The burden of unemployment is a heavy one. Amid fears of a global economic recession, a surprising trend is emerging in the U.S. job market, or rather, the job-hunting scene. Until now, dating apps and matchmaking sites have been primarily used to find love. But that picture is changing. The American job market has become so competitive that unemployed young men and women are increasingly turning to apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge instead of LinkedIn to secure job opportunities and interviews.
Is LinkedIn becoming outdated?
LinkedIn has long been the go-to platform for professional networking. However, it is gradually losing appeal among Gen Z. A recent survey by Resume Builder found that many job seekers feel LinkedIn is now too crowded. Users are constantly promoting themselves, making it difficult to form genuine connections.
According to the survey, about 34 percent of job seekers used dating apps solely for professional networking in the past year. Surprisingly, this approach is proving effective: 39 percent of those who sought jobs via dating apps received interview calls, and 37 percent ultimately secured positions.
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Desperation or a new strategy?
Stacy Haller, Chief Career Advisor at Resume Builder, said, "Young professionals are under tremendous pressure to survive in this competitive market. The environment on dating apps is much more personal and light-hearted, which helps build authentic relationships."
Bloomberg recently featured Tiffany Chau, a 20-year-old student at California College of Arts seeking internship opportunities in product design. She said, "I see dating apps as just another networking platform like Instagram or LinkedIn." Tiffany added that she received valuable advice from someone who had interviewed at a top consulting firm through the Hinge app.
Looking for CEOs on dating apps
There is another side to the trend. Alex Geo, an 18-year-old studying at the University of California, Berkeley, and director of the startup Ditto AI, originally joined a dating app to find a girlfriend. However, he matched with several users who directly asked him for jobs. Alex said, "At the end of the day, all communications seem to converge at one point. Can you help me build my career?"
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Harsh reality and unemployment statistics
Handing over a CV on a date may feel awkward, but this behaviour reflects harsh economic realities. According to the U.S. Department of Labour, the unemployment rate in November was 4.6 percent. Among young people aged 20 to 24, it was even higher, around 8.3 percent.
As the job market becomes more challenging, people are increasingly seeking unconventional ways to find employment. Perhaps in the near future, "swipe right" will no longer just mean "I like you", it might mean, "You're hired!"
