What Are LinkedIn Advanced Search Filters?

Picture this: you’re scrolling through LinkedIn with a basic search, typing “marketing manager” and getting flooded with thousands of results. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack, right? That’s where advanced search filters come to rescue you from this chaos.

LinkedIn’s advanced search is a sophisticated filtering system that allows you to drill down into specific criteria across multiple dimensions, giving you the power to filter, sort, and target your search results to get exactly what you want. Think of it as upgrading from a basic flashlight to a laser-guided precision instrument.

Here’s what makes advanced search so powerful: while basic search might be okay for a quick lookup, it’s often limited and time-consuming if you’re serious about generating leads. The difference is stark – basic search gives you volume, while advanced search gives you precision.

The Reality Check: Free LinkedIn accounts face a “commercial use limit,” meaning LinkedIn restricts the number of profiles you can view or search for in a given period. Plus, search results for free users stop displaying at 1,000 profiles or 100 pages. That’s like being handed a sports car but only getting to drive it in first gear.

For serious professionals, premium tools such as LinkedIn Sales Navigator offer 50+ filters, provide access to 3rd-degree connections and beyond, and allow you to save an unlimited number of searches. The numbers speak volumes: Sales Navigator users are 51% more likely to hit their sales quotas.

How To Use LinkedIn Advanced Search Filters

Getting started is simpler than you think. Here’s your step-by-step roadmap:

Step 1: Launch Your Search Type a keyword, such as “Sales Manager” or “SaaS,” into LinkedIn’s main search bar and hit enter. This gives you the raw material to work with.

Step 2: Access the Magic Look for the “All filters” button, typically located near the top or on the right-hand side of your results page. This is where the real power begins.

People Search Filters: Your Secret Weapon

Let’s break down the most valuable filters for finding individual prospects:

Connection Levels – The Warm Introduction Strategy

• 1st-degree connections are people you’re directly connected to, great for re-engaging with your existing network

• 2nd-degree connections are often considered the “sweet spot” for warm introductions

• 3rd-degree connections and out-of-network are typically “cold” leads, but still discoverable

Location Targeting This filter allows you to target prospects by country, region, city, or even within a specific radius. Perfect for territory-focused strategies or local business targeting.

Company Intelligence You can identify prospects based on where they currently work or where they have worked previously. This is gold for targeting competitor employees or specific company cultures.

Industry Focus LinkedIn allows you to filter by over 150 industry categories, such as Technology, Healthcare, or Finance. Pro tip: self-reported industries can sometimes be inaccurate, so it’s best to combine this filter with keywords.

Company Search Filters: Perfect for Account-Based Strategies

These filters are invaluable for understanding and targeting specific organizations:

Size Matters Company size can be a strong indicator of a business’s potential budget and its fit within your ideal customer profile. This helps you focus your efforts where they’ll have the biggest impact.

Growth Signals Look for companies that are actively posting job openings, often indicated by a “Currently hiring” filter. This suggests growth and potential need for solutions.