Networking Challenges When Moving to a New City

People often call me a connector. The label feels uncomfortable to me because connecting and (ick) networking do not come naturally. Some might find this strange, but I'm here to spill the beans. I don't gatekeep! When I moved to Singapore in 2016 it was a relocation with Facebook. That was awesome, but it meant leaving behind a super diverse network in NYC of teachers and bankers and lawyers and consultants and a few tech people in exchange for breakfast, lunch and dinner in my little tech bubble at Facebook Singapore. I wanted more out of my network here, so I formulated a plan and gamified my networking. Here's what I did: 1. Committed to myself that I would meet 2 new people every week. 2. Made a rule that those people couldn't be co-workers or friends of friends. 3. When I found someone I wanted to meet (*more on that below), I would always lead by telling them I had a hard stop at 30 minutes. That way the conversation always had an end point, regardless of how well (or not so well) it was going. 4. I made a game out of seeing how little I could talk. I asked opened ended questions. People usually like talking about themselves. 5. If I felt like the relationship had legs, I would always end by offering some form of help. That could be open ended, but it was often an offer for an intro to someone else I had met - hence the connector label. I treated this like any sales process. I filled the top of my funnel. About 50% were duds right off the bat. No shade to them; you just don't always click with people. Of those remaining, I stayed in various levels of contact with. Many petered out over time, but some blossomed into truly meaningful business and personal relationships. If you're struggling with networkings, try to gamify it. Treat it like a sales process. On making contact with people... there are several ways to do that and I won't get into too much detail here, but one easy thing to do is simply send them a message here on LinkedIn. Be honest about your intentions. You can say something like this: Hi Andrew, this might be a bit odd, but I have a personal goal to meet 2 new people every week and I'd love to have a chat with you. Happy to buy you a coffee or just hop on a quick VC. I've got no ulterior motives and nothing to sell. I'm just looking to learn from some new people in my network. Open to it? What's REALLY important is that you don't then try to sell them something. Even a contact or two later. This isn't some backdoor to fill your actual sales pipeline, salespeople! You will immedately lose creditability and your reputation will suffer. So use this for genuine network building and engagement. Don't think about how it'll benefit you - it will do that naturally. And that's how you become known as a connector.

How I built a network from scratch in the U.S. (without knowing anyone) When I landed in NYC in 2017, I had zero connections. No family friends. No alumni network. Nothing. Data speaks: → 70% of jobs are never publicly advertised. → 80% of professionals find jobs through networking. But this phenomenon goes beyond these numbers—it's about how Americans view relationships. We're not just making contacts. We're building social capital. And this shift drove my networking strategy: 1. Value-first approach: I volunteered at a food bank, improved their processes, and helped without asking for anything in return. 2. Strategic visibility: Instead of random networking events, I joined specific workshops where my skills could shine. 3. Cultural connection: I learned to master the "American small talk" – asking about weather, weekends, sharing personal interests, and finding common ground. 4. Digital presence: I created content that showcased my expertise and perspective, making it easier for people to find and connect with me. Despite all this, many immigrants still say: ⚠️ "Just apply online and wait." By that logic, qualified candidates would always get hired. Merit alone would be enough. That's not true, though. Is it? And strategies like genuine connection, consistent follow-up, and leading with value have helped 100s of my clients build powerful networks from zero. All of this happened because I stopped seeing networking as transactions and started building authentic relationships instead :) What was your biggest networking challenge when starting in a new place? Data Sources: HubSpot, CNBC, Forbes. #networking #immigrantsuccess #careergrowth #professionalnetworking

How I built my network after moving to NYC (without feeling like a walking LinkedIn request). Relocating to New York can feel like being dropped into a 24/7 networking simulation. But instead of trying to "conquer the city," I focused on integrating into it, with people, places, and conversations that felt real. Here's what worked for me: 🫶 Joined communities that actually fit me I found groups like FIF Collective - spaces where creativity and professional curiosity collide. Being surrounded by people who get it makes all the difference. 📅 Subscribed to local event drops (Luma is a gem) Luma became my go-to spot for niche events and curated meetups. No more doom-scrolling - just solid leads on where to be. 👋 Showed up. 1–3 times a week. Consistency is underrated. I made it a rule to attend 1–3 events a week - no matter how busy things got. It kept the momentum going and led to the best kind of accidental meetings. 📲 Booked coffee chats with locals I didn’t wait to “run into the right people.” I reached out early, introduced myself, and scheduled real conversations. These 1:1s have been where the real value happens. 🎯 Events again! Sought out weirdly specific events Think: private equity meetups, investor circles, or even stuff that might not be trending but definitely attracts the people I wanted to learn from. 🤝 Made intros a habit I’d ask, “Is there one more person you think I should meet?”. 🏛️ Private clubs (Yale, Harvard, etc.) One of the best investments you can make is to join a private club or know someone who can invite you as a guest. These clubs opened doors to new circles, and you can meet people who might not be around in any other events. Did I miss something? Add your recommendations below! #NewYork didn’t hand me a network - I built it, a few conversations at a time. And honestly? That’s what makes it feel like home. If you’re new here or starting fresh somewhere else: go where the people are, follow your curiosity, and don’t underestimate the power of showing up.