Networking in Dallas: 7 Events for Creating Meaningful Professional Relationships

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• September 25, 2014
• By Carrie Smith
• No Comments

Advancing your career as a new grad, startup founder or mid-level professional means you have to put yourself out there and start connecting with the right people. But how exactly?

Dallas, Texas, has a large population. But because the city is spread out, it can be hard to go outside your circle of connections to find your footing professionally. Read on for some of the best local networking events to get your career headed in the right direction.

1. The Dallas Entrepreneur Center

Founded in 2013, the DEC is focused on supporting local startup founders, small businesses and entrepreneurs. Their collaborative community of experts, investment groups and thought leaders will help you make the right connections to get your business dreams off the ground.

2. Dallas Business Journal Events

With everything from a Writing Workshop to a Women in Business Luncheon to an Entrepreneurs Connect Conference, the Dallas Business Journal offers a wide variety of networking events for any professional.

No matter what your budget or career field, there’s bound to be an event perfect for your interests.

3. Network After Work

Ready to ditch the cubicle to enjoy some fun and food with other professionals? Network After Work is a national social and business networking event with over 500,000 members.

Each month the group hosts a session at various cafes and restaurants where you can show off your name and brand.

4. Career Networking Groups DFW

The goal of CareerDFW is to provide access to a large number of job, networking and professional opportunities, specifically for those who are unemployed or underemployed. Check out their calendar for a complete list of weekly and monthly events to help further your career.

5. Social Media Club Dallas

The SMC is one of this area’s leaders in digital marketing. Each month they host an event focused on social media, marketing and current events.

If you’re in this field, or hope to be, joining this club will introduce you to a large number of opportunities. And I can personally say their team is welcoming and nice to interact with.

6. NetParty – Young Professionals Network

Known for their unique mix of business and social networking, NetParty caters to younger professionals looking for hip events and opportunities to connect with influential brands.

Get updates on future meetups or follow them on Twitter at @NetPartyDallas for the latest info.

7. CareerConnection

Whether you’re looking for job leads or support during your job search process, CareerConnection members and faculty can help. Every Tuesday, they offer General Session Workshops where they reveal jobs that aren’t yet publicly available, while enabling you to make valuable connections that lead to new job opportunities.

Bonus: DFW Bars for Professionals

Those of us who live in Dallas know the city likes to work hard and play hard. So why not mix the two a bit? CBS DFW offers a fun list of the best bars that also cater to networking, so you can relax and have fun while interacting with some of area’s best professionals.

Carrie Smith, a Texas native, is a financial writer who recently quit her accounting job to pursue full-time entrepreneurship. She believes there’s nothing more powerful than a real-life connection.

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