Published Clips
Chad Neuman
Succeed Magazine
Fall 2002
Conferences are a great way for employees or students to learn new things and meet new people. Why else would thousands of professionals attend them each year?
Many of us are sent to meetings to continue our education, whether they be week-long conferences or one-day seminars. Depending on the field and the type of conference, such opportunities can either be very focused (a CompuMaster session on Photoshop, for instance), or very broad (a meeting of only librarians, teachers, or those in marketing).
Whatever the case, conferences provide the opportunity to gain knowledge. They're a meeting place for experts and novices, a site to see the latest technology developments, or a venue to hear about new topics. The experts agree: Add a conference to your continuing education curriculum, and you'll add another way to get ahead in your career transition.
Attending as a Student
Robin Peek, an associate professor at Simmons College, Boston, MA, and a columnist for Information Today, attended InfoToday 2002 in New York this past May as a session moderator. She's had the opportunity to attend many such conferences, and encourages professionals to attend ones that are subject-specific so they can serve as a real-life introduction into their field. "The sessions can provide insight into the types of issues that professionals are really dealing with right now, as opposed to the theory of the classroom," says Peek.
One benefit of attending a conference as a student, explains Peek, is to see if you like the type of people who are attending the conference, since they will be your future colleagues. "If you like the people and the nature of the issues they discuss, then you know you will make a good fit."
You can also learn about their innovations in your field. Conferences are often the best way to discover what's new even before others are aware of it. They are also an introduction to "real-world" aspects of the field of study, and can provide you with ideas for an occupation within the field.
Conferences: Focused or Broad
Conferences are usually either based around a certain industry, such as marketing or teaching , or specifically centered on a particular computer program or selling technique, for example.
One of my favorite conferences is the Seybold Seminars, which is pretty focused. I think general conferences are better when someone is just starting out in a field," says Peek.
Subject-specific conferences can be very helpful, she points out. If you're a hands-on type, you'll really benefit from a more focused approach at a conference. Listening to a speaker explain a particular aspect of a study can be more effective as well.
On the other hand, someone who wants more of an overview, such as a student first beginning to explore a new field, would be much more successful by attending a more generalized conference.
Enhancing Your Expertise
Conferences can also cultivate your skills in a specific area. According to Peek, attending conferences demonstrates you are serious enough about that field just to take the time to attend. But attending a conference session alone may not advance your expertise unless it is one of the more specific skill-based workshops that are often associated with a conference.
A seminar on installing wireless networks in a business would be more beneficial than a conference that lets people talk about their latest advancements and experiences, for instance.
If you want to enhance any skills, in addition to learning about the field, look at a brochure for the conference before you sign up. Many times seminars will be held in block schedules, and you can sign up for the track you want. Many of these blocks will focus on a particular skill, and other times they may just be about a different aspect of the field.
Bill Tan, President of Transcendent International, LLC, has been running the entrepreneurship conference at New York University for the past five years, which has 1,000 plus attendants annually. According to Tan, a well-organized and planned conference will have leading experts in specific fields. The audience should be expecting to hear about the latest trends in their fields, and the speakers should share their authoritative insights.
Conference attendees can use this valuable information to see where the emerging hot spots in a particular industry will be, and plan their career paths accordingly. Being well-informed never hurts," Tan explains, adding that conferences are also excellent sources of information and knowledge, especially since they often feature professors and educators as speakers.
Networking
You shouldn't attend a conference and necessarily anticipate rubbing elbows with the keynote speaker, explains Peek. However, she adds, some conferences have meaningful social events, especially if it is affiliated with a professional organization. In these cases, there are often opportunities to join committees and engage in meaningful networking. "This is how I have forged professional alliances," says Peek.
The way in which you "work" your conference networks is important as well, explains Tan. In other words, be an active participant. Raise questions at the speakers' venues, walk up to people and introduce yourself, talk to the conference organizers and compliment them on a job well-done.
I've met people at conferences who referred new business or even gave me contracts," he explains. Not to mention all of those he's met who have impressed him so much that he has since hired them.
The key is to let your voice be heard and your presence felt, Tan says. "That way, others [will] know who you are, what you need, and what you have to offer." Do it right, he adds, and things will naturally come your way.
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Many factors go into whether or not to attend a conference, from financial support (whether or not your employer is paying) to how useful the conference may be.
Focusing on the benefits of how it can improve your job productivity, as well as company revenue, can help you convince your employer to either fund the conference ticket or at least let you attend on company time. Peek attends conferences "to catch up with editors, who are scattered all over the country." And, she notes, don't be surprised to hear companies make major announcements at conferences. Take it from Peek: "I have been in the field for a decade now, and attending conferences is a good way to meet up with people I know."
