Forming connections, both personal and professional, is extremely important and valuable when studying and working abroad. Some people say, “it’s not what you know, but whom you know”, and we believe that it requires both to be able to find opportunities. You need to know the right stuff and the right people. Kangaroo Global knows how overwhelming moving to a new country can be. Even with the right information, resources, and money, it can be quite difficult to decide, plan, and conduct exploration and assimilation of your new home without the knowledge and confidence of a local. We wouldn’t want you to feel isolated, stuck, or disconnected, and we, therefore, arrange or will refer you to many social and networking events, along with other extracurricular recreational activities and events, for our clients to get a chance to become more familiar with your new city and country. We suggest the following courses of action to enhance your professional and personal connections:

​

 

Those close to you

Take advantage of the fact that you will be living, studying, and working in environments full of other international students who are in the same position as you! So start off with your fellow students, housemates, co-workers, and people who do the same activities as you (such as sport teams), because you never know who they will be, or whom they know.

 

​

​

Do not be shy

You have embarked on your adventure to make new friends and have new experiences, so do not feel embarrassed about reaching out to people. It is totally understandable that you want to make new connections, and if you are honest and polite, people will react warmly to you, even if they are not interested. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving every opportunity a chance to become something more!

 

​

Engage with your teachers

If you are looking for industry connections, the best people to go to are your teachers and the organizations they work for. If they do not know someone who can help you personally, they will know where to send you to find that very person. They also can be good friends themselves, as they can give you advice on studying, working, serve as a reference, and even directly connect you with someone useful. They will also be able to expose you to more networking events and employment opportunities.

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Attend events

Events such as networking events, seminars, and workshops are specifically designed to help people looking to form industry connections. By attending them, you will meet other like-minded individuals who are also looking to make connections as well as industry leaders and experts. These events will be advertised by Kangaroo Global as well as your institutions. Continue attendance and exposure to such events will make you stick in people’s memories, while also helping you gain more confidence in the industry and in the country that you have chosen to visit.

 

​

​

Social media

Social networking is the easiest and most accessible way to socialize and network! While Instagram and Facebook serve to enhance personal connections, you can follow Kangaroo Global as well as any business, organization, or institution that is interested in seeing upcoming events and other opportunities. Other sites, such as LinkedIn and Twitter are aimed more towards professional networking and provide a platform to promote yourself and your skills, while also finding available opportunities posted. The power is at your fingertips!