Beyond LinkedIn: Out-of-The-Box Online Resources To Network And Land A Gig 

With any online job search, one of the biggest headaches is getting ghosted or rejected — even after firing off dozens of LinkedIn replies, surviving awkward stalled reconnections with college alumni, and tweaking your resume for the hundredth time.

After running into wall after wall, it’s time to switch it up because, let’s be real, doing the same things and expecting different results just isn’t going to cut it. At this point, it’s time for a strategy pivot and a change in perspective. You might have to get more than a bit nontraditional in order to see results.

One such unconventional activity to add to your job search strategy — well, at least the web-based part — is to use alternative platforms outside of the usual suspects (i.e. LinkedIn, Indeed, or Monster). While those platforms are great and can indeed lead to interviews and offer letters, they aren’t the only employment opportunity game in town. 

Try these tips to take a breather from knocking on the same doors and allow yourself a moment to try something new and, in some cases, more effective:

Recent research found that almost two in three people use Reddit as a search engine, and 41% of its users say it’s better than Google. Its strength lies in its niche communities, and women professionals on the job hunt can start by finding subreddits related to their field — like “r/forhire” “r/careerwomen, or r/resumes for resume feedback and job leads. You can also go the career-specific route with threads like “r/bluecollarwomen” “r/sales” or “r/CScareers.”

And what better way to grab an edge in this tough job market than to gather intel. In person, that means real conversations. Online, it’s about learning what recruiters care about — and what drives them nuts. Subreddits like r/headhunting and r/recruitinghell are goldmines.

You could even be able to find insider information like the right approach or contact information for following up with a potential manager or tried-and-true application practices that you wouldn’t just know from vague job post instructions. 

Communities created by organizations and companies like Women in Tech, Lattice, She Code Africa, and Her Agenda’s own Insiders offer networking, job boards, mentorship, and emotional support. You can engage with other members either via breakout rooms or one-on-one via DMs. 

Some require a subscription or membership, but they’re worth it—great for spotting new jobs and building deeper, more exclusive industry connections. You can also check out Slofile to find free, public Slack groups. It’s important to contribute and consistently participate via discussions, group chats and DMs.

Many of your favorite career coaches, resume experts, and human resource vets have Instagram and TikTok subscriptions that offer premium content for job listings, interview and recruitment tips and general opportunities to interact with others who have exclusive access. Substacks like The Job Hopper,The Introverted Recruiter, The Freelance Writing Network offer leads, articles about landing gigs, and more. You can also take things a step further by interacting with commenters or looking out for leads there. For WhatsApp groups filled with people in your industry (or the one you’d like to get into), you’ll  have to do a bit of scrolling and digging, but a good place to start in sourcing is your For You page, a good Facebook search, or word of mouth. 

As with anything job search-related, always do your research, never send personal information or money to a stranger (or unknown party) without vetting that it’s part of a legitimate hiring process, subscription offering, or professional development resource, and use discernment when communicating with people you’ve never actually met (because job-related catfishing and employment scams are very are real.)

By diversifying across public forums (Reddit), community platforms (Slack), and peer networks, women professionals can broaden their connections, gain industry insight, and discover job opportunities—often more strategically and personally than via job boards and other popular platforms alone.