How to Start a Young-Professionals Networking Group

Want to feel more connected with your peers? Then, consider starting a young-professional networking group at your company or in your community. The following seven steps will help you get started:

Step 1: Assess what's out there.

Check out the young-professionals groups in your area or around the Web. What are they doing? Are there any gaps in what they provide? What will distinguish your group from the others?

You may want to introduce yourself to other group leaders. Let them know that you have a lot of respect for their group and that you're starting one that serves a similar population. But, be sure to mention how your group will be different than theirs. It's also a good idea to keep a list of similar groups with their contact information and Web addresses.

Step 2: Establish a goal.

What do you want this group to achieve? Some young-professionals groups are purely social. Everyone gets together at a bar once a month and can attend as long as they pay the cover charge. Other groups are more structured. Goals can include networking, volunteering, raising money for a charity, idea-sharing, mentoring, advocating for a cause, and more.

Step 3: Get a few people on board.

Start asking around to see if anyone's interested. Remember: It won't be much of a group if it's only you! Once you get a few people on board, consider asking them to serve in leadership roles for the group. Also, ask each person to bring several more people to the group.

Step 4: Get a sponsor.

If you're starting a young-professionals group within your company, you'll obviously want to ask your organization to sponsor the group. You may want them to provide meeting space, food or anything else that fits your group's goals, such as speakers or a meeting with the company CEO. Start by creating a proposal and going through your company's appropriate channel.

If you're starting a community-wide, young-professional group, you can ask local establishments if they'd be willing to give you a discount on food and drinks. Depending on your goals, you may need to charge a cover for these types of gatherings. However, for a recession-proof route, check with local community centers and libraries to see what they offer.

If you're starting an online young-professionals group, you may want to get advertising sponsorships for your site, especially if the group needs funds to accomplish its goals. Social-networking sites, such as Ning, will provide you with the "space" you need for free, dramatically slashing your costs.

Step 5: Spread the word.

Once you've got a few key pieces in place, it's time to spread the word. You've already asked your committee to bring their friends; now, ask those friends to bring friends. Design a website, fliers or business cards to let people know what the group is and how they can join. If your group is more exclusive, be sure to indicate the "requirements" for membership.

Step 6: Build partnerships.

Ask the other young-professionals groups you researched in Step 1 to partner with you on certain events. For instance, a couple of groups may want to get together to do a major service project. Building partnerships with other groups is a great way to continue to spread the word about what your group can provide.

Step 7: Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate.

Continue to evaluate the group's progress. Is the group actually performing those service projects? Are people finding valuable networking opportunities? Once you have the group running for three or four months, consider sending a survey to the current members and asking them for feedback. Survey them on a yearly basis to evaluate what's working and what's not.

Angela Marino provides career advice for the up and coming here at OfficeArrow. She publishes Girl Meets Business, a career development blog for young professionals. A successful young professional herself, Angela provides practical career advice and insight to people in their 20s and 30s. From a young age, Angela had a passion for writing, completing her first novel in 8th grade. In 2003, Angela earned a degree in professional writing from Missouri State University. Today, she demonstrates her passion for writing and learning at Girl Meets Business.