Building Professional Networks Across Borders
The professional network that you built at home does not transfer automatically across borders. The relationships that took years to develop must be rebuilt in a new context.
The first networking event I attended in Singapore was nothing like the networking events I had attended in New York. The format was different, the expectations were different, the conversation patterns were different. The approach that had worked for me in American professional contexts — the direct pitch, the quick value proposition, the business card exchange — was received differently.
The professional networks that operate across borders have developed specific norms that blend the norms of multiple professional cultures. The international chamber of commerce events that bring together professionals from multiple national backgrounds. The industry conferences that attract speakers and attendees from across regions.
The professional network that develops through international work takes years to mature. The first years involve establishing credibility in a new professional context. The middle years involve building the relationships that will generate opportunities. The mature years involve maintaining connections across multiple locations.
The LinkedIn network that you have built over years represents the digital infrastructure of your professional presence, and it does not disappear when you move abroad. The challenge is integrating your established profile with the new professional context you are entering. The posts that demonstrate expertise in your field.
The industry-specific communities that operate online provide the professional connection that geographic separation would otherwise prevent. The Slack communities, the industry forums, the professional Facebook groups — these digital spaces allow participation in professional conversations that are not location-dependent.
The professional network that is wide — connecting across many industries and sectors — provides opportunity identification. The professional network that is deep — connecting deeply within a specific industry or function — provides career advancement. The international professional must balance both.