How to Make Friends as a Professional
Explore the Office, Join a Professional Group, Use Business Cards
Aug 25, 2009
When it comes to building a successful career, there are men and women who play at the top of their game, but put them to the task of finding a platonic companion and they tend to fall short. Making friends doesn't have to be difficult. Professionals have all the resources they need to begin their search: an office, a professional identity, and business cards.
Look for Friends at the Office
Beginning at the office is the most convenient and practical option to finding a friend. A typical full-time professional spends about 20-40+ hours a week on location. Scanning one's options here takes virtually no time away from a busy schedule. The benefits are the convenience of having a friend down the hall to take breaks with and get together after work. Once boring mornings may also seem more inviting when there's a friendly face a few cubes down.
Potential pals don't have to be in the same department, but it may be worthwhile to look for women who share the same shift. Common schedules make it easier to plan get-togethers. Fortunately, one doesn't need an excuse to talk to others who work for the same company.
The professional who's seeking friends should ask what department he works in and perhaps discuss his latest projects She should talk a little bit about her own department and what her role is. She should also know if there are company events coming up and ask others if they are attending. Conversations can be kept short since it is likely that their paths will cross again.
Join a Professional Group to Meet Friends
For many professionals, their career is their passion. Finding people who share that enthusiasm is as simple as searching the internet. Meetup.com is a great website for finding groups with like-minded individuals. Members can conduct a hobby search for others meeting in their local area. Some search engines, such as Yahoo!, also carry listings for professional organizations.
The group is a great option because the interest or profession provides a natural conversation topic. Those involved in a writer's group might talk about the pieces they've written and/or published, exchange tips and tricks crucial to their writing practice, and participate in readings and critiques. Small business owners might talk about their products or services, discuss their drawn to their particular business, and share they hope to gain from connecting with others.
Carry Business Cards When Trying to Meet Other Professionals
Carrying business cards is simple. Just about every professional knows that having business cards is a key aspect of promoting one's business. However, many don't utilize them when it comes to personal matters. This is unfortunate, as these three and a half by two inch cards provide all of the information one needs to remember the person it represents – her name, her profession, and her contact information. One glimpse may be enough to recall a face, a personality, and satisfying conversation.
The difficult part about using business cards to make friends is starting the conversation that leads to handing them out. This may take a bit of courage, but with practice will become easier. This can be done anywhere and with anyone. One might strike up a conversation with the cashier at Starbucks, another customer in line at the grocery story, the man at the nightclub with exciting dance moves, or the woman walking down the street in cute stilettos. One important item to remember is to carry the business cards at all times. The glove compartment in one's car is a good place to store a small box, and there should be at least 5-10 cards in one's briefcase or wallet at all times.
Take Advantage of Professional Resources
Looking for friends in the office, in professional groups, and by carrying business cards are a few ways that professionals can use their career to help them find friends. It is simple because each of these options requires very little diversion from one's normal routine. Yet it is rewarding because it encourages professionals to take an active role in making acquaintances that may eventually become great companions. These activities are already a part of many professional repertoires. One should make the most of them.
For more information on professional resources and friendship check out The Rules of Female friendship by Dana Herrera, along with Thoughts on Networking by Tony Butcher, and SMILE: Networking at Writer's Conferences by T. L. Cooper.
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