Thursday, August 12, 2010

7 Tips To Grow Your Network Instantly

people

When arriving in a new country, we all do the same things: first we discover our new environment, we follow a long and boring to-do list of administrative tasks, and finally we do our best to meet people and build a new network of friends and colleagues.

Of course computers help a lot nowadays but it is also very important to get out and see people face to face if you want to benefit from expatriation! So how do you start from scratch and build a strong network you can rely on in record times?

  1. Start at work: depending on the culture in your country of destination, you can easily spend some time with your colleagues and get to know each other during business hours. French people are famous for their one-hour lunch, a great opportunity to start a non-business conversation. And don’t forget to ask them how the week-end was on Monday mornings…
  2. Volunteer: Are you unemployed? Or maybe you have a lot of spare time during your week-ends… Why not volunteer for a charity or a professional organization? This could be a great way to feel useful while meeting many different people.
  3. Take a class: Find out more about the local culture with a cooking or wine class, learn a new language, try a new team sport, be part of a hiking or photography group to discover the surroundings… Possibilities are endless!
  4. Look for help: Chances are you are not the only one trying to meet other people. Ask you local chamber of commerce when they organize networking mixers, check if the city is not proposing services to newcomers… many local or international structures are usually here for you, you just need to find them.
  5. Online: You have so many opportunities to chat with a group of people living close to you! You can check Facebook, linkedin, twitter, meetup… It’s very easy to find groups having common interests and they often get together on a weekly or monthly basis
  6. Religious and political groups are also worth a try but keep in mind that these topics can be very personal depending on where you are. Check what local habits are first to avoid any faux pas.
  7. Get out! Rely on your kids, your dog, your neighborhood… They are all very easy conversation starters. Always mention where you come from and why you are here as people will remember you more easily. Plus you never know what people could have in common with you and what you could get from a simple “how are you doing?”

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