PLATE I · TITLE PAGE

A Field Guide to
Professional Networks

Observed in the Wild, with Notes on Habitat and Use

Spring Edition · MMXXVI

Of the species of professional network now found in the wild, four are particularly common in 2026, and the careful observer will benefit from learning to distinguish among them. Each occupies its own habitat, attracts its own population, and serves its own purpose. The pages that follow describe each in turn.

Plate II
🌳
LinkedIn
Reticulum
generale

The General Professional Network

Reticulum generale (Microsoft, 2003)

Range
Worldwide, more than 200 countries
Population
Over one billion individuals
Habit
Perennial; grows continuously
Habitat
Office workers, recruiters, consultants, executives

The dominant species of professional network across nearly all environments. Identifiable by its broad canopy of features, which include a profile registry, a job board, a content feed, recruiting tools, and a learning platform. Few professional ecosystems lack at least one specimen.

Field note: The content feed has shown increased noise in recent seasons, particularly from artificial intelligence-generated text. Most observers continue to find the platform indispensable.

Plate III
🌾
Indeed
Quaerens
laboris

The Job-Search Specialist

Quaerens laboris (with Glassdoor companion species)

Range
More than 60 countries
Population
Approximately 350 million monthly
Habit
Annual blooming; activity peaks during open search
Habitat
Active job seekers across all industries

Distinguished by its singular focus on employment listings, which it carries in greater number than any other species. Its frequent companion, Glassdoor, contributes employer reviews and compensation data, making the pairing useful for both finding and evaluating opportunities.

Field note: Does not exhibit social or networking behaviour. Best observed during periods of active career change rather than as a year-round companion.

Plate IV
🌱
Wellfound
Tirones
technologici

The Startup Niche Species

Tirones technologici (formerly AngelList Talent)

Range
Primarily English-speaking technology centres
Population
Approximately eight million members
Habit
Specialist; thrives in early-stage company environments
Habitat
Engineers, designers, product, sales at startups

A specialist species. Notable for displaying full salary and equity ranges on every listing, a behaviour rarely observed in related species. Direct communication with founders is common. Roughly 150,000 startup organisations may be observed on the platform.

Field note: Population restricted to the technology and venture-backed ecosystem. Outside these habitats the species is essentially absent.

Plate V
🌼
Meetup
Conventus
localis

The In-Person Gathering Species

Conventus localis (with Lunchclub companion)

Range
190+ countries
Population
52 million members; 2 million annual events
Habit
Periodic; activity tied to scheduled gatherings
Habitat
Communities of shared interest in physical locations

Easily distinguished from the others by its requirement of physical attendance. Members gather around a shared interest, often professional, frequently personal. Lunchclub, a complementary species, pairs individuals through AI matching for one-to-one meetings.

Field note: No employment or profile features. Often considered the antidote to screen fatigue. Many observers report deeper relationships forming here than elsewhere.

Key to Identification

How to distinguish among the four species
TraitLinkedInIndeedWellfoundMeetup
Largest range✓---
Carries jobs✓✓✓-
Networking behaviour✓-limited✓
Compensation visiblepartial✓✓-
Requires physical presence---✓
Content publishing✓---
Free to most users✓✓✓✓