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LinkedIn is a social networking site that was specifically made to bring professionals together and help develop careers among individuals worldwide. This isn’t their rule, but it is their vision so this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to strictly use their service for whatever is described in their services. Since it still falls into the social networking category, you can still use its services in any legal way that benefits you. This includes finding friends and relatives that you lost communication with.

Sure, there are many places to find people these days including various people directories and other social networking sites that people are swarming all over. But these social networking sites and other services do not emphasize in completing their profile fields and filling in truthful data. This makes the people that you are looking for a bit harder to find although they may be there anyway.

But LinkedIn is rapidly growing and more professionals and other individuals with jobs are aware of the popular social networking site for professionals and are filling up their profiles with real information because they want to be found. This is a great opportunity for you to find these people by using the different search tools available. One search method may not work, but don’t forget to try the other methods too before you give up.

Full Name Search

This is most probably the first thing that should come to your mind so it is worth trying this first. Depending on the name, you might see plenty of results so filtering the list at least by adding a location should lead you fewer results that you can compare. Try to avoid filling too many fields as that can be used for other methods.

Company Search

A large number of employees are joining LinkedIn and taking their companies with them so you should use the search feature and fill in the company information only and see what turns up. A small or medium company should definitely give you results to work with. Don’t forget to try other variations as well in case you come out with nothing.

School Search

If you and your friend studied in the same school or was a faculty member in that particular school, consider this option. People who really want to be found will post complete information about their alma mater and other educational information.

If you don’t see any results, you can always try another day because new people join every day. Once you found the profile, you can add the person as a connection right away. Some people have some of their contact information post for the public so that they can be found easier. Common fields include e-mail and phone number. It is generally better to use the phone number as a means of contact in case the person does not go online very often. Once you are finally in touch you can get all the information and other social networking sites that he or she is registered in so have a professional and personal lines of communication.