10 Best Professional Networking Sites To Expand Your Professional Network

To level up your career, showcase your skills and services, or simply be kept in the loop, networking sites are the place to be. As the job market becomes more and more competitive, standing out is required to make progress in the industry. Professional networking involves making and maintaining contact with those who align with your career progression or goals so you can leverage each other's networks to advance professionally. With 85% of job vacancies filled via networking, being active on professional networking sites is essential to progressing in your career.

For recent graduates seeking employment opportunities, accessing those popular networking sites is crucial to maximize your visibility in the job market. We’ll go through the top 10 networking websites you can leverage as well as give you tips to expand your network.

Top 10 Best Professional Networking Sites

LinkedIn

With over 1 billion users, LinkedIn is the most well-known professional networking site. Designed for building professional networks, finding new jobs, and sharing career highlights, a LinkedIn account is a must if you are starting out in your career. Corporate or professional roles are likely to be the most used on LinkedIn.

By adding coworkers and filling out your profile, you become discoverable by hiring managers, who can reach out to you with job opportunities. LinkedIn allows you to showcase your skills and personality outside of your job and connect with others over shared ideas and goals. After connecting with people, you can view their profiles and send messages to their inboxes.

LinkedIn also has short classes that offer career advice, workshops, and events that are online, and allow you to get a skills badge after completion. Many companies or organizations advertise in-person conferences on LinkedIn as well, so you can network and get yourself updated on various industry trends in person, too!

Cake

Cake is a talent platform that allows job seekers to create their resume or CV for free and apply for jobs, as well as network. Anyone can use Cake. We provide users with a bunch of customizable resume and portfolio templates that suit any profession or niche. After creating a personal profile and resume with Cake, you can directly apply for jobs available on our website. It's pretty convenient, right?

Cake is also a professional networking platform, now enhanced with its latest feature, Meet, which is integrated into the Cake mobile app. You can simply swipe left or right to connect instantly with people. The best thing about it? You can start the conversation seamlessly after being matched since, after all, it's easier to chat when you know the other person is also interested. Plus, the team at Cake reviews each profile created on Meet manually to ensure a safe networking space. You can also use the community tab to share more about yourself, your achievements, or your reflections with others.

Jobcase

Jobcase is a job hunting site with a special Q&A feature, where job seekers can ask a career-related question to the community and receive answers. It is suitable for all careers and industries.

Jobcase collects job postings from a range of job boards and presents them all on their site, streamlining your job search. You can apply to jobs using your Jobcase profile, and learn ways to advance in your career with their online resources and articles.

As for networking, Jobcase has a social media ‘feel’ about its platform. Their ‘trending’ tab is where the community can discuss current issues or topics in their industry or profession, and it is also where events and resources are advertised. You can follow members whose opinions align with yours, and leverage the community to showcase your skills and talents to potential employers.

My Opportunity

My Opportunity is a job networking site that has a unique feature that leverages your existing contacts to find new career opportunities, optimizing your job search. Their website will match job opportunities to your profile, and deliver them directly to your inbox for you to review.

If you want to reach out to your contacts list to network with them, they have a mass messaging feature to assist you. Based on your goals, My Opportunity will use its AI feature to present you with opportunities, making it easier for job seekers to connect with potential employers.

Messaging can be done through the My Opportunity platform, but job applications will likely need to be done on company websites. My Opportunity is versatile and can be utilized across any profession or industry.

Meetup

Although it is not traditionally meant for networking, Meetup is being used by many professionals and organizations to host social events for professionals on this platform. Meetup provides relevant information on what events, conferences, talks, or workshops are being held in your local area, and can be a great way to meet like-minded people nearby.

Try using the words ‘networking,’ ‘professional,’ ‘mixer,’ and ‘meet and greet’ to see what events are being held. You can be more specific by mentioning your industry or profession as well. Meetup is also great for workshops, such as for learning public speaking, business pitches, and interview preparation. Most of the events on Meetup are free, so it's a relatively low-stakes way to begin networking.

Eventbrite

Similar to Meetup, Eventbrite allows you to see the events being held in your area. They even categorize events by type, so try the ‘business’ filter to see what's on. You can use business events or workshops as a way to network with like-minded professionals and these events are open to anyone as well.

Eventbrite networking events are more focused on a particular profession or industry, so it can be a great way to meet others in a similar career to yours and interact with other professionals from specific industries through professional associations.

Anyone can sign up and browse events on Eventbrite, and it can be a great way to meet connections in person. Some events are free, but many on Eventbrite are paid events, so consider this before signing up.

Reddit

Reddit is a social media platform where users can discuss anything, including career topics. Reddit has thousands of niche pages that you can use to your advantage in networking. First, you can browse career and resume pages to receive tips and advice for your specific career or profession, as well as have larger discussions about career paths.

As for networking, you can advertise your services on some pages (if they allow advertising) and showcase your portfolio for advice and feedback. You can message others on Reddit and discuss in private DMs, but not everyone is open to doing this. Here, you can answer questions, share your relevant experience, explore shared interests, and connect with other users on topics like professional relationships and building relationships.

Reddit is an anonymous platform so make sure you follow the rules posted by a page before joining. Anyone can try leveraging Reddit for networking, but creative professions will likely have the most success.

Directory of Associations

This is a way for professionals based in the same industry to connect with an organization, non-profit, alumni, or certified association relating to their profession. The directory of associations can be filtered by state, organization type, industry, and size, and has thousands of entries.

Anyone can use the directory to see what professional associations they might join to build relationships and create meaningful connections within their specific industry. The directory itself isn't a social or professional networking site but rather provides you with the groups or organizations you can join and network within.

The directory of associations would be particularly useful to professionals who have a career requiring accreditation or certification so that they can stay up-to-date on the latest industry changes. These associations also help their members with other matters such as being a part of a union or updating their credentials.

Facebook Groups

Facebook groups are a great way to exchange information and join like-minded individuals who are looking to build their professional network. These groups are free to join, making them an ideal platform to search for jobs or advertise your skills and portfolio. Since Facebook is not anonymous, you can get to know members of the group before attending events.

Facebook groups are a great way to make connections in a new city, and many meetups, conferences, and events are advertised in Facebook groups. You can add and message people on Facebook; however, most people prefer to discuss publicly within the group.

To see what networking groups are available on Facebook, try including the city, specific industry, or profession in your keywords. Additionally, these groups allow you to join groups related to your professional interests or a specific industry, enhancing your visibility and opportunities in your field. Some groups for you to start: jobs in Taiwan for foreigners, trending jobs in Malaysia, trending jobs in Singapore.

Chamber of Commerce

Chambers of Commerce are organizations that aim to improve business relationships within a particular area or industry. They often hold both formal and casual networking events, such as drinks and lunches, where you can connect with people and discuss career topics. There is usually a fee for joining a chamber of commerce, but it can be quite affordable and provides entry into all events for that year.

You can look up the chamber of commerce in your local area to join. Additionally, most chambers of commerce have their own Facebook group or LinkedIn page, so you can follow companies and gain digital and in-person contacts simultaneously. These online platforms often serve as additional resources for building connections and finding industry-specific information.

Tips on How to Use Networking Site to Your Advantage

In today's digital age, professional networking sites have become essential tools for job seekers looking to expand their professional horizons. These platforms offer a unique opportunity to connect with industry professionals, discover job openings, and establish a personal brand that attracts potential employers. To maximize the benefits of these sites, it's crucial to employ a strategic approach to your online presence and interactions. Here are some practical tips on how to effectively use networking sites to enhance your job search and career development.

1. Optimize Your Profile

Ensure your profile is complete and up-to-date, showcasing your skills, experiences, and career interests. Use keywords related to your industry to make it easier for potential employers or connections to find you.

2. Professional Photo

Use a professional-looking photo on your profile, such as your LinkedIn profile. This increases the likelihood of getting profile views as it makes a strong first impression.

3. Engage Actively

Don't just create a profile and wait for things to happen. Actively engage by sharing relevant content, commenting on others' posts, and joining discussions. This shows your enthusiasm and knowledge in your field.

4. Join Relevant Groups

Most networking sites have groups or forums dedicated to specific industries or interests. Join these groups and participate actively. This can lead to connections with like-minded professionals and potential job opportunities.

5. Connect Strategically

Connect with people in your industry, including peers, mentors, and recruiters. When sending connection requests, personalize your message, mentioning why you want to connect or any common interests or experiences.

6. Follow Industry Leaders and Companies

By following leaders in your field and target companies, you can stay informed about the latest trends and job openings. Often, companies post about job vacancies on their pages first.

7. Ask for Introductions

If you see a connection who knows someone you’d like to meet, don’t hesitate to ask for an introduction. Be polite and explain why you think the introduction would be mutually beneficial.

8. Seek Recommendations and Endorsements

Recommendations and endorsements from colleagues and managers can boost your profile's credibility. Politely ask for these from people who know your work well.

9. Utilize Alerts

Set up alerts for jobs, companies, and news in your field. This keeps you informed and ready to apply as soon as suitable opportunities arise.

Conclusion

Building connections and networking is easier than ever due to the number of professional networking sites available. By joining both online groups and attending in-person events, you can form relationships with other like-minded individuals. By building a rapport with others and having your name and face out in the community, you are making yourself available for unique job opportunities.

If you want to broaden your network, try Cake Meet, so you can seamlessly connect with others at ease!

— Originally Written by Bronte McNamara —