Are you looking to grow your career or pivot into a new field? Professional conferences offer valuable learning and networking opportunities. In this article, we’ll help you get ready for a conference by answering some key questions first-time attendees often ask.

First of all, what is a professional conference?
Professional conferences are organized events where individuals who work or study in a particular field gather to discuss topics related to that field. Conferences can be as short as a few hours or as long as a week, and they can be held virtually or in-person. They are typically hosted by professional associations, academic institutions, businesses, or by an individual person. While some conferences are free to attend, many require a registration fee to cover organizational costs and access to event content.  Actively engaging in all sessions and activities can help you get the most value from the conference.

What happens at a conference?
Lots of different events. These could include keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, networking sessions, and poster presentations. Event presenters or hosts are usually experts in their field or a related field who share their knowledge and expertise with attendees. Larger conferences typically have multiple events or sessions happening simultaneously, so you can choose which events you would like to attend.

Who can attend?
Anyone who wants to! At the conference, you’ll find working professionals, aspiring professionals, researchers, students, experts in the field, subject-matter enthusiasts, and others.

Why should you attend?
There are many reasons to attend a professional conference. At the conference, you can:

• Find out what’s new: research, products, resources, trends, and best practices.
• Brush up on your skills and learn new ones.
• Build new professional relationships and strengthen existing ones.
• Gain insights from experts and thought leaders on the field’s history and future directions.
• Reignite your passion and excitement for your career field by connecting with others who have similar interests.

What can I do to save money when attending an in-person conference?
Traveling to a state or national conference may involve additional expenses. Here are a few ways to reduce costs:

• Plan ahead as far as you can. Find out the location of the next conference and look for early-bird deals.
• Ask if there are professional development funds available to you through your workplace.
• Check if the organization hosting the conference offers any scholarships or funding for attendees, particularly if you are a student.

How should I prepare before attending?
Create a game plan for maximizing conference events and building meaningful connections: 

• If the conference schedule is available ahead of time, look at the sessions and decide which ones you want to attend. If you are attending with a colleague or friend, work together to attend different sessions and share notes with each other afterwards.
• Prepare your elevator pitch. This is your 30-second chance to tell a new connection who you are, share your professional or academic interests, and give them your mission statement or “why.”
• Brush up your LinkedIn profile, or create one if you don’t already have one.

What should I bring to a conference?
These items can help you get ready to network, take notes, and stay hydrated:

• Business cards, if you want to hand them out. You can also create a digital business card to send to people, or connect on LinkedIn using the QR code in the LinkedIn app on your mobile device.
• Something to take notes with – a laptop, mobile device, or old-fashioned pen and paper. If you are using electronics, bring your chargers and paper and a pen as backup.
• A refillable water bottle. While many venues offer drinks and snacks, bringing a water bottle is a good idea in case they aren’t available or are hard to access.

What to expect from an online conference?
Online conferences have many of the same options and opportunities as in-person conferences and can be a cost-effective alternative. Download any presentation materials available, be ready to grab useful information from the chat feature, and take notes in each session. If you attend a networking session, have your elevator pitch and LinkedIn profile URL ready to share.

Practice good video call behaviors:

• Set yourself up in a space without distractions. Silence your phone or any other devices that could tempt you to start multitasking.
• Remain on camera throughout a session. Make sure your face and shoulders are centered in the screen and your background is professional.
• Mute yourself when you’re not talking.
• Only use the chat feature for topics directly related to the session you are attending.

How do I decide which conference to attend?
Start by checking out Associations and Professional Development on Career Planning and Development’s Networking tab, and find professional organizations in your field of interest. Many national organizations also have state or regional chapters that host events.

Talk to your professors, classmates, and coworkers; see if they have any suggestions or favorite conferences they have attended in the past.

Now that you know what to expect, it’s time to take the leap and register for that first conference! Come prepared, stay curious, and follow up with the people you meet. It might just be one of the smartest moves you make in your professional development.

Resources:

Career Planning and Development: Networking
Career Planning and Development: Associations and Professional Development
Career Planning and Development Blog Article: Benefits of Belonging to a Professional Association

Written by Alison Fahy, Specialist, Department of Career Planning and Development