Developing a professional network in Auckland
It can be hard to make a name for yourself and generate new connections in a new city. Luckily, Auckland has a relatively small population, so with a little effort and patience, you can soon create a strong network of like-minded professionals in your sector.
Professional networking in Auckland
With the massive number of international businesses that operate in Auckland, there are always events happening around the city for every industry and sector. Usually, these events are advertised by the companies who are hosting the events through their own marketing emails, so the best way to stay abreast is to subscribe to the biggest companies in your industry.
The two sectors that contribute the most to Auckland's economy are the service industry (accounting, trades, tourism, etc.) and technology. There is a myriad of networking events for these industries that you can attend. There are also larger events that are open to professionals and consumers alike that can provide valuable opportunities to gain a great understanding of the industry and allow you to meet those who may turn into valuable contacts. For example, the Auckland Home Show is one of the biggest trade shows in the country. It features 500 exhibitors across every sector of the trade industry.
How to look out for events in Auckland
There are a few websites that can help you to find any upcoming events in Auckland that you might find useful.
Conferenz
This company is the biggest business event organizer in New Zealand. No matter what your area of professional interest is, they are always creating and advertising forums and conferences across every industry.
Meetup
This website is specifically for people looking to meet with others and offers great specificity in its event search result. Often used for social meet-ups, it does cater to professionals too, and the search function allows you to only search for professional networking events.
Eventfinda
Although Eventfinda is a more general event listing website, you can search specifically for business and professional events. The events are generally training and skill development, but you can also find conferences and networking events among them.
Business Networking NZ
Although not strictly an event site, Business Networking NZ is a great resource for looking into business networking groups across Auckland. Not only does it have a great list of companies divided by different industries, but it has a strong list of Auckland-based groups that are dedicated to business networking.
Identity-specific groups
Depending on your gender, cultural background, or sexual orientation, there may be a networking group that caters specifically to you. In Auckland, there is a group for women in business, a rainbow networking group, and groups that cater for expats from specific countries. Looking on Facebook or simply googling your particular area of interest can yield good results.
Networking websites
With social media becoming a major way to make new connections, having a good online presence can boost your profile in any industry.
Depending on the industry you are in, LinkedIn can be a hugely valuable resource for networking in Auckland. In particular, technology professionals are all over the website and always looking to make new connections with skilled and capable people.
Like it or not, Facebook is still a great way to link up with new people. Rather than friend-requesting specific people, search for groups in your area that post events, invite discussion and may even post open job roles from time to time.
Other networking advice for expats in Auckland
Auckland is a big little city, meaning that although it has a lot going on as a busy center of industry, once you make a few contacts, you will quickly realize that the social circles within industries are quite small. In fact, there is a joke within the city that rather than six, there are only two degrees of separation between any given two people. Use this to your advantage by noting connections you may have in common with other people when you meet others and mentioning them in conversation to make that link a little stronger.
