Edition MMXXVI · No. IV

Catalogue
Raisonné

of professional networking services, with illustrated plates and entries
Four Lots Independent Reference Compiled 2026
Cataloguer's Foreword

On the entries that follow.

This volume gathers four widely consulted professional networking services into a single reference. Each lot is presented on identical terms, with a plate, an entry, and a notice of provenance and condition. The catalogue is offered for orientation, never as a ranking, and is published independently of every service named within. Readers in search of a settled choice are encouraged to consult all four entries before drawing conclusion.

Department I

Online Professional Services

Lots 47 through 50

Lot 47
Plate I. A node of broad correspondence, after the manner of a general professional hall.
Online Service · United States · Established MMIII

LinkedIn.

A general-purpose professional networking service, operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Microsoft Corporation.

Combines personal profiles, employer pages, job postings, recruiter tooling, an editorial feed of user posts, and direct messaging within a single service. Frequently described in the literature as the largest of its kind, by reported member count. Often consulted for résumé presentation, hiring, business-to-business outreach, and industry commentary. Acquired in MMXVI by Microsoft and run as a separate unit thereafter.

Provenance
Founded 2003, Mountain View. Acquired by Microsoft Corporation, 2016. Current operations within the Microsoft estate.
Often Consulted For
Profile and résumé presentation, hiring and recruitment, B2B outreach, industry posts.
Condition
Free tier widely available, with paid Premium tiers tailored by use. Features and pricing as published; subject to change.
Classification Global service, multi-purpose
Lot 48
Plate II. A roll of listings, examined through the glass of search.
Online Service · United States · Established MMIV

Indeed.

A job-listings and aggregator service, operated within the Recruit Holdings group.

Centres upon search rather than ongoing personal networking. Draws together listings from many employers and other boards, supporting application and recruiter contact. Includes a company review feature, shared with the entry that follows. Often consulted by candidates actively looking for work, and by employers running open positions.

Provenance
Founded 2004, Stamford and Austin. Operated as a subsidiary of Recruit Holdings.
Often Consulted For
Active job search, employer-side listings, applicant tracking integrations.
Condition
Free for job seekers; paid sponsored placements available to employers. Features and pricing as published; subject to change.
Classification Global service, search-orientated
Lot 49
Plate III. An observatory of employers, with arched windows for the candid view.
Online Service · United States · Established MMVII

Glassdoor.

An employer review and salary report service, also offering job listings, operated within the Recruit Holdings group.

Centres upon anonymous employer reviews, salary reports, and interview write-ups, paired with job listings. Often consulted by candidates conducting research before application or acceptance of an offer, and by employer brand teams attending to public sentiment. Operates within the same parent group as the preceding entry, with some shared data between the two.

Provenance
Founded 2007, Sausalito. Operated as a subsidiary of Recruit Holdings, in association with Lot 48.
Often Consulted For
Employer reviews, salary checks, interview reports, pre-application research.
Condition
Free for users; paid employer products available for brand management. Features and pricing as published; subject to change.
Classification Global, strongest in North America
Lot 50
Hamburg Berlin München Wien N
Plate IV. A mapped territory, principally of the German-speaking lands.
Online Service · Germany · Established MMIII

Xing.

A regional professional networking service, headquartered in Hamburg, operated by New Work SE.

A professional network developed principally for the German-speaking markets, with members concentrated in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Offers profiles, job postings, and event groups. Often used by job seekers and employers operating within the DACH region, either alongside or in place of the broader global services.

Provenance
Founded 2003, Hamburg. Operated by New Work SE, with concentration in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
Often Consulted For
DACH-region profiles, regional job postings, business events and groups.
Condition
Free tier available, with paid Premium tiers offered. Features and pricing as published; subject to change.
Classification Regional, German-speaking markets
Reference Sheet

A Reader's Glance

All four entries, laid out side by side.

Attribute LinkedIn Indeed Glassdoor Xing
Centre of gravityProfiles, posts, jobs, sales toolingJob listings, searchReviews, salary data, jobsRegional profiles, jobs
Operated byMicrosoftRecruit HoldingsRecruit HoldingsNew Work SE
Year founded2003200420072003
Personal feedYes, centralLimitedLimitedYes, lighter
Employer reviewsNoSome, sharedYes, centralSome
RegionGlobalGlobalMainly North AmericaDACH region
Free tierYesYes for seekersYes for usersYes
Often consulted forProfile, hiring, B2BActive job searchPre-application researchWork within DACH
Cataloguer's Word

Each lot has been described upon a single template, set out fairly and at equal length. The catalogue is offered for orientation, never as a ranking. Which entry will best suit a particular reader depends upon their region, their role, and the work for which the service is to be consulted.

~ The Cataloguer, MMXXVI ~
Catalogue Raisonné · No. IV · MMXXVI · Compiled, printed, and offered independently