By The PhantomBuster TeamLooking to generate better leads, book more meetings, or just get the inside scoop on a target company?
Finding former employees on LinkedIn is a goldmine for B2B professionals, whether you're in sales, recruitment, or market research.
This guide covers how to find former employees of a company on LinkedIn in just a few steps, allowing you to move faster and more strategically.
We’ll also show you how to do it at scale using tools like PhantomBuster to boost your lead-generation efforts.
Use the 'Past company' search filter to find past employees of a company
LinkedIn’s search functionality is more powerful than it looks, especially when tapping the 'Past company' filter.
Here’s how to use it to pinpoint ex-employees of any company in seconds:
1. Go to the LinkedIn search bar.
2. Type the name of the specific company you’re targeting.
3. Click the 'People' search tab in the results.
4. Click the 'All Filters' button to access the advanced search options.
5. Scroll to the 'Past company' field and toggle or add the company name.
6. Optional: Use industry and skill filters like location, job title, industry, or keywords in the 'Current company' field to narrow down your results even further in just a few clicks. You can even find people who attended the same school to establish common ground.
Automatically export former employees of a company using PhantomBuster
If you're looking to export current or former employees of a company, doing that one by one doesn’t scale.
That’s where automation tools like PhantomBuster come in handy.
Pull data using Chrome Extensions
PhantomBuster’s Chrome extension lets you build hyper-targeted lists directly from LinkedIn searches.
Once installed, just click the extension when you’re on a search results page. You can pick specific profiles and send them straight into your workflow for enrichment, outreach, or analysis.
This requires some manual process, but it’s perfect when you want more control and quality over quantity.
PhantomBuster’s Chrome extension is best suited for precise, targeted results. It’s also a good option for quick research or testing a segment before launching a larger campaign.
This method gives you full control if you're working with a narrow list—say, past employees with specific job titles or from certain regions.
You can handpick profiles, add them to a custom list, and immediately send them into your enrichment or outreach workflow.
Bulk export all employees of a company page from the search results
If you’ve already filtered the results with the 'Past company' filter, you can automate the export using PhantomBuster’s LinkedIn Search Export.
Here’s how it works:
Paste the URL of your filtered search into the Phantom.
Launch the automation to extract all visible profiles.
The results appear directly in your PhantomBuster dashboard, organized by name, job title, and location.
Then, you can export the list to a CSV file with profile URLs and additional metadata.
The exported CSV typically includes full names, current job titles, LinkedIn profile URLs, and company info.
From there, your sales team might want to enrich that list with business emails, score leads based on job seniority or location, then reach out to them with a personalized message.
This step is where filtered data becomes a working lead list, ready for action.
How to connect with former employees on LinkedIn?
Once you’ve found ex-employees, the next step is turning that list into conversations.
That’s where PhantomBuster's LinkedIn Search to Outreach workflow comes in. It helps you automatically connect with people matching your sales ICP.
Using this pre-built automation, you can:
Extract leads directly from a LinkedIn or Sales Navigator search.
Send warm, personalized outreach at scale with LinkedIn message templates.
Automate follow-ups to keep the conversation going.
Sending personalized messages at scale doesn't mean giving up quality. The workflow supports message templates with dynamic fields, so each contact sees something that feels 1:1.
For example:
Hi [First Name],
I noticed you were at [Past Company]. I’m speaking with others in that space and thought it might be worth connecting.
You can adjust the timing between messages and follow-ups, making your outreach feel more natural and less robotic.
It’s a simple way to build momentum in your lead-generation efforts without writing dozens of messages manually.
How to find and export a company's current employees (automatically)
Sometimes, you don’t just want past company employees; you want the current team, too. Looking at current and former employees gives you the full picture.
Whether targeting decision-makers or researching an org chart, you can extract this data automatically.
All you have to do is copy the URL of the company page into PhantomBuster's LinkedIn Company Employees Export, and the automation will scrape LinkedIn profiles listed as working there.
No manual copying, no browser tab overload. This is just one of the fastest ways to find employees of a specific company.
Why are former employees valuable for pipeline-building?
Former employees often offer value you won’t get from current team members. They tend to be more open about internal challenges, company culture, or workflows, especially if they’ve recently left.
This kind of insight can help you tailor your message and show you understand the company's real needs.
Many former employees also move into similar roles at new companies. If they fit your ICP once, chances are they still do, and now you have a warmer reason to reach out.
Looking at someone’s work history also helps tailor your message to their career path.
For outbound sales representatives, this context can make the difference between being ignored and getting a reply. It turns generic outreach into targeted, relevant conversations that convert better.
When should you contact former employees?
Timing plays a key role in whether your message gets read or ignored. Former employees are most receptive when:
They’ve recently changed jobs and are still active on LinkedIn.
Their profiles show they’re open to new opportunities (e.g., consulting or freelance).
They’ve posted or commented recently, indicating they’re engaged.
You can spot these intent signals by looking at recent activity, profile updates, or headline changes.
For example, profiles with the 'Open to Work' badge or headlines like 'Currently exploring new opportunities' clearly indicate that someone may be more receptive.
Finding LinkedIn's former employees' FAQ
Why is finding company employees a good idea for my sales pipeline?
Finding previous employees can help you understand the company’s structure, uncover new leads, and develop more relevant outreach.
How can I ensure a successful connection with a former employee?
Personalize your message based on their past role and keep it short and relevant. If they’re not active on LinkedIn, consider reaching out through other social media platforms they engage with.
Can I save my LinkedIn search to monitor the list of ex-employees regularly?
Yes. You can save search URLs or set alerts in Sales Navigator to revisit or monitor changes.
How to find current employees of a company on LinkedIn?
To find current company employees, search the company name and click on 'People.' Then, use advanced filters like location, title, or department.
Can LinkedIn’s Alumni tool help find former staff members?
Yes. LinkedIn’s Alumni tool lets you filter a university’s alumni by company, role, or location. It’s a quick way to identify former employees with shared educational backgrounds.
