What are your tips or tricks for interns or recent graduates who have to set off on their own in a new city for the first time? Can be anything – about safety, cooking, exploring, getting involved, do’s and don’ts, or any other topic you can think of.
Bump!
If you are enrolled on campus live in the dorm, study in the library, pursue personal interests by finding out where people with similar interests, join the appropriate church’s student group, listen to other students about where they go, seek out students in your program or other interns and professionals, go to the local museums, attend performances of all sort, etc. You don’t need to be an extrovert. Instead, be present and sociable where you typically find friends. Getting to know people n a new place pulls on the social skills and interests that helped you make friends where you lived before.
My son moved to a new city for an internship last summer that turned into a job. He was a new grad but willing to do an internship to gain experience. He is an avid rock climber and found new friends by going rock climbing at the local gyms. He mostly had to put himself out there by asking people if they wanted to go climb or go for coffee after etc.
One suggestion I would have depending on where you are (best if in larger cities) is to join a meet up group. https://www.■■■■■■■■■■
You look for a group that shares a common interest and go to a meeting whether it is book groups or hiking. Safety wise, I think u just need to stay in touch either by email or texting with those fam
My tips and tricks would be different for interns (who are usually in a city for 2-3 months, and are often in a formal program with other interns and maybe planned events) than for recent grads (who are new adults in a brand-new place).
With recent grads - I think the biggest piece of advice is that settling down in a new city and learning to be an adult and take care of yourself are both slower processes than getting used to your college. In college, you are with a bunch of other freshman who are all looking for friends and there are organized activities. In the work world, you’re in a city with probably lots of other new grads mixed in with people who already have established groups of friends and networks (which doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t be friends with them - just may take more work). You’re also scattered across a bigger geographic area and have less free time.
That means you’re going to have to get out there to meet people - but pace yourself to your own tastes so you don’t burn out. When I first moved to New York and then Seattle, I joined groups on ■■■■■■■■■■, joined local Facebook pages and groups to track events happening, and talked to people in general. New York was initially easier because I was in graduate school.
it takes some time to learn how to be an adult and take care of yourself, so don’t beat yourself up too badly for lapses. With cooking, there are lots of free recipes online. It’s tempting to buy cheap, low-quality stuff (cookware, furniture, etc.) but try to buy at least middling-quality stuff that costs more - it’ll last longer, saving you money in the long-term, and honestly it’s not that much more expensive. IKEA’s good stuff costs just as much as going to a real furniture store, and the real furniture store’s stuff is likely nicer and you don’t have to put it together.
With interns, if you’re at a company that has set up special events and programs for you - stay involved!! If you’re more introverted it’s easy to retreat to your room, but you have a very short amount of time to make an impression. The people you meet during your intern summer can be the key to you getting a job - and that’s at your own company AND at other companies. Take advantage of your status - at my company we call it the “intern card,” in that you can always use “I’m an intern” to get a meeting with important people who regular employees may not even get to meet with. People like to help interns (particularly at my company. We looooooove our interns. I’m mentoring two interns this summer myself). Make some informational interviews, both within your company and at other nearby ones in the same industry. Ask lots of questions. Do good work and treat it like a three-month interview. And that includes with your peers - they will be your colleagues at your company and peer ones in the future.
Also, you never know if you are going to return to that city, and you’re only in college once. So enjoy yourself! Get out of your apartment and do stuff 