TikTok is buzzing with unemployed Gen Z graduates struggling to secure careers in today’s tough job market.
Take the example of Rohani Santos. Despite earning double college degrees and mastering three languages, Gen Zers can’t get interviews on online job sites, so they hit the streets of New York to find jobs the old-fashioned way. I knocked on the door. A virus is generated in the process.
But even millennials, who entered the workforce in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, know a thing or two about resorting to unusual tactics in the job search.
When Swedish-born graduate Samantha Rogers decided to move to London without a job in 2018, she realized that it’s not what you know that helps open doors, but who you know. I was keenly aware that this was often the case.
“I didn’t want to be in London and not have everything, so I wanted to be proactive before I moved because it’s expensive here,” says Rogers. luck.
So in addition to tapping the usual suspects like LinkedIn and Indeed, she logged onto her Tinder profile and added the phrase “Seeking job opportunities” to her bio.
“For a long time, Tinder offered me little exchange of value, but just because I didn’t have success dating on the app, I didn’t feel like I could use the platform creatively for other purposes, like networking or promoting myself. “It wasn’t about business, or exploring new social connections,” she recalls.
“I thought if I was going to use Tinder and I hadn’t been able to build a relationship before, I might be able to find a job, but it turned out to be easier.”
Within a week, Rodgers had several opportunities. The men on her app were not only contacting her with leads, but also recommending her for her position within her company.
“That helped me get to the interview right away,” she added. “At the recruitment agency, she had two interviews and then got one sales job.”
In the end, Ms. Rogers (now a PR account director and married) had so many job offers that she ended up swiping left (i.e., turning them down) on the three non-offers from Tinder. ) I had plenty of time. Her cup of tea.
Although she didn’t technically find a job through Tinder, she still recommends unemployed women use the app to their advantage, especially when it comes to finding work.
“It’s obviously a very crowded market and there are always so many new channels that could be untapped,” Rogers says.
The lines between dating and networking are blurring
Bumble, the women-first dating app, encourages users to make the most of its 50 million-strong network.
In 2017, the app launched Bumble Biz, giving hopeless romantics the chance to find both potential partners and employers in one place.
Similarly, Grindr, commonly known as the go-to place for LGBTQ+ people looking to meet people, has jumped on the bandwagon.
According to the company, about 25% of users connect to the network through the app.
But as the line between dating and networking blurs, women’s inboxes are increasingly flooded with unsolicited advances from men who use their professional platforms to pursue mates.
Over 90% of women report receiving at least one unsolicited message on LinkedIn.
“I remember receiving multiple flirtatious messages from men on apps and platforms that were meant for other things,” Rogers reiterates. “So I decided to turn the tables and use dating apps as a platform for finding work.”
“As women, we need to not only get more opportunities, but also strengthen ourselves to take advantage of every space where opportunity is available,” she added.
Even after years of living in London and building professional connections, Rogers would still consider downloading the app again if he found himself without a job.
“But I think I need to let my husband know I’m on Tinder again,” laughs the millennial manager.
Is job hunting through matching apps appropriate?
Searching for a job on Tinder is a novel approach, but don’t be surprised if your search for an employer isn’t well-received by people scrolling through dating apps in search of love.
“Tinder is the world’s most popular dating app, dedicated to fostering meaningful personal connections, not business connections,” a company spokesperson said. luck.
It can be inefficient to try to find a job on a platform that, as Tinder says, “people use first and foremost to find relationships.”
Rather than trying to find a needle in a haystack, unemployed young people may be better off looking for work in the same field that recruiters are actively considering.
But Rogers argues that the scarcity of job seekers on the app is precisely what gives unemployed professionals a competitive advantage. “Dare to try something unconventional. You’re likely to be more successful because there’s a good chance others haven’t thought of it.”
She’s also well aware that the men who offered her jobs on the platform may have been hoping for a relationship that was more than just business associates.
That’s why she carefully researched each company and its location to “make sure it was legit” before attending an in-person interview behind the scenes on Tinder.
“Always research the company to make sure it actually exists and that the interviewer works there,” Rogers advises.
Although Tinder has more than 20 safety features, including an “enhanced” photo verification process and anti-harassment prompts, Rogers said women should be as cautious when job hunting on the app as they would be when meeting a romantic interest for the first time. I encourage you to work on it.
“Just like most girls do on a date, be sure to text your friends and family updates on where you’re going and what time you’re going,” she adds.
“If you want to take it a step further, you can also share your location or take someone to wait outside.”