You’ve switched into a new role or new company and you’re feeling great. There’s only one problem: no one knows who you are.
Sure, it seems like a minor problem. But research shows that having a close friend at work can help you be more productive and encourage you to stay longer at a job, so it’s to your benefit to work on it.
So how do you go about finding a close-knit group of work friends without coming across as desperate or annoying? Here are some ways to make friends at a new job.
1. Go to every happy hour or company-sponsored event.
This is your easiest chance to meet new people not only in your immediate group but across other departments. Go to every company-sponsored event you can, even if you feel awkward about it at first. Don’t corner the same people in conversation over and over again — you want to sprinkle yourself around and keep things generally positive. Complaining about things, even if you’re talking about a former job, can come across as a bad sign to your new employers. As time goes on, you’ll find you naturally gravitate toward a few people who you feel a true kinship with.
2. Ask for help with work-related processes.
Don’t know where the copy machine is? Can’t remember how to log your vacation or book a conference room? Find excuses to ask people in your group to help you out with the tasks you’ll be doing as you get settled in. The key here is balance — you want to strike a healthy balance instead of being too needy.
Related: What Perks & Benefits Matter Most? Not Office Snacks.
3. Ask people to get lunch.
Yes, you can. It may seem like a hard thing to do, but new people often ask people to lunch, and if they’re lucky, they’ll have coworkers who will extend the invite first. Be open to doing things that are outside of your routine (i.e. – eating lunch at 11 if your colleague can’t stick to the 12 p.m. lunch schedule you usually abide to) and making small talk. You want to keep the conversation as positive as possible and ask questions — don’t make the conversation all about yourself.
4. Ask people to introduce you to others.
Once you get close to even one or two people, ask them to introduce you to others. Your ask could sound something like: “Yeah, I haven’t had a chance to meet the video team. Maybe we could all hang one day?” You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to expand your network through existing connections.
5. Bring in snacks.
This is quite possibly the easiest way to ingratiate yourself to your new colleagues. Pick up bagels or donuts on a Monday morning, or leave a bag of candy near the entrance of the floor or building. Not only will you satisfy people’s sweet tooth, you’ll have people asking who was so kind to bring in a treat — and that will score you points in the positive attention department.
Related: 7 Ways to Write Better Emails at Work
6. Say hello to everyone.
This is super important, especially in the first few weeks of a new job: Say hello to everyone. That’s right — whether it’s someone you sit next to or a person you casually pass in the kitchen, it’s important for you to greet people with a smile, nod or polite hello. Many friendships start out with simple gestures such as this.
Above all, remember that friendships take time. If you take each day as it comes and make progress through baby steps, you’ll eventually end up where you want to be. If you do nothing, you’re going to make things a lot harder for yourself.
