For all of the fun and excitement of working out of a new city or state, there are some very real stresses. Not only do you have to pack, arrange for movers, find a new place, and fill out endless amounts of paperwork related to the move — you have to adapt to a new social life as well.
Whether you’re moving to a big city like New York, San Francisco or Chicago, or a small town no one’s heard of, its important to find people you like.
Here’s some advice.
Go to every after-work event. One of the great things about being relocated for a job is that you aren’t entirely starting from scratch. In many cases you may have met several people within the office already, and if you’re lucky, you may even have an established BFF. If not, don’t fret: use your first weeks and months at the job to be your most social self. Join in on after-work events like group happy hours or activity nights. As you get to know people, ask those you like best to grab lunch sometime, or even brunch on the weekend. This is how many real friendships begin — it may seem awkward and deliberate at first, but the effort is necessary if you’re determined to build friendships in your new locale.
Ask friends and family to set you up — and make the first move. If you’re lucky, someone you know will know someone in the place you’re moving to (“Oh, my friend lives in Minneapolis! I’ll connect you guys.”) If you’re lucky enough to be introduced through email or Facebook, make the first move — don’t leave it up to the other person to ask you what you’re doing in Minneapolis or where you’re going to be living. Take it upon yourself to reach out first; make it easy for them to get to know you by sharing what brought you to the city and that you’re hoping to meet new people. You’ll make the other person’s life easier just by extending that first handshake.
Related: What to Do on Your First Day at a New Job
Get your volunteer on. Weekends are often the loneliest for new arrivals. Fill up your schedule by doing some volunteer work on Saturdays and Sundays. The feel-good benefits of doing something nice for others, plus the potential to meet new friends, makes it very much worth your while.
Find your local “spot.” Few things offer the sense of comfort that having a space that you visit frequently enough for staff to know you. Whether it’s a local cafe or the town library, try to make a consistent visit to somewhere you enjoy. It’s a great way to meet the people who work there, as well as fellow patrons.
Join a Meetup. Meetup was designed for people in your exact situation, so go ahead and take advantage of it. Whether you love knitting or running or Star Wars, you’re bound to find a group that fits. Also subscribe to newsletters that contain information for local events — you’ll want to push yourself to be more social than ever as you settle into your new home.
Take a class. Pick one hobby (fitness, art, reading?) and find a way to make it social by joining an associated class. You’ll find that sharing a common interest is often how some of the deepest friendships are formed.
Starting with these six tips will put you on a path to meeting others. Here’s to new friends (and to hoping you aren’t one of the 24% of people who has a 45 minute or longer commute to work each day)! Good luck and congrats on the move.
