How to Build a Professional Network from Scratch After Moving to a New State

So, I recently got a great question from one of our Daily Success Boost subscribers, “Ken.” Ken just made a huge life move—after spending 61 years in one state, he packed up and relocated to a whole new one. Now, Ken’s looking to build a professional network from the ground up, so he can land some top-notch jobs that aren’t always advertised.

Ken’s question went something like this:

"You’ve just moved to a new state, after 61 years in another state. You have to develop friends first, learn how things work and where things are before you can even start finding hiring managers. All your examples sound ideal, but what about some real-world advice?"

Ken didn’t tell me his exact profession, so let’s just imagine for a second he’s an engineer (don’t worry if you’re not—these tips work for just about any career!).

There are two main ways to build a professional network when you’re starting fresh. Both are super effective, whether you’re brand new or just trying to expand your existing network to open up job opportunities.

Let’s break it down, and today we’ll dive into the first strategy. Stay tuned for tomorrow when we’ll go over the second one!

Strategy 1: Connect with Your Professional Peers

First up—find your people. That means connecting with professionals in your field, folks who do what you do. For Ken, that might be other engineers, but whatever your industry, this works.

Why does this matter?

Think about it—lots of your peers already work in teams, and teams always need more talent at some point. When that time comes, hiring managers are going to ask the people they trust for recommendations. It’s way easier than putting up a job ad and sifting through tons of resumes.

When you’ve got peers who know, like, and trust you, they’ll be the ones to send job opportunities your way. And since you’re new to town, letting them know you’re around is a great way to get on their radar!

But how do you even get started when you don’t know anyone yet?

Here’s a good tip—join a local branch of a professional society. In Ken’s case, he might check out the National Society of Professional Engineers, but there’s usually a group for most professions.

Once you’ve joined, try doing these two things right off the bat:

1. Show up for events. It’s a great chance to meet people and start building connections.
2. Reach out to the chapter officers. Shoot them an email to introduce yourself. Let them know you’re new to the area and would love to grab coffee or a drink. Most people in these organizations are really welcoming and happy to help you get settled—and they might even introduce you to others.

And one more quick tip—LinkedIn matters!

We all know that when you meet someone new, the first thing they’ll probably do is look you up online. That’s why having a solid LinkedIn profile is key. You want it to show off your skills and experience so your new connections can see you’re the real deal.

Strategy 2: Reach Out to Hiring Managers Directly

Okay, let’s move on to the second strategy—reaching out to the people who can hire you directly. Now that we’ve covered connecting with peers, this one’s all about getting in front of decision-makers.

Here’s how you start:

Do a bit of homework on companies in your new area that might need someone like you. If you’re Ken and you’re an engineer, maybe you’re looking at local manufacturing companies or other businesses that regularly hire engineers.

Once you’ve found some companies where you think you could really make an impact, reach out! Send a friendly message to the hiring managers asking if they’d be open to meeting up for a coffee or a quick chat about potential opportunities.

Why does this work so well?

Because, let’s face it—people leave jobs all the time, and managers often need to fill positions fast. A good manager is always on the lookout for talented professionals they can keep in mind for when an opening pops up.

Just like with your peers, hiring managers are going to look you up online first. So again, your LinkedIn profile really needs to shine.

Wrapping It Up

These two simple strategies can help you build your professional network from scratch and get you in the running for awesome jobs that might not even be listed anywhere.

So, here’s a quick recap:

1. Connect with your peers. They can be your insider sources for job opportunities and recommendations.
2. Reach out to hiring managers directly. Be proactive and make connections with the people who can actually hire you.

Put these two strategies together, make sure your LinkedIn is up to snuff, and you’ll be landing interviews and job offers in no time!