A quiet reminder that can change a working life
Key Takeaways
A short message, a strong signal
A simple notification from XING asking if a profile is up to date shows how important that profile has become for work and career.
One profile, many chances
A clear XING profile that lists real studies and real jobs, such as an electronic engineering degree and a maintenance role in a large energy company, can help recruiters see skills quickly.
Online footprints matter
Recruiters in 2025 often look at online profiles before calling a person, so even small updates can change the first impression.
Rules in the background
Strong data protection rules in Europe shape how platforms may use personal details, even while they help people and jobs find each other.
Story & Details
A quiet moment in front of a screen
In 2025, a worker in Europe sits in front of a laptop and sees a short message from XING. It asks a simple question: is the profile still correct. On the screen, the platform shows what it knows so far. There is an electronic engineering degree from a public university in Argentina. There is a current job as a maintenance engineer at Baker Hughes, a well-known energy technology company. The text is short. The impact is large.
The worker understands that this is more than a friendly reminder. The platform uses the profile to match people and open roles. Recruiters see these lines before they see the real person. If the lines are wrong or old, the match can fail before it even starts.
What XING offers to workers and recruiters
XING is a professional network based in Hamburg and part of New Work SE. It focuses strongly on German-speaking countries and nearby markets. Public figures from the company say that the goal is to support more than twenty million members through their working lives. On the site, people can browse over one million jobs and can be found by more than twenty thousand recruiters and companies. The platform wants to create a “perfect match” between a person and a workplace, not only a match between a resume and a job title.
For the worker who sees the message in 2025, this means that a short text box holds real weight. When the profile says “maintenance engineer”, a recruiter in another city or another country can quickly imagine the type of work, tools and duty this person knows. When it lists an electronic engineering degree, the reader can trust that there is a strong technical base behind that job.
How wider online profiles shape hiring
XING is only one part of the picture. Many people also use LinkedIn or other online job platforms. Some have created accounts with a Dutch temporary employment agency or local job centre. Each service keeps a version of the worker’s story. Research in recent years shows that recruiters now look at these online profiles and at wider social media pages during the hiring process. They often check whether the information is clear, whether dates and titles line up, and whether the tone feels professional.
New experimental studies in 2025 show that even small details, such as the style of a profile picture or the words used in a headline, can change how attractive a candidate seems to a recruiter. Older papers found similar patterns: positive, work-focused content tends to help, while messy or very personal content can hurt. Taken together, these findings make the XING message feel less like a routine alert and more like a serious prompt to act.
Law and protection behind the scenes
Behind these screens and profiles sits a strong legal base. In the European Union, the General Data Protection Regulation sets rules for how companies must handle personal data. It covers names, dates, locations, job history, and other details that appear on a profile. Guidance from European and national bodies explains that, in recruitment, employers need a clear legal reason to collect and use personal data. They must tell candidates what happens with the data, keep it only as long as needed, and protect it from misuse.
This does not stop recruiters from looking at XING or other sites. It does, however, shape how they are allowed to use what they see. It also gives workers rights: the right to see what data is stored, to correct it, and in some cases to ask for removal. The short reminder on the screen is part of this wider system. It encourages people to take control of the text that others read about them.
A tiny Dutch word for a big goal
The story also has a small Dutch element. People in the Netherlands often use the short word “baan” when they talk about a job. It is an easy word to say and to remember. A person who is out of work may say, in Dutch, that they are looking for a “baan”. Thinking about that small word helps keep the goal simple. The goal is not just a perfect online profile. The goal is a real job that feels right.
What can change with just a few lines
When the worker finally clicks through the XING profile, the changes do not need to be complex. A clear job title in simple English can replace a long internal label. Dates can be checked and corrected. Old roles that no longer matter can be shortened. A short, friendly summary can show what kind of work feels good and what kind of work does not. If the person also uses LinkedIn or other services, small edits can bring all the profiles into line so they tell the same story.
Digital tools can help in the background. Some can suggest new wording or shorter sentences. Some can help people check spelling and grammar if English is not their first language. Others can help set reminders to look at the profile again every few months, so it does not become old by surprise. All of this support turns a simple XING message into a chance to take real control of how a working life looks online.
A wider view of learning and support
Careers services from universities and public bodies now offer guides on how to use networks like XING and LinkedIn. One short video from a university careers service in Cambridge, for example, explains how to boost a job search by using social media in a smart and safe way. It talks about simple steps, such as keeping profiles clear, joining groups, and sharing content that matches the type of work a person wants. For many workers, this kind of guidance turns a vague idea into a plan they can follow in small steps.
Conclusions
A soft nudge with real weight
By the end of 2025, short messages from XING asking people to check their profiles have become part of normal working life. They can look small on a busy screen, but they carry a clear message. The online profile is now a front door. It is the first thing many recruiters see, and it shapes how they think about a person long before a call or a meeting.
A calm, human way forward
Answering that message does not require a grand plan. It only asks for a calm look at a few lines of text. If the profile matches real life, it can stay. If it does not, it can change. With each small edit, the story on the screen comes closer to the real worker behind it. In a world of many platforms, many rules and many eyes, that quiet act of making the profile honest and clear is already a strong and hopeful step.
Selected References
[1] XING. “Find the right job for you. Or get found!” Overview of the XING jobs network, including job search tools, profile features and recruiter access. Available at: https://www.xing.com/en
[2] New Work SE. “New Work SE – For a better working life.” Corporate information about the company behind XING, its brands and its focus on modern work. Available at: https://new-work.se/en
[3] Business News Daily. “How Social Media Screenings Affect Hiring Decisions.” Report on how employers use social media profiles in recruitment and the risks and trends involved. Available at: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2377-social-media-hiring.html
[4] Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). “Employment practices and data protection: recruitment and selection.” Guidance on data protection duties for employers and recruiters under data protection law. Available at: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/employment/recruitment-and-selection/
[5] Cambridge University Careers Service. “Boost your job search – Using Social Media.” Short video with practical advice on using platforms such as LinkedIn to support a job search. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGJ3WKmUytI
Appendix
Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes is a large international energy technology company that designs and services equipment and solutions for oil, gas and renewable energy projects, and it often appears on technical workers’ profiles as an employer.
Data protection
Data protection is the set of laws and practices that control how organisations collect, store, use and share personal details such as names, contact data, job history and online identifiers.
Dutch word “baan”
The Dutch word “baan” means “job” and is used in everyday speech when people talk about work, making it a simple and helpful word for anyone thinking about the goal of finding employment.
Electronic engineering
Electronic engineering is a branch of engineering that focuses on designing, building and maintaining devices and systems that use electricity, such as control systems, communication tools and industrial machines.
GDPR
GDPR, or General Data Protection Regulation, is a major European Union law that sets strict rules for how personal data must be handled, including data used in hiring and online profiles.
Job profile
A job profile is a short text that describes a person’s work life, including skills, tasks, experience and goals, and it appears on online platforms to help recruiters understand what the person can do.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a global online professional network where people can show their work history, skills and interests, connect with others, and search and apply for jobs.
New Work SE
New Work SE is a company based in Hamburg that owns XING and other brands related to careers and workplaces, and it promotes the idea of better working lives for people using its services.
Online job platform
An online job platform is a website or app where people can search for jobs, create profiles and sometimes be contacted directly by recruiters and employers.
Recruiter
A recruiter is a person who works for a company or a staffing organisation and searches for suitable candidates to fill open roles, often using online profiles and social media as tools.
XING
XING is an online professional network and job platform that is especially strong in German-speaking countries, helping workers create profiles and helping companies and recruiters search for candidates.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 