Is LinkedIn X-Ray Search No Longer Working?
Wondering if LinkedIn X-Ray Search is still working? Get the latest update on LinkedIn X-Ray Search and make the most out of your Google searches.
The recent announcement by Marcel van der Meer that LinkedIn’s X-Ray Search is no longer effective may come as a shock to many sourcing professionals. According to Marcel's findings, the LinkedIn X-Ray search is no longer working in the same way that everyone has been using it for years, and LinkedIn has concealed some crucial information that recruiters like us depend on.
After the recent changes made by LinkedIn, we will no longer be able to access all the data in people's Headlines, About sections, Work Experience, and more. As Marcel mentioned, it seems like the changes don't apply to all profiles right now, but it looks like they'll be updated gradually over time.
But do not panic! You can still unleash some of the power of X-Ray search on LinkedIn by using Google!
As people grapple with the loss of another free candidate sourcing tool, I want to guide you through alternative methods to find potential candidates. I'll share with you some fundamental strategies that can help you find profiles and show you how to run LinkedIn X-Ray search strings via Google.
Disclaimer: The methods in this article won't completely replace the old X-ray search technique, but they can still be pretty effective. Just remember, LinkedIn is always evolving, so what's not working today might just work tomorrow!
Also, a big shout-out to Marcel for sharing his findings because it really challenges us to think creatively and find a solution. So, a big thanks to him and to everyone else who is doing the same thing and sharing!
Why LinkedIn is Moving to Discourage X-Ray Search
The official reason is always something like "uphold member privacy." However, many believe the real motivation was combating third-party recruiting tools. Tools that provide recruiter access to LinkedIn data via Chrome extensions or subscriptions.
LinkedIn wants to limit these tools and recruiters using Google to find candidates to boost their own premium products. When they remove public access to LinkedIn profiles, it greatly reduces the value of third-party tools.
This is why LinkedIn is locking more and more data behind login screens. Whereas recruiters used to access profiles directly via Google, now they are prompted to sign in first. This change technically removes public access to these profiles on LinkedIn, which you can find via Google, Bing, and other search engines.
The disappearance of X-Ray is LinkedIn's latest step to cut off open access to its platform.
Is LinkedIn X-Ray Search Becoming Obsolete?
Moving away from open access can be tough, but it's a necessary step forward. In the world of AI and data-driven recruitment, having access to data is crucial. Without it, the potential to develop and improve AI tools is seriously limited.
While it's a strategic move to protect LinkedIn assets, it's not great news for recruiters. It's a hard pill to swallow, but it's the new reality of our industry.
Right now, a lot of recruitment tools rely on accessing public data, often through Google. These tools will most likely find other ways, just like others have done in the past.
The most common methods involve creating fake profiles to gather data or offering free Chrome extensions to collect information from profiles that users visit. Another option these tools have is to cooperate with LinkedIn or buy data from big data vendors.
The era of unrestricted access is coming to an end. We need to get ready for more restrictions in the near future.
But despite these changes, there are still effective ways to find the perfect candidates by making the necessary adjustments.
LinkedIn X-Ray Search - What Next?
Every time people start “freaking” out about losing a sourcing method or tool, it always reminds me of the concept of the "Red Car Theory." If you never heard about it, it is an informal term that describes a cognitive bias known as "selective attention" or "confirmation bias."
Essentially, it suggests that once you start focusing on something, like a red car, you begin to notice it more often. This doesn't mean that there are more red cars than before, but rather that your attention has been tuned to notice red cars.
This principle can be applied to various aspects of life, where once you start focusing on something, you see it more, whether it's a type of car, a specific word, a concept, or even negative/positive events.
It's a psychological phenomenon that highlights how our perceptions can be shaped by what we focus on, reminding us that sometimes the patterns we think we see are more about our perception than about reality.
I'm mentioning this because when people hear something isn't working, they focus on the problem rather than exploring solutions or alternative approaches. But here's the thing: there's always a way, no matter what LinkedIn or others may do!
Let me share a different perspective on the issue and show you how you can still run an X-Ray search to some extent and find the candidates you're looking for on LinkedIn.
How to Find Candidates on LinkedIn for Free
After the update, if you use this search string: site:linkedin.com/in "Jan Tegze"
The preview doesn't show any info about the title or location as before.
Below is an example of how the preview looks before. You can see the name, location, and job title in the page title.
The reason is that LinkedIn actually removed the job title and other information from the page title. They also made it harder for search bots to find additional information that they could index. So, now it's really tough to get all the extra details like we used to.
We used to be able to search for phrases on public profiles, but unfortunately, that's not working anymore. So finding additional information is quite a challenge.
What to Do When Everything Changes
If you've been paying attention to what LinkedIn has been up to in the last few months, you'll know that the best bet now lies in AI-generated articles.
Why? They actually boost LinkedIn's SEO and get a lot of promotion from the platform. This leads to higher engagement from people because, let's face it, people love the gamification aspect of becoming a "Top Voice" for 90 days. Even though they probably do not know about the 90-day time frame.
And honestly, LinkedIn's AI-generated articles and their promotion are pretty brilliant moves. When LinkedIn asks everyone, "You are among the few experts to add a comment," people naturally start commenting, and the best part is that Google indexes those responses within days!
And as you know, indexed pages mean data - data about potential candidates!
Since you're familiar with the red car theory, you probably already guessed that now everyone will be all about site:linkedin.com/in. They'll wonder why it's not working and try everything possible to get it up and running. That LinkedIn URL is like the red car in our industry.
With my little diversion about AI articles, I bet you also figured out where I'm going with this longer intro. I know you might think it's not necessary, but trust me, it is. Next time you find yourself in a similar situation, just remember this theory and switch your mindset. Instead of getting stuck on the problem, focus on finding a solution.
X-Ray Search LinkedIn
First, shift your focus away from LinkedIn profiles (site:linkedin.com/in). If this approach isn't yielding results, concentrate on pages that are indexed!
This URL, linkedin.com/advice/, hosts a wealth of AI articles and advice from people, making it a valuable resource for us recruiters.
This approach not only helps us identify industry experts based on their answers but also uncovers other people who contribute comments to those topics.
Move from site:linkedin.com/in/ to site:linkedin.com/advice/. To execute a simple search, use a query like:
site:linkedin.com/advice/ intext:"Director Enterprise Sales"This will locate mentions of 'Director Enterprise Sales' within LinkedIn's advice pages (AI articles).
To target specific companies, modify your search by adding the company name. For example, for a director at Amazon, use:
site:linkedin.com/advice/ intext:"Director at Amazon"Alternatively:
site:linkedin.com/advice/ intext:"Tech Director" AmazonNow that you know how it works, I didn't explain how to use the "intext:" operator because you already know it from here.
As you know, this method could quickly become obsolete because nothing is permanent and everything is always changing.
While this method may not be as effective as the traditional X-Ray LinkedIn search, you never know what the future holds! Things might change, and the old method could make a comeback down the line.
You can find all these AI articles at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/topics/browse/a.
How to Find Candidates on LinkedIn with Tools
Another option you can think about is completely dropping the free X-Ray search. I know it's tough to let go of methods we've been using for years, but there are plenty of other tools out there.
If you want to access LinkedIn data without depending on paid LinkedIn options or solutions like hireEZ or Seekout, you can try using specialized tools instead.
Here are several tools that you should try:
RocketReach: Known for its extensive database, RocketReach offers access to millions of profiles across various platforms, including LinkedIn. Its strength lies in its ability to provide direct contact information, making it easier for recruiters to reach out to potential candidates.
SalesQL: This tool is particularly favored for its user-friendly design and efficient LinkedIn integration. SalesQL excels in extracting contact information from LinkedIn profiles, which can be a game-changer for recruiters. It also offers organizational features, allowing you to manage your candidate lists and track interactions, streamlining the recruitment process.
Apollo: is a versatile sales intelligence and engagement platform, that offers a comprehensive suite of tools for prospecting, engaging, and closing sales deals. It features a robust database with millions of contacts. Apollo.io supports the sales process with advanced search capabilities, data enrichment, lead qualification, and sales AI for optimized customer engagement. This tool is awesome, especially for recruitment agencies looking for new leads.
Seamless AI: is a tool renowned for its ability to provide real-time data and insights. It stands out for its high accuracy in finding and verifying emails and direct dials, which is crucial for effective outreach. One thing I really like about this tool is that it has several features, such as Job Changes and data enrichment. Just like Apollo, this tool is awesome for recruitment agencies who are on the lookout for new leads.
There are so many other options out there on the market; it's definitely worth giving a few of these tools a try before you decide which one you want to use.
Make sure to follow me on LinkedIn for more tips!
LinkedIn X-Ray Search Future
LinkedIn's decision to limit access has brought about a significant change for recruiters who depended on X-Ray searches. The amount of profile information accessible to non-paying members has been greatly reduced. This leaves recruiters wondering: what's in store for accessing LinkedIn profile data for free in the future?
It seems like LinkedIn is going to keep restricting access to data in order to encourage recruitment professionals to subscribe to their premium search features. So, we're all being nudged towards using third-party tools or considering one of LinkedIn's premium packages like LinkedIn Recruiter, LinkedIn Recruiter Lite, or LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
The "LinkedIn X-Ray era," as we knew it, might have come to an end, but a new era is on the horizon! Regardless, we'll still be able to source on LinkedIn in some way, even if it's different from what we're used to.
But wait, there's more to this article! Let me reveal another URL you can set your sights on. Oh, and get ready for a surprise—LinkedIn has a problem they're not even aware of yet.
Intrigued? Keep reading!