The Top 3 Steps for Building a Network in a New Country
Moncif Ait Ahmed
Chief Happiness Officer at the Department of Whiskers and Wonders
When you're new to a city, it can be difficult Building a Network?& make friends and find like-minded people. Luckily, networking is a skill that anyone can learn. With these three steps, you'll be well on your way to building relationships with people who'll help support your personal goals and ambitions:
Step 1: Identify a Community
The first step in building a network is identifying a community. This can be something as simple as finding your local Meetup group and joining, or it could mean finding a Facebook group for expats in your area and asking if anyone would like to meet up for coffee sometime.
There are plenty of communities out there that have been established specifically for newcomers—just take the time to look for them online! If you're moving somewhere where English isn't the primary language, this will be especially important because there may not be many people around who speak your native tongue. In many cases, these communities also offer different kinds of activities relating both to work and life outside work: from job opportunities through meetups with other professionals who want to?network?while they're out on Friday nights, all the way down to local sports leagues, art classes, book clubs…you name it!
Step 2 in building a Network: Choose a Networking Trend for Yourself
There are so many networking trends to choose from, but you will have to start somewhere. You can't be part of every trend in the world at once, so pick one and stick with it. Here are some good options:
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Step 3 Building a Network: Engage Others in an Authentic Way
When you're starting from scratch, it can be hard to know where to begin. If you're new to the country and don't have many friends, engagement with others might seem daunting. But remember that engaging in a genuine way is more about being open than it is about being outgoing or friendly. By “being open,” I mean acknowledging that everyone has something valuable to share—even if it's just their opinion on which local coffee shop has the best latte! That's not something that should be ignored or dismissed because it doesn't fit into your own ideas of what's important or valid. Instead, try listening without judgment and allow yourself to learn from others' experiences (and mistakes).
read more: mrait.ca