Ever pondered the intriguing possibility of a dating app being your golden ticket to professional networking? This might seem like an oddball thought, but guess what – this unique trend is not just real, but it’s budding and flourishing right in China post LinkedIn’s departure.
In this article, we’re all set to delve into how Tinder is burgeoning from its role as the popular online matchmaker to an unexpected avenue for Chinese job seekers seeking career growth opportunities.
Intrigued? Swipe right with us into the future of professional networking!
Is Tinder Big in China?
When it comes to dating apps in China, Tinder, known as a definite leader of dating apps globally, was not accessible in China without a VPN. In fact, there are many Chinese dating apps, and most users prefer to use those, especially the most popular one: Tantan, which is often called ‘the Chinese Tinder‘.
Until recently, Tinder could have been accessed only with the use of a VPN, so in fact the majority of people who would access Tinder in China were expats. But this has recently changed, and Tinder is joining the popular Chinese dating apps, as today it’s possible to log in from Mainland China with a Chinese phone number.
This is especially important, because many Chinese, especially Chinese women, knowing that Tinder is used mostly by foreigners and people with good employment, started using this dating app to look for a job.
The Rise of Networking on Tinder in China
Tinder is gaining popularity as a networking tool amongst Chinese young people. It’s not just about finding love anymore; it’s becoming a hotspot for job referrals and making crucial career connections.
The app has evolved into an unexpected platform where young graduates are increasingly seeking employment opportunities in the tough job market. This shift can be attributed to Tinder’s unique location-based feature, allowing users to connect with like-minded people nearby, thus providing an edge in establishing valuable local business networks.
Greater chances of getting referrals at big companies
Tinder in China is not just about dating anymore. More and more job seekers are using it to find work. They chat with people who work at big firms, especially foreigners. It’s a new way to make connections and get referrals for jobs.
Chinese graduates are turning to Tinder for this reason too. Big companies often have many job openings. When you know someone who works there, your chances of getting referred increase significantly.
Tinder, as any other Chinese dating app, allows for more personal approach, which helps in presenting problems with finding jobs, stronng features and more. This is why many young people started posting photos advertising themselves.
Unemployment in China pushes young people to unconnventional methods
Due to global economic crisis and post-covid slow down, many Chinese young people are facing the hard truth of problems with finding a decent job.
According to National Bureau of Statistics, the youth unemployment rate surpassed 20% in 2023, so Chinese people are turning to new methods, hoping to get lucky along the way.
Tinder vs LinkedIn: How Does it Actually Work?
On the surface, Tinder and LinkedIn serve very different purposes. Yet, their core functionality – connecting people — blurs the line separating professional from personal networking.
Despite this similarity, user expectations on each platform can differ greatly; while one might look for a romantic match on Tinder, they may seek job opportunities or business connections on LinkedIn.
Strangely enough, in China these roles are beginning to interchange with more users seeking career-related contacts through Tinder rather than just love interests. It’s an intriguing shift that paints a new picture of modern social networking platforms and their potential uses beyond initial design intentions.
The blurred lines between professional and personal networking
Using Tinder for work chats is not weird in China. But there’s a tricky spot here. It blurs the lines between friend talk and job talk. This mix-up can be bad for remote workers because private data might be at risk.
Here is an example of a woman advertising her job willingness on Tinder:
The 22-year old woman decided to post a mini-CV instead of profile photos, trying to expand her job search, from traditional websites to a dating app. Someone might assume that would never work, but indeed, many young people are finding interships and employment this way.
Today, there are hundreds of posts on Chinese social media platforms, guiding young people on how to update their profiles and how to lead the conversation to land job on Tinder.
Opportunities for unconventional career paths
Tinder is giving life to new job hunt paths in China. Young grads are making use of it to find jobs that don’t fall under the normal routes from Asian perspective. Their pursuit shows how hard it is for them to get a normal job.
But it’s also sparking attention from companies, and Tinder itself. As it’s a fresh trend, it’s just left for observation, but who know how it will develop later on!
Will Tinder Turn Into China’s Version of Linkedin?
Tinder is now a tool for jobs in China. It has become more than just a dating app, filling the space left by LinkedIn. People use it to find work and make new business links. This shows how online apps are changing, not only our personal lives but also our careers and jobs.
If you’d like to know more about the Chinese market, or have an interesting project you’d like to discuss, contact us! We are a specialised digital marketing Agency in Shanghai, with more than 10 years of experience.
