How to develop a professional network in Phnom Penh

Working a 9-5 is difficult, but sometimes it's even harder to find a good job- especially if you are in a new country. So how do you get a job in a new country? You may have spent years building up your resume and had plenty of education and volunteer experience, but if you don't have the right connections, it can be next to impossible to find the right job.

So how do you professionally network in Phnom Penh? Make sure to adhere to professional etiquette of networking in Phnom Penh and find the right events that will help you break into your chosen industry.

Professional networking events in Phnom Penh

The biggest networking event in Phnom Penh is The Finishing Post, a high-end business networking event hosted by The Phnom Penh Post on the last Friday of every second month. It is the largest networking event, but it is invitation only and can be hard to get into without already having some connections or an impressive CV. Thankfully, there are many events that are much easier for newcomers to get into.

BritCham Cambodia, AmCham Cambodia, the Australian Business Association of Cambodia (ABAC), and EuroCham Cambodia are the most active networking groups in Phnom Penh. They hold regular networking events which are easy to get an invitation. Reach out to them to find out when the next event is and see if you are able to attend. You can also check out the classifieds in The Phnom Penh Post, Cambodia Daily, or The Khmer Times to find some more local networking events.

NGOs often organise regular charitable events which can double as a networking opportunity. Just because something isn't strictly related to business doesn't mean that it can't be used for networking. Every occasion is an opportunity to meet new people and market yourself. Some regular events to attend are Beers for Bears, Glamazon, and Welcome to the Jungle.

Social media groups

Facebook also offers some great networking opportunities in addition to developing your social circle in Phnom Penh. The most popular Facebook pages for finding jobs and networking are Phnom Penh Jobs for Foreigners, Phnom Penh Jobs Alert and Phnom Penh Jobs. These pages offer great resources for expats looking for jobs in Phnom Penh. Another benefit is that you can begin to network before you arrive in Phnom Penh.

Tech conferences and coworking spaces in Phnom Penh

If you are involved with the tech industry, there are a few places you need to look into. Bar Camp and TEDxPhnom Penh are fantastic organisations that host important tech conferences geared towards coming up with forward-thinking ideas to solve problems in both a local and global setting. CoLAB is another place to meet like-minded individuals in the tech industry. It is a coworking space that hosts a startup pre-incubator for designers, developers, consultants and social entrepreneurs that seeks to encourage interaction in the workspace and, ultimately, support creativity and innovation. Both of these are fantastic ways to network with people involved in technology in Phnom Penh.