Who Viewed My Profile: How to Use this LinkedIn Feature to Grow Your Network

Who Viewed My Profile: How to Use this LinkedIn Feature to Grow Your Network

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LinkedIn has quite a number of powerful features that very few people take advantage of. Of course, that’s not surprising. With such a robust platform, it’s nearly impossible to know (and use!) all of its bells and whistles.

That being said, there’s one feature, in particular, that is frequently overlooked but highly useful for those who know how to use it.

You may have seen the list labelled, “Who Viewed My Profile.” If you haven’t seen it, go to your LinkedIn homepage and look at the left-hand side beneath your profile picture. You’ll see a number right below it with the words “who’s viewed your profile”. Click on the number and you’ll be taken to the list.

Most people give this a cursory glance at best, but do nothing with the information.

With a regular free account, you can see the 5 most recent people who looked at your info. But, with the premium account, you can see them all.

The question then becomes: What should you do with this information?

The answer: Turn it into your prospective contacts list.


Also read: Are LinkedIn Groups Worth Joining When Trying to Land a Job?


The people on this list are all interested in you in one way or another. They landed on your profile for a reason. Maybe they were searching for someone with your skills. Or maybe they saw your name pop up in someone else’s contacts list or in a “people you might know” list. There are all kinds of ways they could have stumbled upon your profile.

Regardless, they are now a possible lead. You have a compelling reason to contact them and open up a conversation.

Send them a message with something simple like, “I noticed you visited my profile recently. Thanks! I’m curious about how I got on your radar and if you think that making a connection here might be mutually beneficial?”

This is enough to get the ball rolling if they’re interested, without going overboard.


Also read: Your Resume vs. your LinkedIn Profile: What’s the Difference?


You’ll probably also notice that a portion of the people on the “Who Viewed My Profile” list are not visible. That’s because they viewed your profile in Private Mode specifically because they didn’t want to be contacted this way. That’s perfectly okay! Often these people are recruiters, searching tons of profiles each day. If they got bombarded with messages from each person, they would be completely overwhelmed.

Using this list to expand your network is a very proactive thing to do. Rather than sitting back, waiting for others to initiate contact, you’re assertively reaching out to people in a targeted fashion. You have a clear reason for starting a conversation and, with the right approach, you could make some valuable new connections.

Chrissy Scivicque
About the Author
Chrissy Scivicque

Chrissy Scivicque is a career coach, corporate trainer and public speaker who believes work can be a nourishing part of the life experience. Her website, Eat Your Career, is devoted to this mission. Chrissy is currently a contributing career expert for U.S. News & World Report and the author of the book, The Proactive Professional: How to Stop Playing Catch Up and Start Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life!), available on Amazon.

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