How to Use LinkedIn To Research A Prospective Employer

Knowing more about a prospective employer can help you make an educated and informed decision when you are looking for or are offered a new job. Use the tools provided by LinkedIn to research your prospective employer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet connection
• LinkedIn account

Look for Contacts Currently Employed by Your Prospective Employer

1. Log in to your LinkedIn account (see Resources below) at the home page. Your network of contacts may provide you with a wealth of information about your prospective employer.
2. Start your research by looking for people currently employed by this company. Click the "People" tab from your home page to start searching.
3. Use the Advanced Search fields to enter the company name.
4. Click the "Current Companies Only" checkbox to receive information on people currently listed as employed by this company.
5. Hit the "Search" button to perform the query and view your results.
6. Request introductions to contacts from people within your network by clicking on the "Get Introduced" button on their profile page.

Search for Contacts Previously Employed by Your Prospective Employer

7. Find contacts who have previously worked at the company you are researching by clicking on the "People" tab.
8. Use the Advanced Search fields again and enter the company name.
9. Click in the "Current Companies Only" checkbox to remove the green checkmark. This will allow LinkedIn to pull up profiles of individuals who have previously worked for the company.
10. Click on the "Search" button to perform the search and get in touch with people you know or people in your extended network through introductions.

Review Job Postings Made by This Employer

11. Learn more about your prospective employer by searching for current job postings on LinkedIn.
12. Click on the "Jobs & Hiring" tab from your LinkedIn home page.
13. Enter the company name in the "Keywords" field and click the "Search" button.
14. Review the list of job postings from LinkedIn as well as those pulled from other sources on the Web. Click on the job posting link to learn more about the position.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your research in perspective. Don't let the advice or opinion of a disgruntled worker unduly sway you. Seek balanced viewpoints from multiple sources.
• If you ever have any concerns about privacy at LinkedIn that aren't satisfactorily addressed by the company, you can go to the TRUSTe Consumer Watchdog Complaint page to initiate a dispute resolution process (see Resources below).
• Get information on using your LinkedIn account at the LinkedIn Help & FAQ pages (see Resources below).