LinkedIn has updated its search functionality across different account types. For basic free accounts, users will now be limited to searching by city instead of zip code, see only 10 search results per page with minimal profile information, and have a maximum of 50 profile views. Premium accounts maintain more advanced search features like Boolean operators and job title searches. While some information is hidden on basic profiles, using an external site search like Google can still reveal full LinkedIn profile details through XRay searches. Overall, the updates shift more advanced search features to paid account levels.

1. Overview LinkedIn updates
1. You will no longer be able to search by job title. In some platforms of LinkedIn, depending on what you utilize,
sourcers may experience a loss of being able to search for candidates by their job title. Many users are reporting
that this functionality has already disappeared from Premium accounts. Other users of the non-paid version of
the website also are finding the same. In LinkedIn Recruiter, job title sourcing remains intact. Job title searching in
some cases is re-directing your keywords to matching terms found within a user’s profile.
2. No more Boolean? There have been reports and rumors that LinkedIn is pulling Boolean and advanced search
capability from its LinkedIn Recruiter Lite. The basic version of LinkedIn still allows for Boolean searches, and it
appears LinkedIn Recruiter Lite seems to have it working (as of press time).
3. New Limit on Search Results. Search options are limited in basic LinkedIn accounts to ten results per page. One
will note that from the results page you will see minimal information in the summary section from that page, and
unless your network includes a fair amount of contacts, you will not be able to see all the information in the
profiles retrieved. A better solution is to use the XRay (site:) technique in a search engine to view more details in
LinkedIn profiles. Although anyone can run a XRay in a search engine, with a basic account, you will eventually run
out of profiles views. LinkedIn only limits its basic users to a maximum of 50 views when logged into your account.
4. The XRay Lives! XRay and other LinkedIn searches still appear to be able to work in a search engine. Running a a
site: search in Google provides us with this sample search string: site:linkedin.com (“network engineer” OR
“network * engineer”) (ccna OR ccnp) -dir -intitle:profiles -inurl:jobs “Washington D.C. Metro Area.” Note that
LinkedIn will try and prompt you to log in even while running XRay searches once you click on a result to see the
full profile. This will usually happen after clicking on your second result in the search.
5. Pay to Play. In some cases, depending on the version of LinkedIn, you may be missing fields depending on where
you click. For example, clicking on the blue magnifying glass will cause you to have limited features for searches
while clicking on the advanced search will give you more options to narrow your search. Comparing the various
features for searches in basic, Recruiter Lite, and Recruiter Premium, one notices more features with the price
significantly going up in each package. It appears that some fields are collapsing and others remain.
6. Zip Codes are Being Retired. The bottom line is that the more you pay, the more you will have. The features that
were once free are being filtered to paid versions. It appears the location/zip code searches are now being
replaced. With a non-paid account, LinkedIn will now require you to search the actual city. This will limit a radius
search within LinkedIn with a basic account.
7. Company Search Becomes a Dropdown. Company search features will still exist in a basic account. However,
users will now have a drop-down field to select a company to search. You will be able to select multiple
companies and will still have the ability to search current and past companies simultaneously. Within a LinkedIn
Recruiter paid version all features will remain unchanged.
8. Limited Information in Profiles. In some versions, depending on the type of account you have, those searching for
a free basic account will notice little information on the profiles they are sourcing, and limited details available.
Some users may experience not being able to see all the profile information they did before in the LinkedIn site
revisions. XRaying, however, appears to reveal all of the information that you need to locate a candidate.
source: SourceCon