Being a career girl, I know the importance of building relationships. Professional relationships are, of course, important for client retention and working productively and peacefully with co-workers. But the connections we establish outside of our office with other industry superstars can help us grow professionally and may even present us with opportunities to spread our wings and move on to bigger and better things.

Building a professional network is especially important after relocating. Having recently moved to Atlanta, I looked into some of the networking opportunities that we have here. Here are a few I found that are worth checking out:

• Atlanta Under 40: This group is for young professionals looking to expand their reach with other like-minded individuals.
• Atlanta After Work: This local chapter of Network After Work holds events for members at various Atlanta hotspots.
• Metro Atlanta Chamber: MAC offers multiple monthly events designed to “enrich and enhance your professional life.”
• The Atlanta Professionals Business and Social Networking: This Meetup group promises to help you expand your professional horizons in a fun, friendly atmosphere.
• NetParty Atlanta Young Professionals: These events are known for emphasizing the fun factor while helping young professionals make meaningful connections.
• Atlanta Business League: ABL has been an affiliate of the National Business League since 1933. Its mission is to foster “the growth, creation and development of successful business enterprises owned, operated and managed by African-Americans in metropolitan Atlanta.”
• Eventbrite, Atlanta Event and Meetup: These websites offer up-to-date information on some of the local events going on that provide networking opportunities to Atlantans.

Whatever your profession—or even if you’re looking to dabble in something new—it can be extremely beneficial to give networking a try. If you know of a great group or meeting that’s open to new members, please let me know by leaving a comment below so I can share it in a future blog post!