We're resisting the urge to toss famous Vegas song titles into this paragraph. You know they're going through all our heads: "Hey Baby, Let's Go to Vegas," "That's What You Get for Waking Up in Vegas," "Vi-va, Las Vegas."
Songwriters have immortalized Las Vegas so many times because it's such a cool city. It's also one of the fastest growing in the U.S., with population growth rates rising, housing prices peaking, and unemployment rates dropping.
Now you're one of its 2.06 million residents. Congratulations! What if you don't know anybody in the city? That's okay. Neither do the city's 40,000,000 annual tourists and that doesn't stop them from partying, making friends, and forging connections.
Now you're a resident. You have a leg up on the tourists and plenty of opportunities to make powerful networking connections that will help you advance your career and potentially form lifelong friendships. But where do you start?
Network without leaving your home (for now).
In spite of being in the middle of the desert, Las Vegas was blessed to be one of the communities that got 1 Gbps of Internet connection in 2014. Put the Web to work for you by making Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter your first stops on the road to networking success. Try the LinkedIn group, Las Vegas Women in Business, or look for Facebook groups related to your industry.
Vegas has plenty of public places to get together for coffee, drinks, or a quick lunch if you make a virtual connection with someone in your city and you want to get to know them better. Just make sure you're upfront about your motives. Say something like, "I think we can help each other professionally," or "I think you're a cool person and would love to hang out, as I'm new in the city." Networking doesn't have to be all about work. When you consider networking another way to meet interesting people, it takes some of the pressure off and makes it more fun.
See the sites off The Strip.
When you venture outside city limits, Vegas offers many amazing activities beyond the gambling, shopping, shows, and indoor thrill rides that make up The Strip. Just west of Vegas, you'll find Red Rock Canyon, which provides hiking, horseback riding, and rock climbing - along with some of the most beautiful views in the region. What a great way to meet people while staying active and taking in the famous sights surrounding your new hometown. It's okay to show up for any of these activities alone, knowing you'll make friends along the way. You just picked up and moved to a new city -- the rest should be easy compared to that.
Pursue a new hobby or an old one.
Once your boxes are unpacked (or just to get away from the stresses of unpacking), think about taking a class as a way to meet new people. Learn about wine, let master mixologists show you how to make delicious drinks, or learn how to race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. You'll be having so much fun, you'll forget about any social anxiety that may stem from not knowing a soul in the city.
Like sports and fitness? Look for a community softball team, take classes at a local gym, or meet up with other women golfers. The Southern Nevada Golf Association for Business Women offers opportunities to socialize with, and compete against, women golfers of all ages. If you're looking for a mentor, a friend, or even a future boss, you just may find her on the links, on the field, or even at a pole-dancing class.
Check local calendars of events for whatever entices you.
Whether you're the type who wants to make a positive difference in your community or explore unusual sights at museums, networking doesn't have to be limited to your typical networking events. You can meet new people to see if you have anything in common virtually anywhere. So mark your calendar, pack your business cards, and do whatever excites you.
Take it slow at work.
It may seem obvious to start your quest for friends and connections where you spend the most time - at work. But be cautious about permitting work friendships to move too fast. While it's cool to meet new connections through social media and then take time to become friends, be careful about connecting with co-workers through Facebook. Get to know co-workers before accepting a friend request that could be awkward to undo. If you do meet someone you could foresee becoming a BFF, make sure you're both on the same page before taking the next step, and look out for co-workers who are just trying to glean information from you or sabotage your career efforts.
That doesn't mean you should say "no" to happy hour; it just means staying guarded until you find out who you can trust and who's going to try to fix you up with an Elvis impersonator. If you follow our tips, you'll definitely find better friends than that by venturing out on your own.