Your Complete Guide to Meeting Professional Singles in 2022

As a busy professional with a demanding career and busy personal life, it can be hard to find time for love. Of course you want to share your rewarding life with somebody—there’s no question about that. The issue is finding time to meet other professional singles who might be a good match.

Many people in your position feel this way. A recent Gallup poll found that 80% of working Americans struggled to balance their work and personal lives, or never had enough time in the day. (1)

The good news is that while many people struggle with finding the balance, those people are looking for a solution that doesn’t require compromise. This means by following our 10 expert tips for meeting professional singles near you, you have a great chance of meeting someone special.

First we’ll cover dating sites and apps commonly used by high-caliber people, and then we’ll dive into our tips to meet them. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be on your way to finding your next relationship.

Is There a Dating Site for Professionals?

There are quite a few dating sites for professional singles, including dating apps, which have features specifically designed for people like you. Many of these platforms filter based on higher education and the type of relationship you want, for example.

eHarmony and Match have been around for decades, and they’re great for certain types of people. Each has its own proprietary algorithm for finding potential partners. That said, anybody can join these platforms and it can take a long while to find good matches.

Newer dating apps like EliteSingles and The League claim to be very exclusive. But exclusive apps come with an exclusive price tag. Many users of these apps aren’t thrilled with how far their money goes, as you don’t receive any personal dating advice.

If you choose a free or low-cost dating site, you’ll likely struggle to find suitable potential matches. If you pay the hefty subscription fee for an exclusive dating app, odds are you’ll be disappointed by how much work you have to put in and the few dates you reap.

There’s nothing wrong with trying out dating sites and apps. 30% of adults in the US have tried online dating at some point, and 10% of Americans have found long-term love this way. (2)   

In short, we believe in dating apps and being open to finding love anywhere. Dating apps are one part of your diversified portfolio approach to finding love.  But you also have to consider the likelihood of your investment paying off. Just be sure to set realistic expectations and explore opportunities outside of online dating to create a healthy balance.

10 Attraction Tips to Help You Stand Out

The hardest thing about meeting professional singles is getting their attention. These people are intelligent, busy, and they prioritize their time fiercely. You need to stand out from the crowd if you want to make a meaningful connection.

Here at Shannon’s Circle, we’re trained experts in the art of attraction. Below, you’ll find our 10 best tips for finding that special someone.

1. Determine What You’re Really Looking For

In both their work and personal lives, most career-driven singles know what they really want. From career aspirations to daily routines, they stay laser focused on the path ahead. As a busy professional yourself, this probably doesn’t sound unfamiliar.

Dating is no different. Taking the time to think about what you want from your next relationship makes finding the right person much more likely.

When you don’t know what you want, you’ll send mixed signals on dates. Even if you meet someone you immediately connect with, they’ll quickly notice your uncertainty and move on. That’s why getting familiar with what you truly want is a great way to set yourself apart from other singles, and target who you are seeking.

2. Remember You Aren’t Interviewing Potential Employees

Many successful professionals conduct interviews as part of their current role or a past role. As a result, you might find yourself slipping into these patterns and dull questions while on a date. The strict checklist approach might work for hiring, but it’s kryptonite to your love life.

As we mentioned in the previous tip, it’s crucial to have a clear idea of what you want in a partner. But treating that mental image like a non-negotiable will blind you to real opportunities at romance.

We suggest striking a balance. Most people have a few relationship deal-breakers, and that’s okay. But barring these, try to find the joy in each date and allow yourself to be open-minded.

3. Look for Someone with a Compatible Lifestyle

In some ways, it’s true that opposites attract. But as an ambitious individual, you’ll be happiest with a partner who has a compatible lifestyle. You aren’t looking for someone who has a work schedule or family commitments drastically different from yours.

For example, suppose you find a profile online that jumps out at you. This person’s interests, goals, appearance, and personality all seem like a great fit. But something about their career or current commitments are in direct opposition to your life.

Neither one of you is interested in overhauling your life for a romantic partner, so this person ultimately wouldn’t be a good match. Keep this in mind as you meet and talk with new people.

4. Actual Dates are Important

A recent study by Stanford found that meeting online is the most popular way for US couples to meet. (3) While algorithms are now the most commonly used match-makers in the country, taking your relationship into the real world is still paramount.

Many professional singles find it easier to date through instant messaging, dating apps, and dating sites. While online communication can be a huge time-save for busy people like you, it doesn’t give you the true experience of being with that person.

When you feel like a long-term romance may be budding, take the time to go on actual real-life dates with that match. There are so many nuances of human nature you can only experience in-person, and you need a clear picture of what dating them will be like.

You certainly don’t have to go on a real date with every single potential partner you find online. But anytime you’re considering a serious relationship, make time for a variety of dates with that person.

5. Make Having Fun a Priority

Extroverts tend to have a lot of fun with speed dating events, online dating, and blind dates. But other people often compare dating to a stressful job interview process. The easiest way to make sure you have fun while dating is to view everything as an opportunity.

Try to set aside any fears of disappointment, rejection, or whatever else might be holding you back. Make having a great time your biggest goal at each date or singles event. When you remove the self-imposed pressure to look and act perfect for every potential match, your real personality can truly shine.

6. Remember Rejection Happens to Everyone

For the majority of both men and women, the path to finding your soulmate is a long and challenging one. In a recent study, 60% of people reported becoming doubtful they would ever meet “the One,” while 59% of married people said finding that person was rather difficult. (4)

This may take time, but accepting that your own love story may not mirror your favorite book or movie is necessary to finding your next partner. Rejection truly happens to everyone—often for reasons outside of your control.

Whether you’re the one doing the rejecting or the one being blindsided, try to be kind and not ghost your date. So long as you’re honest with yourself and your potential partners, rejection simply means you’re both being true to yourselves.

7. Learn Something from Every Experience

While personality tests insist that every individual can be neatly described with an acronym or color, the truth is we’re all unique individuals. No two people are alike in every way, so you’ll never date two people who are exactly the same.

That’s why it’s smart to learn something new from every dating experience you have. The takeaway might be something small, like realizing you prefer to have a first date in a quiet setting. Or you might have a major revelation, such as understanding you don’t want to live in your current city for much longer.

Either way, every date is an opportunity to learn something about yourself and your partner. Carrying this new knowledge into future dates makes it easier to find truly meaningful connections.

8. Be Open to Change Over Time

Change is a natural and unavoidable part of the human experience. No matter who you are, your personality and goals will shift as you move through the different stages of life. (5) This is a natural part of maturing and becoming an independent adult.

So it makes sense that your relationships and desires in a partner will change over time, too. Just as a relationship might end when two people have grown in different directions, the type of partner you’re seeking will change as you grow.

We’re not saying you need to overhaul your online dating profile every week, though. All you need to do is check in with yourself from time to time. As you meet new people, you’ll quickly learn a lot about what actually works for you.

Be open to discovering these changes in yourself, and you stand a much better chance of recognizing your ideal partner when you meet them.

9. Be Present with Every Potential Partner

It's no secret that you and each potential partner are busy. Your career ambitions and rewarding personal life are likely big parts of why you were drawn to one another. But you can’t let your fast-paced lifestyle get in the way of making real connections.

Put in the effort to be present with every match, on every date. It’s normal to have an abundance of thoughts and questions while you’re on a date, or to feel tired after a busy day as you’re getting ready to go out.

If you’re exhausted, the polite thing to do is reschedule the date. Otherwise, center your focus and set aside the day’s worries. Doing so enables you to actually engage with your date, get to know them, and ultimately make a well-informed decision on whether or not to see them again.

10. Consider Getting Professional Help

Especially in recent years, meeting your special someone seems to have gotten easier. The ads for online dating and traditional singles events claim that finding your soulmate—or at least your next relationship—make it seem easier than filling an open role at your workplace.

The thing is, these options just don’t work as well for career-driven individuals. Even the platforms built for professionals aren’t a great solution due to the time you have to spend finding a match.

Getting professional help from a skilled and focused matchmaker is still one of the most effective ways to meet potential partners. The best services have fine-tuned their approach and report an 80 to 95% success rate. (6) If you’re sick of swiping, a matchmaker is the easiest path forward.

An Expert Matchmaker Will Help You Find Love

We believe following the tips above is the best way to meet professional singles in your city. That said, there’s no foolproof set of instructions that can guarantee meeting that special someone.

It's no surprise if you don’t have time to structure your life around these tips. As a busy single professional yourself, you’re short on time as it is. Odds are, you’re looking for a partner with a successful career because you want someone who understands the path you’re on.

This is where an expert matchmaker comes in. Shannon Lundgren, the founder of Shannon’s Circle, has spent years building her exclusive network and database of professional singles and honing her matchmaking skills.

When you work with Shannon, you get so much more than access to the successful professionals in her network. You also get a completely bespoke strategy and guidance for finding a wonderful partner. From coaching you to gathering feedback from every potential match you meet, Shannon offers custom insights during every step of your journey.

You deserve to find love without jumping through hoops or hoping to be in the “right place at the right time.” We welcome you to become a member of Shannon’s Circle - it is absolutely free to be part of our Circle. It is an investment in not only the time you have right now, but also into your rewarding future.

Just click “Get Started” at the top of this page to begin the first chapter of your own love story.

References:

1. Forbes, Want To Be Happier? Make More Free Time

https://www.forbes.com/sites/hbsworkingknowledge/2021/02/05/want-to-be-happier-make-more-free-time/?sh=47df15ec5c0d

2. Pew Research Center, 10 Facts About Americans and Online Dating

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/02/06/10-facts-about-americans-and-online-dating/

3. Stanford, Meeting Online Has Become the Most Popular Way U.S. Couples Connect, Stanford Sociologist Finds

https://news.stanford.edu/2019/08/21/online-dating-popular-way-u-s-couples-meet/

4. The Telegraph, Average Woman Will Kiss 15 Men and Be Heartbroken Twice Before Meeting ‘The One’, Study Reveals

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/howaboutthat/10545810/Average-woman-will-kiss-15-men-and-be-heartbroken-twice-before-meeting-The-One-study-reveals.html

5. Psychology Today, Why Do Relationships Change Over Time?

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifetime-connections/202002/why-do-relationships-change-over-time

6. Forbes, How These Modern-Day Matchmakers Maintain a 95 Percent Success Rate

https://www.forbes.com/sites/elanagross/2017/02/09/how-these-modern-day-matchmakers-maintain-a-95-percent-success-rate/?sh=2a4e19744ff0