A Young Professional’s Guide to Post-Grad Social Life with Kardn

For many young professionals, graduating college and launching a career marks an exciting chapter filled with new possibilities, places, and people. 

Yet, the transition from academia to the workforce brings its own challenges - such as rebuilding one’s sense of community. Making friends as an adult - especially in a new city, far from the familiar connections of college - can feel exhausting and discouraging, leaving many daunted by the effort it takes to form quality relationships.

At Kardn, we’re a passionate team dedicated to empowering people to take control of their social and professional lives during times of change and social stagnation. We understand how challenging it can be to forge connections when you’re unmotivated, pressed for time, or feeling overwhelmed. That’s why we’re here to help. Below are four practical tips to help you navigate the journey of building your social life, especially after graduation.

1. Take time to get to know yourself. 

When the days feel long, the nights even longer, and meaningful connections seem scarce, it's the perfect opportunity to reflect on who you are, what you value, and what you truly need. What qualities do you seek in a friend, mentor, or partner? What do you appreciate about yourself? What must you have in your daily life to feel fulfilled and balanced?

Taking time to thoughtfully consider your needs and desires will help you make more intentional connections as you move forward.

Kardn is here to guide you through this process, helping you connect with people who align with your values and goals. Our suite of AI characters is designed to help you take purposeful steps toward building a fulfilling social life. Each character plays a unique role in facilitating your journey, whether you’re looking to meet new people, discover events, explore local spots, or simply share your thoughts and feelings. Our AI fosters casual conversations and asks thoughtful questions, serving as a guide on your path to self-discovery and social fulfillment.

2. Invest in you, your interests, and your social well-being. 

Investing in yourself can mean a lot of different things: it could be spending time on physical health or mental fitness, which can improve your quality of life.

Investing in social well-being can look like carving out time dedicated to putting yourself out there or leveraging a tool like Kardn to efficiently discover the best people for you. Based on your request, Kardn’s search engine will suggest 10 users who may align with what you’re looking for.

3. Do your homework…or let us do it for you! 

Common advice for forging new connections is to find a regular activity or group, like a club or sports team, and keep showing up to let connections form organically.

While you can search for local events on other social platforms or through flyers, finding local events can sometimes feel like a scavenger hunt, with hidden gems like a tavern’s trivia night or a bakery’s cooking class tucked away in hard-to-find places.

That’s where Kardn steps in, making it easy to discover events that match your interests. Let your Local Guide assistant do the searching for you. Just ask, and they'll guide you to activities you might enjoy.

4. Focus on quality, not quantity

When it comes to building social connections, especially online, it's essential to prioritize quality over quantity. To start, online socialization can feel overwhelming. Some platforms are designed to keep you hooked, eagerly hunting for the next prospective match. Additionally, the prospect of connecting with others in person can be nerve-wracking. 

With Kardn, we designed our product with quality connections in mind. We start by guiding users through a conversation with their assistant to clarify what they’re looking for. Then, we present profiles with an app page infrastructure that is specifically designed to center a user’s personality and goals rather than their appearance. We limit the number of connections you can explore at once to foster more intentional interactions. 

Once your invitation gets accepted, you can engage in 1-on-1 conversations with your new connection.

5. Be intentional with your time and experience. 

Speaking of intentionality: There is a special kind of beauty in being intentional with your time and your energy. Adopting a positive growth mindset can significantly boost self-confidence, self-worth, and mental health. Every phase of life offers something to cherish, and it is beneficial for your well-being to make your experiences meaningful. 

Kardn embraces this philosophy by encouraging users to personalize their experience. Explore with Kardn’s AI characters. Each of Kardn’s characters has a unique approach to guiding your social connection experience and can offer something that might be missing from your present social circle, be it a friend, a career coach, or a mindful local. 

6. Don’t be too hard on yourself. 

It is easy to forget that the shift from school to work is no cakewalk. Do not forget to acknowledge that this experience is hard and take it easy on yourself. This could manifest as celebrating the little wins like finally being able to afford a certain piece of furniture, paying off a credit card on time, or even a new leaf growing on the propagated plant you’ve been working on since your senior spring. 

It is normal to feel excited as well as frustrated, scared, and anxious. Take the pressure off yourself to have things figured out right away - you have time, and you’re not alone. We at Kardn are a download away, and ready to help you achieve your social connection goals. 

Building a new community is a journey, and we’re here to guide you through it—meeting you where you are, at the start of a new and exciting chapter.