Networking In Zurich
Zurich is the largest city of Switzerland and capital of the canton of Zurich. Located in an Alpine setting at the northwestern end of Lake Zurich, the city is well known as a financial, cultural, and industrial center. And yes, You’ve probably heard it: Zurich is all about who-you-know. So, it should be obvious how important networking is in the most expensive city of Europe. But let’s break this down first.
The thing about networking is that it needs to be so much more than handing someone your business card for it to be effective. It’s important for you to cultivate relationships for them to work in the long run. So, You need to be proactive and you need to put in time to grow your relationships.
Whether you’re just tinkering with the idea of moving to Zurich or you have a plan in place for moving to Zurich or you already live in Zurich — you need to start networking now. You need to start meeting or contacting people even if it’s virtually, at this very moment of a global pandemic.
But also, you don’t want to waste your time with the wrong people or group. If you are new to Zurich and are looking for quality contacts, or if you want to expand your contacts, the most important thing is to be in the right place with the right people. Sounds like a cliche, but it’s very true and most importantly, possible.
The thing is, in Zurich people don’t want to help you if you’re a “taker”. And takers are very easy to spot. If you hand someone your business card, and present to them why you need them, they may not be willing to help you, especially not right away. A good plan of action is to present to them why you would be of value to them. How can you help them? The best networking relationships are two-sided: people helping people. So, don’t just look for people who can help you, look for people who you can add value to
So, if you are ready to cultivate relationships, Here are 2 ways to start networking now in Zurich now:
1. FACEBOOK,LINKEDIN and UNOFEX
We all know that social media has changed the way we connect with people, but let’s start getting specific and using it for networking purposes. Facebook and LinkedIn are both really great with Groups. Look for groups that relate to what you want to do and start talking to people in them. But if you want to work or if you already work in the film, fashion, art or luxury industry, the prestigious UNOFEX Network will do the best for you. It is known as an exclusive members-only community and network, with members coming from the USA, Monaco, UK, Italy, Switzerland and other countries. The acronym UNOFEX stands for Union of Excellence.
The UNOFEX’s fundamental aim is to promote its members and their respective industries’ works. Various filmmakers, TV directors, leaders and fashion show organizers check the UNOFEX listed professionals to hire new and established talents or to showcase their work.
UNOFEX also gives local and international recognition to Creatives, Film & TV institutions, and Fashion Professionals from Zurich in the form of Accreditations. And are allowed to use the accreditation badges to showcase in their portfolio and get validation from the organization.
In direct comparison to the classic social media communities like Facebook or LinkedIn, UNOFEX clearly stands out in terms of exclusivity and the admission of new members because UNOFEX works in an industry-oriented manner and has its own criteria such as, references and working experience, which decide who is approved by the admission committee and who is not. It’s a great way to start meeting industry accredited people, virtually and physically.
But as soon as you are inside you get access to a lot of advantages, such as a public, certified profile, a network full of link-minded and interesting personalities, invitation to member events and shows, access to the members area on the website and much more. You can find out more about the UNOFEX and how to apply here: UNOFEX — How to become a member
2. ATTEND EVENTS
There are many networking in Zurich, from conferences, to workshops, to happy hours. They are definitely worth checking out, as meeting people in person is usually a much stronger connection than meeting people via online. So, don’t miss to regularly check the Eventbrite or official Zurich site for highlighted events in the area.
