How to Build Personal and Professional Connections in a New City
Over the last 15 years, I’ve moved over 20 times across the country. Literally all across the country – ranging from Buffalo, NY to Lexington, KY to Sacramento, CA to Orange County to Los Angeles! There's no doubt that one thing I am good at is growing, connecting, and nurturing my personal and professional network no matter where I live.
The only thing in my life that has proven to be extremely CONSISTENT has been change and more change! But I was able to turn all of the change into a positive only because I was strategic with how my career flowed.
Really, a lot of it came down to developing my network and building a trustworthy support system, which is why this blog is all about how you can build personal and professional connections in a new city!
HOW TO BUILD CONNECTIONS AFTER YOU’VE MOVED
People are now facing more loneliness and isolation even though we are more connected than ever in the thriving online world. Throw moving to a new city into the mix and you may find yourself at a loss about how to build up your network again.
I’ve said this time and time again: NETWORKING is the single best strategy you can use to elevate your career and make sure you land your next dream job even if you move to a new city.
With so many moves under my belt, I put together my top tips for building new professional connections in a new city.
And – just so you know – these don’t only apply to extroverts. If you are on the more introverted side, building connections isn’t a lost cause at all. Find what you are comfortable off this list and adjust the rest so that it works for you too!
Creating a New Professional Network
Strategically place yourself near type of people that you want to connect with: You can do this by joining local professional organizations and attend events. Set a specific time that you want to attend an event or commit to going to one per month. Prepare ahead of time and ask yourself: What do you want to get out of this experience? Who do you want to meet at this meeting?
Email local colleges or high schools to see if you can give back to the community: You can always teach on a topic that you love to talk about. This will not only build your professional expertise, but you can work on your connections too. Have the organization post your experience or information on their social media to let your local network to know you exist.
Use a co-working space if you work from home: If you’ve just moved to a new city and you work from home, it’s TOUGH trying to build a great network. So, why join a co-networking space? It’s a new environment with many different background/industries in one place. You’ll have an immediate network to learn from and these spaces often have meet ups or teaching nights.
Join Eventbrite and Facebook groups for the industry of your choice: Get notifications from influencers and businesses you would like to learn from and build a network with. Follow local companies or organizations on social media and participate in their events too!
Join online platforms and communities such as Career by Design: Professional connections don’t have to be all in person. There are so many online platforms and groups to join where you can get professional support from anywhere in the world.
There’s ALWAYS LinkedIn: A lot of people know that LinkedIn is a great tool for building a network. That doesn’t change once you change locations. Update your profile info and start reaching out to people. Sending them a connection request with a nice introductory note can work wonders for making new connections.
Top tips for building new personal connections in a new city:
Join Facebook groups for your local area: There are so many Facebook groups out there, so absolutely join some that line up with your hobbies and interests.
Use an app: this may be a surprise to some, but there are apps for making friends! And it’s more common than you think. Bumble is a dating app, but you can turn on a “BFF” mode to connect with people of the same gender who have also selected the friends only option too!
Join a running group or another leisure group: If you like running, knitting, playing basketball, or swapping plants, you can join a community group for that. You may be able to connect with these groups through your local community center, library, or on social media.
Join a small local gym: By joining a small gym, you can keep up with your health and fitness while meeting new people. Signing up for group classes will put you in the same room with a few other people who are in it with you. After the class, you may just find a new BFF who is into fitness like you.
If you’re a parent, join some parents groups: When I moved to Sacramento, I met two of my very best friends from a mom’s group. BTW, I was a hater of mom’s group before I had kids, but the truth is they work and there are so many awesome people you can meet through them!
Connect with parents at your kid’s school: On a similar note to my previous point, you can also try connecting with parents at your kid’s school. If your kid is on a sports team or in another group, those parents may make a great network for you.
Don’t be uncomfortable to meet your neighbors: I know sounds like a given, but it is so rare to meet your neighbors these days! Everyone is so busy in their own lives and it's so rare that people are spending time outside. If you see someone new in the neighborhood, say hello and introduce yourself to them. Take things to the next level by bringing them a bottle of wine or baked goods if you really hit it off.
Most importantly, if you can’t find something – BUILD IT. CREATE IT. In your personal and professional life, chances are that someone else is also missing the things you are. If there isn’t a group in your area, start one!
For more insight into how you can level up your career, join my Career By Design membership. You’ll gain expert guidance and a network of professionals that will help you thrive in your career!
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