Regardless of whether you want to bring a breath of fresh air into your circle of friends or have moved because of studies, work, or love: i...
But first, the question on which everything depends: Why?
What is your reason for wanting to meet new people? Realize if you'd like to make new buddies for the club tour, for a camping trip, or for philosophical talks. Or maybe you want to make contacts that will help you advance professionally?
Depending on what your goal is and what type of person you are looking for, other strategies may get you there. Here are our top tips for meeting new people and building friendships.
Meet new people through social media
Nowadays it makes sense to first look for contacts in social media. But simply writing to complete strangers like this, using the watering can principle, often doesn't get you anywhere. Rather, you should think about where the people you would like to get to know to cavort. What interests do you share with them?
There are often local, closed groups for people with specific interests on social media. For example, if sustainability is important to you, you can sign up for food sharing or urban gardening groups. Here there is usually also the opportunity for harmless personal meetings.
Do you like sports? Then look for regional sports groups, such as running groups. Here, too, there is no obligation to get to know each other personally.
In other regional groups, you can often talk about what is happening in the city and quickly find out whether you are on the same wavelength. Here you should rather not proceed too briskly with a personal meeting. Just like and wait. Perhaps an opportunity arises that you and someone you've agreed with before happen to be interested in the same event. You can then ask if you can meet there in person.
In principle, it is easier to get in touch with individual members in smaller closed groups than in a large group in which half the city is bustling about.
Professionally, platforms such as Xing or LinkedIn are ideal for networking with people who work in the same industry.
Above all, the Internet is very helpful for sounding out the circumstances and for looking for like-minded people and interest groups, and for making initial contacts. But if you really want to get to know people, personal contact is always preferable. Only here do you notice whether the chemistry is really right and whether you are on the same wavelength? The same applies to friendships as to dating.
Meet old acquaintances
However, social networks can also be helpful in maintaining or re-establishing contact with old acquaintances. Even if you haven't seen each other for a long time, you can meet up for a drink and talk about the "good old days". Maybe this will result in a new friendship in a new phase of life or the acquaintance can introduce you to new people.
Even if you have moved to a new city, it is worth asking about your social network. Because sometimes people live there that you know without knowing it. Or acquaintances can give good tips on which events or places in this city are worthwhile.
Hobbies and Interests
Nothing brings people together more than hobbies and common interests. Have you always wanted to learn a new sport or try a new hobby? Then this is the perfect opportunity to meet new people. Especially in a team sport, there is often a chummy atmosphere right from the start and you meet up for a beer after the sport.
But language courses also offer a good opportunity to meet new people. You can get to know each other better through language tandems.
On a professional level, it helps in two ways to attend seminars or courses that interest you. You can acquire new skills that will also help you professionally and at the same time meet new people who are going in a similar direction as you. If this is not paid for by your employer or you are still studying, a cheap course at the adult education center might be ideal for you.
How about, for example, a rhetoric course or IT training. Haven't you always wanted to know how to program an app?
Or how about giving a talk at a speaker's night on a topic that interests you? Surely you will be approached by some people afterward. This is also good practice for everyday work.
If you want to try something crazy and let yourself go, try an improvisational theater group. Nowhere else will you get to know people better as quickly as there.
Meet new people while volunteering
Always wanted to do something good? You can also meet like-minded people while volunteering. This is often a close-knit community that is quick to accept you when they see you share the same interests. How about support for refugee aid, for example? Or children's coaches in a sports club? If you are handy and really want to invest time and effort, the Technisches Hilfswerk might be something for you. Social commitment not only brings you new friends but also always looks good on your CV.
If you are interested in politics, you can also join a local party. New members are always welcome and the common political basis is a topic of conversation.
neighbors and roommates
The immediate environment is often underestimated. If you are moving to a new city, it is best to look for an existing flatshare to start with. This way you have close contact with new people who can help you get started and introduce other people to you. As with marketing, the same applies here: nothing weighs more than a personal recommendation. A friend of a friend (even if it's just an acquaintance) automatically has a leap of faith. You should take advantage of this and maybe encourage a flatshare party yourself.
Take a look around your neighborhood too. Surely there is a nice neighbor lurking behind one or the other front door. It's also easy to get in touch here. Either you introduce yourself as “the new guy” when you move in, or you create familiarity through regular encounters and regular greetings. You quickly get into small talk and can slowly build up a friendly relationship.
work colleagues and fellow students
Work colleagues or fellow students are just as close and actually obvious. You spend most of your day with them anyway. So why not a little private chat in between? And after work for a beer after work or an after-work party? New friendships are quickly formed here. Especially work colleagues who have been in town for a long time will certainly meet other acquaintances at an after-work party that they can introduce to you. So you can expand your circle again.
If your job or studies allow it, you can also work a weekend shift at the bar in a trendy pub. Nowhere else do you get to meet as many new people as when working in the catering industry. In addition, there is a great additional income. Why not combine the useful with the pleasant?
Meet new people while traveling
If it is not necessarily about getting to know someone new on-site, but you are simply interested in different people and broadening your horizons, travel is the means of choice.
In the case of sports trips in the immediate vicinity, such as cycling or climbing tours, there is a high probability that the participants will not come from too far away. With organized adventure trips for young people, group cohesion is automatically created through shared experiences.
During language trips, you are almost forced to talk to each other. You also learn or improve a foreign language.
Even on backpacker tours in typical countries and areas, contacts in the distance are made by like-minded people by themselves. Solo travelers in particular are regularly looking for contact. Such friendships, which arise from extreme situations, often last a lifetime.
The first ice is broken, and then?
How does an acquaintance or real friendship develop after getting to know each other? The most important thing is real, shared, positive experiences. Doing something together also creates a bond. If you've met someone online, you should seek real conversations as soon as possible. Maybe first via video calling, then via meetings. Because that's the only way you'll know if the chemistry between you is really right. Of course, you shouldn't fall right into the house here, because nobody likes to meet a stranger just like that. Therefore, it makes more sense to meet at an event or in a place where you both go often anyway, such as a gym or a club.
When getting to know each other or meeting, you should make sure that balanced conversations arise. You should listen with interest and ask questions when the other person tells you something. But also tell interesting things about you.
As with dating, it is important not to be too pushy, but also not to be too cold. Ideally, everything develops naturally. You should be mindful of the other person's signals and keep communication and meetings going at the right level.
The advantage of dating: here nobody takes it amiss if you have several irons in the fire and a meeting with three or four people is often an enrichment for everyone involved.
