Top 06 LinkedIn Alternative
While LinkedIn is the most prominent professional networking website, it is not the only one, and limiting yourself to just one platform is not always promising. Most people believe that you can get the most job offers from LinkedIn, however, I recently joined this workspace solely based on my engagement on Meetup, which is another great professional networking platform – my remote interview got much appreciation because of how smooth it went and that credit goes to my TWC internet and yours truly, of course.
Without delaying any further, here is the list of the top 06 alternate professional networking websites that you can use instead of or in addition to LinkedIn.
1. Meetup
Type of Site: Membership Software
Launch Date: June 12, 2002
Owned by: AlleyCorp
Number of Users: 35 million
Website: www.meetup.com
If you want to connect with meetings and seminars even when offline, Meetup is the way to go. Through this great professional networking site, you can join focus groups with like-minded people to discuss trending topics. Meetup also makes sure to keep you aware of all the upcoming events that can be of your interest. In this way, you will be able to connect with people of the same mindset and interests that will bring up more career growth options.
Like the ‘Spaces’ feature on Twitter, you can attend any ongoing events on the website, however, there is an option to create your own groups to conduct meetings with people you find like-minded.
Meetup is a free professional networking space and is being used by more than 15 million users around the globe.
2. Nexxt
Type of Site: Recruitment, Professional Networking
Launch Date: N/A
Owned by: Rich Milgram
Number of Users: 85 million
Website: www.nexxt.com
Personally branded as a ‘career network,’ this professional networking website helps you connect with companies that are looking to hire specialists and experienced individuals. For job seekers, Nexxt is a blessing as it makes sure to offer free and immediate access to more than 500 industry-classified companies and talent groups around the country. It also allows you to find vacancies by searching through exact categories and locations.
Furthermore, as a user of Nexxt, you can get free access to original career-oriented content from more than 1400 sources. This also offers suggestions to recruiters and lets them find the best-suited resources.
3. Sumry
Type of Site: Resume builder
Launch Date: Oct 28, 2013
Owned by: Nate Hanson, Sebastian Kade
Number of Users:
Website: www.sumry.me
While Sumry is not exactly a networking site, it is an authentic career-based application. It allows you to create top-of-the-line resumes and work portfolios on the web. It also makes sure to accentuate your professional expertise, work experience, education, and varied certifications. Moreover, there is a distinct section to emphasize your recommendations, if you have any.
With Sumry, you can apply for a position immediately after finding it. What’s more, is that it lets you introduce yourself to a company before you even send an application formally. Sumry has a free version that offers basic access, but if you want advanced functions – you might want to get its Pro version that costs only 07 USD a month.
4. AngelList
Type of Site: Entrepreneurship, Recruitment, Investments, Startups
Launch Date: April 22, 2010
Owned by: Venture Hacks, Inc.
Number of Users: 05 million
Website: www.angel.co
If you want to completely replace LinkedIn, AngelList is the one app you should opt for. It has an exceptionally easy interface that is simple to use and very efficient when it comes to professional networking. AngelList helps connect recruiters with job seekers for free.
It is also a great platform for raising funds and investing in a startup. If you are a startup founder, you can hire talented individuals from this platform as well.
5. Opportunity
Type of Site: Recruitment, Referrals, Connectivity
Launch Date: N/A
Owned by: N/A
Number of Users: 85 million
Website: www.myopportunity.com
As the name suggests, this web-based application is a sure-shot way to find new professional opportunities. Functioning around the globe, this website gives people the chance to connect and network with relevant individuals from their industry, about job openings, and to get leads even.
Most of the features offered by this platform are free to use, however, if you want top-tier services, you can get the subscription-based Pro version too. With the Pro version, you can access VIP lead notifications, advanced communication features, and even the Global Search Tool.
This LinkedIn alternate is necessary for sales and marketing professionals. It uses matching algorithms to analyze several profiles and data points to connect the relevant individuals with each other.
6. Xing
Type of Site: Professional Networking
Launch Date: Aug 2003
Owned by: Burda Digital
Number of Users: 20 million
Website: www.xing.com
Very similar to LinkedIn, Xing is a professional networking site that ensures simplified connectivity among like-minded professionals. Through this web app, you can always stay aware of the latest business news related to your industry and otherwise. You can also post and search for jobs, seminars, tradeshows, and conferences.
Xing is being used in more than 200 countries; however, most of its users are based in Europe. It is available in several languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Chinese, Swedish, Portuguese, Japanese, and many others.
While it is a free professional networking application when it comes to basic features – for advanced level features, you can pay a little amount.
Conclusion
In this article, we have outlined the top professional networking sites available today. No matter what kind of job you are searching for, you should be able to find a great professional network to help your search. Each one of these websites offers something different, so if you are looking for a professional networking site or network, try each one to see which works best for you.
While LinkedIn is considered the best professional networking site, there are a lot of other options too. With that said, it is important to remember that if you are looking for a job or business opportunity, LinkedIn is still one of the best websites out there. Other professional networking sites might be better suited for people who are looking to build their personal brand and contacts. But, signing up on more than one website is a great way to stay on top of your competition.