Moving to a new city can be exciting, but also challenging, especially if you want to grow your professional network and advance your career. How can you build meaningful connections with people who share your interests, goals, and values? Here are some tips to help you network effectively in a new city.
Before you start reaching out to potential contacts, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve from your networking efforts. Are you looking for a mentor, a partner, a client, or a friend? What are your short-term and long-term goals? How can you add value to others and what can you learn from them? Having a purpose will help you focus your energy and time on the right people and opportunities.
In my experience, a network grows organically in a way that you can not always foresee who will help you in the end to find a new job, land an interview, or bring you business. Therefore I start making contacts with people who I am genuinely interested in and who are related to the field I want to work in. Each time I practice to present myself in a way that it becomes clear what motivates me, what my values and interests are and how someone could potentially help me. My main purpose however is to listen and learn from the other person, because they can give me clues on how to go about building my network further. We might end up being mutually helpful to each other or even become friends. The important thing is to make our time worthwhile.
Once you have a purpose, you can start looking for networking events, groups, and platforms that align with your interests, skills, and industry. You can use online tools like Meetup, Eventbrite, LinkedIn, or Facebook to find local events, workshops, webinars, or communities that match your criteria. You can also ask your existing contacts, such as colleagues, friends, or family, for referrals or recommendations. Do some research on the organizers, speakers, and attendees of the events or groups you are interested in, and prepare some questions or topics to initiate conversations.
One thing that I've found helpful is to become active in whichever group I join right away. For example, there is an open volunteer vacancy and you could fill that role (for organizing an event, write a newsletter, help at a fair etc) which will not take up too much of your time but will give you access and will make you get noticed. Don't be afraid that you cannot be an active supporter or leader just because you are new.
Networking is not a one-time activity, but a continuous process of building and maintaining relationships. To network effectively in a new city, you need to be proactive and authentic. This means that you should not wait for others to approach you, but take the initiative to introduce yourself, ask questions, share your stories, and follow up. You should also be yourself, and not pretend to be someone you are not, or say things you do not mean. People can sense when you are genuine and sincere, and they will appreciate your honesty and respect.
Asiste a cursos, talleres, eventos. El poder de la acción es muy grande, te pongo un ejemplo: Cuando no nos movemos y nos quedamos en casa, ?Qué es lo que pasa? nada. Y ?Qué pasa si empiezas a hacer todo lo que he dicho al principio? no podemos saberlo, así que aprovecha ese abismo de incertidumbre siendo proactivo y asistiendo a lugares, aunque no tengan nada que ver con lo tuyo, nunca se sabe de donde va a venir la suerte. Entre "nada" y "no se sabe" me quedo con lo segundo.
While it is important to network with people who share your background, industry, or goals, you should also seek to diversify your network and connect with people who have different perspectives, experiences, or expertise. This will help you broaden your horizons, learn new things, and discover new opportunities. You can diversify your network by attending events or joining groups that are not directly related to your field, but that interest you or challenge you. You can also ask your existing contacts to introduce you to someone who can offer you a different insight or advice.
In most big global cities, you can find InterNations which is not only for expats. You can check out Meetup, Facebook groups, Girl Gone International is a big global women’s community, etc. In China, we have separate WeChat groups for any hobby, city, interest group but you need someone to add you. So ask a local person for help. If you can find a hobby like dancing, it’s easy to find local communities as well. Try out different hobbies, interests, business and private life activities to find YOUR CROWD as they make tick very differently from city to city. The good thing is you’ll also learn more about yourself and maybe explore a new side or interest of yours.
Networking is not only about meeting new people, but also about keeping in touch with them and developing trust and rapport. To nurture your relationships, you need to follow up with your contacts regularly, and offer your support, feedback, or resources. You can also invite them to join you for other events, coffee, or lunch, and get to know them on a personal level. You should also acknowledge their achievements, celebrate their successes, and thank them for their help. By nurturing your relationships, you will create a strong and lasting professional network in a new city.
Networking is not only about meeting new people, but also about keeping in touch with them and developing trust and rapport. To nurture your relationships, you need to follow up with your contacts regularly, and offer your support, feedback, or resources. You can also invite them to join you for other events, coffee, or lunch, and get to know them on a personal level. You should also acknowledge their achievements, celebrate their successes, and thank them for their help. By nurturing your relationships, you will create a strong and lasting professional network in a new city.