Finding an old classmate and reconnecting can be a wonderful experience, but with privacy concerns at an all-time high, it may not be as simple as it used to be to find them, even online. They may have changed their name, removed their profiles from directory listings, or even outright deleted their accounts, making it harder to find and reconnect with them. You may only remember their first name or their nickname, which complicates things further.

So, whether you’re trying to reconnect with an old friend or find someone because you remember that insane project they did and need their expertise, here are the top methods to find your old classmates online:

Start First with a Yearbook

The first step to finding old classmates is through your yearbook. Don’t have yours on hand, or, really, have any idea of where yours has gone? No worries. You can discover college yearbooks online, allowing you to find your senior year yearbook with ease, and even potentially reconnect with those old friends right then and there. If they haven’t used the platform themselves, however, you can start by using their full name and conducting an online search.

Search on Familiar Social Platforms

One of the best places to start isn’t Google or an AI search tool like ChatGPT, but instead the social network you used during your high school years. If that’s Facebook, then start there. This is because you’ll likely have a large network of mutual friends, even if you two never connected in person.

If this doesn’t give you a direct line to your old classmate, that’s okay. You’ll need to next look at the job boards.

Check LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the largest job board and professional networking tool out there, and chances are, it’s also the best place to find an old classmate using their real, full name. To narrow down the search results, remember to use the advanced features, for example, putting your high school down in the education filter, or, alternatively, use your location to help filter through names.

If you find them, message them directly on LinkedIn. This is a neutral ground to make your reintroduction.

Reverse-Image Search

There are face search tools online that let you find pages based on a face, not just an exact image. Use this tool with an older photo from your friend’s yearbook to find their face. These services aren’t 100% accurate, of course, and they also remove listings upon request, but they can be a useful tool, for example, to find a professional’s profile on their company site.

Use a Search Engine

If you use a search engine, remember to include the person’s name and any other keywords you know about them, using advanced shortcuts like the “+” symbol between key phrases. You can also use quotations “Name” to ensure that the searches have the full name as it is written somewhere on the page.

Ask Your Mutual Friends

If you are connected to some old friends who know the classmate you’re trying to get in touch with, ask them! They may have them on a different social profile, or have more insight on how you can get in touch. They may even be able to connect you. You could be invited into a group chat, for example, and be able to connect to that old classmate that way.