries and companies.

  4. Researchers and Market Analysts: Researchers and market analysts may use these techniques to gather data on specific industries, job trends, or market insights. This can be valuable for market research and competitive analysis.

  5. Networking: Professionals looking to expand their network or connect with peers in their field can use these methods to find individuals with common interests or in specific locations.

  6. Competitor Analysis: Companies and professionals may use Google searches to identify key employees and executives at competing organizations to gain insights into their strategies and strengths.

  7. Personal Branding: Individuals looking to build their personal brand may use these techniques to identify influencers and thought leaders in their industry, helping them connect and learn from experts.

It's important to note that while these techniques can be useful, LinkedIn has privacy settings that individuals can configure to control the visibility of their profiles to search engines like Google. Therefore, not all LinkedIn profiles will be discoverable through these methods, and the information you find should be used responsibly and in compliance with privacy and data protection regulations.


Why do people use X ray on google search to find people on LinkedIn?

People use X-ray searches on Google to find people on LinkedIn for several reasons, primarily related to the enhanced search capabilities and results presentation that Google can offer over LinkedIn's built-in search functionality. Here are some common reasons for using Google X-ray searches to find people on LinkedIn:

  1. Expanded Search Capabilities: Google offers a broader and more flexible set of search operators and filters than LinkedIn's internal search. This allows users to perform highly targeted searches by combining various criteria, including job titles, location, and company names.

  2. Precision and Advanced Boolean Logic: With Google, users can employ advanced Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to precisely refine their search queries. This level of precision can be particularly useful for recruiters and professionals seeking specific profiles.

  3. Access to Archived or Unindexed Profiles: Some LinkedIn profiles may not be indexed or fully searchable within LinkedIn's platform due to privacy settings or restrictions. Using Google's X-ray search, users may find profiles that are not easily discoverable through traditional LinkedIn searches.

  4. Customized Results Presentation: Google's search results often display key information from LinkedIn profiles, such as the profile headline and location, directly in the search results page. This can save time by providing a snapshot of relevant profiles without needing to visit LinkedIn itself.

  5. Wide Application: X-ray searches on Google are not limited to LinkedIn; they can be used to find profiles on various platforms and websites. This makes it a versatile technique for research and sourcing across the web.

  6. Resource Efficiency: Google X-ray searches can help users quickly identify potential candidates or leads without needing to log in or navigate within the LinkedIn platform. It can save time for busy professionals.

  7. Research and Competitive Analysis: Researchers and analysts might use Google X-ray searches to gather data for market research, competitor analysis, or industry trends by accessing publicly available LinkedIn profiles.

It's important to note that while X-ray searches on Google can be a useful tool, they should be used ethically and within the bounds of privacy and data protection regulations. Individuals have the option to configure their LinkedIn profiles to limit search engine indexing, so not all profiles may be discoverable through Google X-ray searches.

List of google operators to perform LinkedIn X Ray search

Here is a list of some Google search operators that you can use to perform X-ray searches on various websites and platforms:

  1. Site Operator: Use the "site:" operator to specify the website or domain you want to search within. For example: site:linkedin.com [Your Search Criteria] to search within LinkedIn.

  2. Quotes: Use double quotes to search for an exact phrase. This can be handy for finding specific content. For example: "Data Scientist".

  3. AND Operator: Use "AND" in uppercase letters to narrow down your search to results that contain both terms. For example: site:github.com "Machine Learning" AND "Python".

  4. OR Operator: Use "OR" in uppercase letters to broaden your search to results that contain either of the terms. For example: site:twitter.com "Data Science" OR "Machine Learning".

  5. NOT Operator: Use "NOT" in uppercase letters to exclude specific terms from your search results. For example: site:facebook.com "Artificial Intelligence" NOT "Privacy".

  6. Inurl Operator: Use the "inurl:" operator to search for specific terms within a URL. For example: site:reddit.com inurl:programming.

  7. Intitle Operator: Use the "intitle:" operator to search for specific terms within the title of a webpage. For example: site:stackoverflow.com intitle:"Python Developer".

  8. Filetype Operator: To find specific file types, use the "filetype:" operator. For example: site:slideshare.net filetype:pdf "Machine Learning".

  9. Related Operator: Use the "related:" operator to find websites related to a specific URL. For example: related:linkedin.com to find websites related to LinkedIn.

  10. Link Operator: Use the "link:" operator to find pages that link to a specific URL. For example: link:github.com to find pages linking to GitHub.

  11. Cache Operator: To view Google's cached version of a webpage, use the "cache:" operator. For example: cache:wikipedia.org.

  12. Info Operator: Use the "info:" operator to find information about a specific URL. For example: info:example.com.

These operators can be combined and used creatively to perform X-ray searches on various websites and platforms. Be sure to check Google's official documentation for any updates or additional operators that may become available in the future.

Most common X Ray operators to perform on Google for Linkedin

When performing an X-ray search on LinkedIn using Google, some of the most common search operators and techniques include:

  1. Site Operator: The most fundamental operator for LinkedIn X-ray searches is "site:linkedin.com." It specifies that you want to search within the LinkedIn domain. For example, site:linkedin.com "Data Scientist".

  2. Quotes for Exact Phrases: To find profiles or content containing an exact phrase, use double quotes. For example, "Marketing Manager" to find profiles with this exact job title.

  3. AND Operator: Use "AND" (in uppercase) to narrow your search results by specifying that both terms must be present. For example, site:linkedin.com "Data Analyst" AND "Python" to find profiles that mention both "Data Analyst" and "Python."

  4. OR Operator: Use "OR" (in uppercase) to broaden your search results by specifying that either of the terms can be present. For example, site:linkedin.com "Marketing Manager" OR "Product Manager".

  5. Intitle Operator: You can use "intitle:" to search for specific terms within the titles of LinkedIn profiles. For instance, site:linkedin.com intitle:"Software Engineer" to find profiles with "Software Engineer" in the title.

  6. Location Filter: You can add location information to your search to find profiles in a specific city or region. For example, site:linkedin.com "UX Designer" "San Francisco" to find UX Designers in San Francisco.

  7. Current Company or Past Company: To search for professionals who currently work or have worked at a particular company, you can use the "current company" or "past company" filters. For example, site:linkedin.com "Software Developer" "Microsoft".

  8. Industry Filter: You can filter results by industry using operators like "industry:" or "inindustry." For instance, site:linkedin.com "Marketing Manager" industry:"Information Technology and Services".

  9. School Operator: To find LinkedIn profiles associated with a specific educational institution, use the "school" operator. For example, site:linkedin.com school:"Harvard University".

  10. Connection Level: You can specify the connection level (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) using "1st," "2nd," or "3rd" in your search to filter results by your network connections.

These common operators can help you perform targeted LinkedIn X-ray searches to find profiles or information that match your specific criteria. Remember to be respectful of individuals' privacy and use the information you find responsibly. Additionally, keep in mind that search engine algorithms and available operators may change over time, so it's a good idea to check the latest information on using Google for LinkedIn searches.

List of boolean operators one can use on Google for LinkedIn X Ray search

When conducting a LinkedIn X-ray search on Google, you can use Boolean operators to combine search terms and refine your results. The most common Boolean operators for LinkedIn X-ray searches are:

  1. AND: Use "AND" (in uppercase) to narrow your search results by specifying that both terms must be present. For example: site:linkedin.com "Data Scientist" AND "Machine Learning" will find profiles that mention both "Data Scientist" and "Machine Learning."

  2. OR: Use "OR" (in uppercase) to broaden your search results by specifying that either of the terms can be present. For example: site:linkedin.com "Marketing Manager" OR "Product Manager" will find profiles with either "Marketing Manager" or "Product Manager."

  3. NOT: Use "NOT" (in uppercase) to exclude specific terms from your search results. For example: site:linkedin.com "Software Developer" NOT "Junior" will help you find profiles of software developers while excluding those with "Junior" in the profile.

By combining these Boolean operators with other search operators like "site," "intitle," and location filters, you can perform highly targeted LinkedIn X-ray searches to find profiles that match your specific criteria.

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