It may not jump out as an obvious choice for expats, but Luxembourg is, in fact, a very popular destination for expatriate workers. But how easy is it to network and build a database in Luxembourg when you’re new to the country? Here, we check out the five ways you can network in Luxembourg to help grow your professional (and personal) contacts.
Attend industry events or conferences
Although small, Luxembourg hosts many well-known industry events and conferences across various sectors like finance and technology. And what better way to build your network than by getting to meet like-minded business professionals from similar sectors to you. Not only will you be able to build relationships with potential clients and contacts, but you will also be able to browse the market for any possible future employment opportunities.
Ranging from less formal networking groups on Facebook such as Expats Living in Luxembourg to more structured business groups like the British Chamber of Commerce or the American Chamber of Commerce in Luxembourg (AMCHAM), there are plenty of opportunities to join an online community here. These offer excellent opportunities to network with peers, brainstorm ideas, ask business-related queries, and stay up to date on industry updates in Luxembourg. Offline, organizations like the government’s Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and various industry-specific associations offer networking groups and resources for professionals.
Just like in many other countries in the region, LinkedIn has a strong influence on the job market here, with 300,000 LinkedIn users out of the 508,000 workers based in Luxembourg. When you’re new to a country, building a strong online presence, connecting with professionals in your industry, and participating in relevant groups or conversations is vital to expanding your network and uncovering potential job opportunities.
One way to ensure an instant connection is to connect with other people who graduated from the same university or college as you. Get in touch with the alumni association from your university and they will be able to connect you with others in Luxembourg or point you in the right direction of alumni networking events.
While more of a social tool, joining local meetups or Facebook social groups for expats living in Luxembourg can also help you with your professional networking. This can be especially effective if you join groups specific to your country of origin or niche groups focused on something like your hobby as you’re able to make solid connections with people, which can then turn into business networking opportunities as well. In a country as small as Luxembourg it’s all about who you know, so expanding your social circles will in turn expand your professional network.
If you’re looking into making the move to Luxembourg and need some assistance with securing your ideal job, get in touch with our team of dedicated professionals who will help you every step along the way.