Love on LinkedIn: Where You Can Find A Date Quicker Than A Job’s Pay Rate

What if instead of paying a monthly rate for a dating app with uncertain results, you could simply log into your LinkedIn account and browse for a date just as you would on an app? It turns out LinkedIn has more to offer than CVs and job posts.

According to Zety’s new LinkedIn Romance Report , which surveyed over 1,000 U.S. employees, the sample consisted of 53% female, 46% male, and 1% nonbinary respondents, with 19% Gen Z, 27% Millennials, 27% Gen X, and 27% Baby Boomers, and the results were astounding. Although many felt that making dating advances was a bit unprofessional, 1 in 4 believed that the opportunity was more trustworthy than a dating app. Here’s what Her Agenda has gathered.

While dating apps can be sketchy as it pertains to deciphering if the person you’re talking to is, in fact, truly that person, many people naturally go to LinkedIn to verify a person. This makes LinkedIn a verifiable source, which makes dating a more comfortable outlet to scout possible partners.

According to Zety, 21% of workers say they’ve used LinkedIn to look up a potential partner they met on a dating app or in real life.

Additionally, LinkedIn has inadvertently become the blue checkmark of the dating world, serving as a more reliable background check than traditional dating apps. In an era of online ghosting and deception, a resume and a verified career history are now viewed as the real indicators of stability and character. 

Zety’s Romance Report outlines the most attractive profile traits listed below. The elements listed give you a grand scale of the person you are interested in. Since LinkedIn is designed for professional prowess, you are able to get a sense of what the person does for a career, their interests, and their background before you even send a message to them.

The Most Attractive Profile Traits

• Profile photo: 57%
• Bio/About section showcasing personality: 55%
• Mutual connections: 41%
• Career history/trajectory: 35%
• Education: 35%
• Job title/current role: 30%
• Skills/endorsements: 28%
• Current employer: 19%

While taking a chance to mix business with pleasure has worked for some, the report says that 65% believe using LinkedIn for dating could harm their professional reputation, while 35% do not believe it poses a risk to their reputation. Many prefer to keep LinkedIn as a professional tool to network, apply for jobs, and showcase their career and background on their profiles.

The conversation of taking a risk comes into play when one decides to send an invitation with romantic intent. Though risky, there is a slim chance for reward, as the report shows that 1 in 5 (22%) have reached out to or responded to someone on LinkedIn with romantic intent. And 1 in 8 (12%) have formed a romantic relationship that started on LinkedIn.

Despite evolving social norms around LinkedIn use, many workers remain hesitant about romantic outreach on the platform:

• 34% would feel uncomfortable.
• 31% feel neutral and say it depends on the situation.
• 19% would report or block the sender.
• 16% would feel flattered.

Ultimately, the report is based on preference and perspective. If you’re someone who likes to take risks, maybe you’ll try dating on LinkedIn. However, if you’re a professional who wants to strictly focus on your career without fault, LinkedIn dating may not be for you. Or you may want to solely use LinkedIn for vetting purposes when you meet someone new. No matter what category you fall under, always prioritize safety.