What Is XING and How to Access It Outside Germany

Today we’ll discuss the XING platform, what it is, how it could help you and whether you can access and use it outside Germany. Let’s get right to it.

XING Is Germany’s Professional Network

If you have ever wondered what XING.com is, think of it as Germany’s version of LinkedIn.

It launched in Hamburg in 2003 as Open Business Club and rebranded to XING in 2006. Today, it runs under New Work SE and connects over 21 million professionals, mostly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The catch? While anyone can join, the platform really shines if you work with or want to break into the German-speaking job market.

How to Access XING Outside Germany

You can open XING from anywhere in the world. The site is not blocked or restricted. But if you are outside Europe, you may find fewer local events, most job posts in German, and recruiters expecting German-speaking candidates.

If you want to unlock the full experience from abroad, here is how to do it:

1. Choose a VPN with German-speaking servers
   Pick one with servers in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. Reliable options include the best VPNs for LinkedIn. Our top choice is ExpressVPN.
2. Install the VPN app
   Download and install it on your computer, phone, or browser.
3. Connect to a local server
   Use a server in Berlin, Frankfurt, Vienna, or Zurich to appear as if you are browsing from there.
4. Log into XING
   Go to XING.com and sign in. You will now see more region-specific job ads and recruiter activity.
5. Apply and network
   Browse the job board, send connection requests, and reach recruiters as if you were based in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.

Tip: This trick does not just bypass restrictions. It helps you see geo-targeted listings and makes your profile more visible to local recruiters.

What You Can Do on XING

• Build your professional profile to showcase skills, education, and experience
• Find jobs on a board that is packed with D-A-CH opportunities
• Message recruiters with Premium access outside your direct network
• Join groups and discussions to follow industry topics and connect with peers
• Attend events through companies that host local meetups on the platform

Note: If you have used LinkedIn, you will feel right at home. But expect to see more German-language postings.

Extra Tips to Get the Most Out of XING Abroad

• Optimize your profile in German to appear in recruiter searches.
• Combine with LinkedIn to cover both global and German-speaking markets. If you are considering upgrading, here is how to get LinkedIn Premium cheaper to compare costs with XING Premium.

Who Benefits Most From XING?

• Job seekers in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland
• Recruiters targeting German-speaking talent
• Professionals expanding into the D-A-CH region
• Companies hiring bilingual or multilingual roles

If you are based outside this region, you can still join but the number of job offers and active connections drops compared to LinkedIn. For those weighing where to spend their time, it can help to look at comparisons like working from home vs office statistics to understand how regional work culture impacts networking.

XING vs LinkedIn

• Use LinkedIn if you want international networking and broader job options
• Use XING if you aim for Germany, Austria, or Switzerland

A smart move is to keep both platforms active.

Quick Snapshot

Feature	Why It Matters for You
Founded	Hamburg, 2003
Parent Company	New Work SE
Users	~21–22 million
Region Focus	Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Membership	Free + Premium
Best Use Case	Breaking into the German-speaking job market

FAQs