When you begin to work in Germany or any other foreign country, you are exposed exclusively to the rules and habits of the branch and company you work for. In the beginning, that’s usually all you have. Your circle of acquaintances may be limited to your coworkers, and with most of your energy going into performing well and learning about the corporate culture, that may seem like enough. However, after a while you may feel restless, and you may feel a desire to move on to another job or change something within your job. Then you notice that you just do not know enough about the country, the rules of the job market, and the culture of other fields to plan the next step.

But whom can you ask? You may discover that you have kept too close to your own professional group, missing the big picture. Many professionals from other countries tend to avoid networking outside their own companies. Well, it takes courage to mix with the locals, right? Networking in Germany may be different from in your home country, but one thing remains true: Your interest in the lives of other people. A positive and friendly attitude can open doors anywhere.

Consequently, you must build up a social and professional network in order to get a broader perspective of where your career and personal life are going in Germany. You need to know what’s going on outside of your company and outside of your apartment to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural specifics and career options that will enrich your job performance and your personal life. Networks, community groups, and cultural events, for instance, offer great opportunities for meeting a cross-section of people, widening your horizons, and practicing the language.

How do you build up your social network? It takes much more than just drinking a beer with your colleague after work. Choose activities that suit follow your preferences. If you like sports, find a club where you get to play with other people, perhaps on a team. In Germany you will find many tennis and golf clubs (however, the golf clubs are still very expensive and exclusive here). If you are a creative person, find a workshop where you can practice painting, writing, or music in a group environment. Librarians and bookstore employees are often good resources. Every city in Germany has an institute for further education called VHS (Volkshochschule)–this could be a good place to start.

How do you benefit? You will find your career enhanced, you will have fun, you will make good friends, you will meet a variety of people, and you will discover that you feel at home.

How do you build up your professional network? There are several excellent strategies for finding out what is going on in the region where you live and work. Read German business magazines, industry publications, and the monthly journal of the local chamber of commerce. They contain useful information on networking, training, and conferences. For research, try the online forum Mwonline.de. Talk to the people in the public relations department (Pressestelle) of your municipality and local chamber of commerce. Ask for information on professional networks and meetings.

In Germany, there are professional networks and unions for specific career fields (for example, associations of controllers, lawyers, or marketing experts). These unions (Gesellschaften, Verb‰nde) usually offer up-to date information on training, schools, salaries, and job requirements, and they hold regular meetings for their members. You may visit some of the meetings as a guest. The membership per year varies from 100 to 500 Euro (approximately the same amount in U.S. dollars).

There are also many interesting professional networks where you can meet people from other career fields, industries, and positions. Here are three such organizations that have a nationwide reach and many regional branches.

The benefits to professional networking are obvious. As a member of one of these networks, you gain access to a large pool of knowledge, ideas, and experiences. You get current information on training and best practices in other companies and fields. You interesting intellecutal sparring partners and get an insight into the social, cultural, and professional life of your adopted home. You need just three qualities: an open mind, the willingness to take the first step, and the commitment to build up good relations. This project needs time and energy. But the effects of networking will grow with the investment you put into it.

Monika Becht is a career counselor, lecturer and founder of You Can Career Counseling Service in Frankfurt, which provides individual counseling to professionals and small business owners. Email Monika