Key Takeaways

• XING is losing relevance, especially among digital and tech-savvy candidates

• LinkedIn supports data-driven, personalized and scalable sourcing workflows

• Choosing the right platform reduces time-to-hire and increases engagement rates

• aurio makes LinkedIn sourcing faster, smarter and fully automated

The platform question: XING or LinkedIn?

For years, XING and LinkedIn have been the go-to platforms for sourcing talent in the DACH region. Both offer recruiter tools, paid access to profiles and messaging functions. But in 2025, they’re no longer equally effective.

Active sourcing has evolved. It’s not just about sending messages anymore. It’s about finding the right people, reaching them at the right time – and doing so in a way that feels relevant and personal. That’s why your choice of platform isn’t just a tactical decision – it’s a strategic one.

XING: Familiar, but fading fast

XING still has a place in the recruiting world, but it’s no longer the platform driving innovation or growth. Especially when sourcing talent in engineering, tech, marketing or international roles, recruiters are hitting limits.

What XING still offers:

• A solid base in traditional German industries

• Reliable reach in administrative and commercial roles

• Recruiter access with contact credits and messaging templates

• Limited integrations with xing bewerbermanagement systems

Where XING is falling behind:

• Many user profiles are outdated or no longer maintained

• Younger and digitally-oriented candidates are inactive or missing altogether

• Response rates are low and declining

• Platform updates are infrequent, and outreach tools feel static and disconnected

Mini Conclusion:

XING may still be useful for local roles in traditional sectors, but it’s no longer designed for dynamic, scalable recruiting workflows.

LinkedIn: Built for active sourcing at scale

LinkedIn, on the other hand, has positioned itself as a central hub for modern recruiting. With over 21 million users in the DACH region and growing, it continues to be the preferred platform for sourcing candidates across industries, seniority levels and geographies.

Why LinkedIn performs better:

• High user activity and daily engagement

• Strong presence in tech, engineering, marketing and remote roles

• Precise filters and Boolean search in LinkedIn Recruiter

• International reach and multi-language support

• Integration with major ATS tools like Recruitee or Greenhouse

• Ongoing updates and support for AI-based sourcing and recruiting automation

LinkedIn is also the go-to platform for social recruiting, content marketing, and employer branding. That means your sourcing efforts don’t happen in isolation – they’re supported by company pages, posts, and network signals.

Mini Conclusion:

LinkedIn offers more than a database – it’s a complete ecosystem for building and converting candidate relationships.

Let’s talk about results: Response rates and ROI

It’s easy to focus on the cost of a recruiter license. But the real question is: What does it cost you not to get a reply?

Typical performance comparison:

Mini Conclusion:

Higher licensing fees are justified if they lead to a higher conversion rate – and LinkedIn clearly delivers on that promise, especially with automation support.

Why tools make LinkedIn even more effective

Even the best platform can’t do it all alone. That’s where sourcing tools come in – especially if you want to scale without losing personalization.

Without tools:

• You write and send every message manually

• Follow-ups are inconsistent or forgotten

• You have no structured KPI tracking

• Each search starts from scratch

With aurio:

• Sourcing becomes automated – but still personal

• Messages are tailored to profile and role using AI

• Video and text outreach can be customized at scale

• Follow-up and scheduling happen automatically

• KPI dashboards show conversion, drop-offs and response time in real time

Mini Conclusion:

aurio enhances LinkedIn by turning sourcing from a manual task into a structured, trackable process – without losing the human touch.

Best practice: What happens when companies switch

A SaaS company recruiting engineers across Germany made the shift from XING to LinkedIn + aurio in early 2024. Here’s what changed:

• Response rate jumped from 11% to 33% within 6 weeks

• Time to interview dropped by 9 days

• Sourcing effort decreased by 40% thanks to automation

• Interview-to-hire ratio improved due to better pre-qualification

Mini Conclusion:

LinkedIn alone brings reach – but LinkedIn with aurio delivers efficiency and conversion.

Big Conclusion: Sourcing is only as strong as your system

The recruiting world has changed. Generic messages and outdated platforms no longer move candidates.

What works now: Smart tools, strong data, and sourcing that feels personal, not spammy.

You don’t need more contacts – you need better conversations. And the platform you choose makes that possible.

aurio: Personal sourcing. Powered by AI.

aurio transforms LinkedIn into your most powerful recruiting channel:

• Automated outreach with personalized video & messaging

• AI that adapts your tone, content and timing to each profile

• Seamless follow-up and scheduling

• Full integration with your ATS and sourcing KPIs

• Real-time dashboards to measure what matters

Try aurio for free – and experience how LinkedIn sourcing should really work.

Less admin. More talent. Better results.

👉 Discover how aurio can support you