How to View Mutual Connections on LinkedIn Easily

1. LinkedIn's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Degree Connections

1st-degree connections are people you've directly connected with by accepting their invite or having them accept yours. You can message them directly on LinkedIn. 2nd-degree connections are LinkedIn members connected to your 1st-degree connections. You can send them a connection request to connect directly. 3rd-degree connections are people connected to your 2nd-degree connections. To connect with them, you'd need to send a connection request or have a mutual connection introduce you.

2. Visibility Settings for Connections on LinkedIn

Your connections on LinkedIn can choose their visibility settings, which impacts who can see their full list of connections. Some users opt to keep their connections private. However, even if a 1st-degree connection hides their full connections list from you, you'll still be able to see any mutual connections you share with them. Mutual connections are 2nd-degree connections that you have in common.

3. Building a Relevant LinkedIn Network

Growing your LinkedIn network with relevant connections is key to maximizing the value of the platform. When you share mutual connections with other LinkedIn members, it becomes easier to get introduced, build relationships, and unlock new opportunities. Be strategic about who you connect with. Look for people in your industry, at companies you're interested in, or who have complementary skills or backgrounds. Engage with their content, look for commonalities, and send personalized connection requests mentioning what you have in common and why you'd like to connect. For efficient network management, consider using a LinkedIn profile scraper to automate data collection.

LinkedIn's connection system is based on degrees of separation, visibility settings, and building a relevant network. Understanding these elements can help you make the most of LinkedIn.

Next, we'll dive into how to find mutual connections on LinkedIn profiles.

1. Viewing Mutual Connections on a Profile

To view mutual connections on someone's LinkedIn profile, navigate to their profile page. Below their profile picture and headline, you'll see a section that displays the number of mutual connections you share. Click on this number to open a list of your mutual connections.

The list will show the names, profile pictures, and current positions of your mutual connections. You can scroll through the list or use the search bar to find specific people. Clicking on a person will take you to their profile.

2. Identifying 1st vs 2nd Degree Mutual Connections

When viewing your mutual connections with someone, LinkedIn distinguishes between 1st-degree and 2nd-degree connections. 1st-degree mutual connections are people who are directly connected to both you and the person whose profile you're viewing. 2nd-degree mutual connections are people who are connected to your 1st-degree connections.

LinkedIn indicates the degree of connection next to each person's name in the mutual connections list. This helps you understand the proximity of your relationship to each mutual connection.

3. Limitations on Viewing Mutual Connections

If you're not directly connected to the person whose profile you're viewing, there may be limitations on seeing your mutual connections. LinkedIn respects users' privacy settings, so if someone has chosen to hide their connections, you won't be able to see your mutual connections with them.

Additionally, if you have a large number of mutual connections with someone, LinkedIn may not display the full list. In this case, you can use filters or the search bar to find specific mutual connections.

4. Using the Mutual Connections Filter

LinkedIn offers a mutual connections filter on the "Connections" page, which allows you to quickly find shared connections with your existing connections. To access this filter, go to your "My Network" tab and click "Connections" on the left sidebar.

On the Connections page, click the "Mutual Connections" filter. This will display a list of your connections who share mutual connections with you. You can then click on a connection to view your mutual connections with them. For more advanced networking, consider using a LinkedIn integration tool to enhance your connection strategies.

Use Bardeen's LinkedIn profile scraper to save time by automating data collection from LinkedIn profiles. This tool helps in building detailed prospect lists effortlessly!

Finding mutual connections on LinkedIn profiles is a straightforward process that can yield valuable insights for networking. By understanding the information provided and using available filters, you can easily identify shared contacts and expand your professional network.

Next, let's explore how you can leverage these mutual connections for effective networking on LinkedIn.

1. Expand Your Network with Mutual Connections

One of the key benefits of connecting with mutual connections is the ability to expand your network beyond your immediate circle. When you share a connection with someone, it provides a common point of reference and can make it easier to establish a relationship.

For example, if you're looking to break into a new industry, identifying mutual connections with professionals in that field can give you a starting point for reaching out and requesting informational interviews or advice. The shared connection can provide context and credibility to your outreach.

2. Identify High-Value Mutual Connections

While having a large number of mutual connections can be beneficial, it's important to be strategic in identifying the most valuable ones to engage with. Look for mutual connections who are influential in your industry, work at companies you're interested in, or have expertise in areas you want to develop.

LinkedIn's search filters allow you to refine your mutual connection results by location, company, industry, and other criteria. Use these tools to prioritize your outreach efforts and focus on the connections that align with your professional goals.

3. Request Introductions and Personalize Connection Requests

When reaching out to a mutual connection, consider asking your shared contact for an introduction rather than sending a cold request. An introduction from a trusted source can increase the likelihood of your request being accepted and can provide valuable context for your relationship. Learn more about cold outreach techniques to improve your networking efforts.

If you do send a direct connection request, be sure to personalize your message and reference your mutual connection. Explain why you're interested in connecting and how you think the relationship could be mutually beneficial. Avoid generic messages that could come across as spammy or insincere.

4. Examples of Successful Mutual Connection Networking

There are countless examples of professionals leveraging mutual connections to advance their careers. A marketing manager might use mutual connections to secure guest blogging opportunities and expand their thought leadership. A job seeker could get their resume in front of a hiring manager through a shared contact.

In one real-world example, a freelance graphic designer was able to land a major client contract by leveraging a mutual connection with a former colleague. The colleague provided a glowing recommendation and helped the designer get their foot in the door with the client's marketing team.

By identifying high-value mutual connections and engaging with them strategically, you can unlock new opportunities and take your career to the next level. Whether it's finding a new job, securing a valuable partnership, or expanding your professional knowledge, mutual connections can be a powerful networking tool.

In the next section, we'll explore how you can use LinkedIn's search features to find and filter mutual connections effectively. Get ready to take your networking to new heights!

1. Utilize LinkedIn's Advanced Search Filters

LinkedIn offers a range of advanced search filters that allow you to refine your results based on specific criteria. When searching for mutual connections, you can use the "Connections of" filter to find people who are connected to a specific person in your network.

For example, let's say you want to find mutual connections with your colleague Sarah. In the search bar, type in Sarah's name and select her profile from the dropdown. Then, click on the "People" tab in the search results and apply the "Connections of" filter to see all the people who share a connection with both you and Sarah.

2. Leverage Boolean Search Techniques

Boolean search techniques allow you to combine keywords and operators to create more targeted searches. When looking for mutual connections, you can use the AND operator to find people who match multiple criteria.

For instance, if you want to find mutual connections who work in the marketing industry in New York City, you could search for: "marketing AND New York City". This will return results for people who have both "marketing" and "New York City" listed in their profiles and who share a connection with you.

3. Understand How Mutual Connections are Ranked

When you view mutual connections in search results, LinkedIn ranks them based on the strength of your relationship and the relevance of their profile to your search criteria. Connections who you have interacted with more frequently or who have more shared connections with you will typically appear higher in the results.

Keep this in mind when scrolling through mutual connection results. The people at the top of the list may be more likely to respond to your outreach or be able to provide valuable introductions.

4. Save Searches and Set Alerts

If you find yourself frequently searching for mutual connections based on certain criteria, you can save your searches for easy access later. LinkedIn also allows you to set alerts for saved searches, so you'll be notified when new mutual connections match your criteria.

To save a search, just click the "Save search" button at the top of the search results page. You can then access your saved searches from the "Search" dropdown menu. To set an alert, click the "Create search alert" button next to the saved search.

By leveraging LinkedIn's advanced search features and understanding how mutual connections are displayed, you can strategically expand your network and uncover valuable opportunities. Whether you're looking for potential clients, job leads, or industry experts, searching for mutual connections is a powerful way to make new connections and grow your professional relationships.

Wow, you've made it this far in the article! Give yourself a pat on the back. But don't stop now - there's still so much to learn about optimizing your LinkedIn networking potential. Keep reading to become a true mutual connection mastermind!

Looking to save time connecting with potential leads on LinkedIn? Try Bardeen's automation playbook for LinkedIn profiles to manage and update information automatically. Speed up your workflow and focus on building relationships instead!