Professional singles feel the acute frustration of hectic work weeks, overtime, and busy "off" hours. So jam-packed are their schedules that there's minimal time for meeting people in a non-work environment. And when a free block does present itself, the pressure to make the most of it is so high that many professionals are reluctant to squander it making small talk and chit-chat.

What to do then? You can continue at your breakneck pace, racing through meetings and appointments, conference calls and presentations, and never stop to say as much as hello to those around you. Or you can take advantage of online networks geared specifically toward busy workers who don't have time to waste hanging out in bars and going on blind dates.

Professional Singles Sites

The first "given" of any professional singles site is that everyone in its pool is busy, so don't waste time telling others how crazy your life is. Instead, start focusing on other topics wholly unrelated to your office. These can be as mundane as the networks' new television lineups for the coming season or as highbrow as political philosophy and quantum theory--whatever floats your boat. For many full-time professionals it's next to impossible to "switch off" and head into leisure mode, so any subject that invites you to do this is fair game.

One of the best things about joining an online dating service for professionals is that the singles you meet are likely to share many of the values you hold dear. A strong work ethic, ambition and enterprise, and financial security all tend to be unifying themes for singles on the corporate ladder. Similarly, those you meet through your internet dating site will put the same premium on their time as you do, so you'll both be willing to cut to the chase and see if your relationship has its sea legs.