Networking 101 through a Conference

One of the best things you can do for your career is to attend conferences. You can learn about the industry, you get the right perspective on your job and on your position in the industry. Most of all, you will be able to meet new people and establish a strong network of contacts that can help you reach your career goals.
So how exactly do you network in a conference? Aside from bringing business cards and getting the business cards of other participants, here are other important tips that will help you make the most out of a conference you will attend in:

• Find a way to be seen. If you can’t make a way for you to be one of the speakers, participate in the conference through other ways, such as by volunteering to be an usher or session facilitator. Sure, you can simply go to the conference and be one of the thousands of participants, but why not take a more visible role when you can?
• Reconnect with contacts. If you know some contacts who will be going to the conference, communicate with them before the conference starts and set aside time for them. Have coffee or take your lunch with them.

• Plan your schedule well. Conferences are usually composed of different sessions that occur simultaneously. Choose the sessions that you know you will learn a lot from. Don’t burn yourself out though, eave some time for yourself to enjoy the venue of the conference or to relax by your own.
• If you are a first-timer, attend the briefing session. This will prep you up for the sessions and will give you a clear picture of what’s going to happen during the whole conference. You will also meet other newbies in the briefing session, so ready your business cards for new contacts.
• Talk with the speakers. Conference speakers are experts in your industry. Try to talk with them and ask your questions personally. Don’t be shy in letting them know that you liked their presentation. Get their business card, give them your business card, and make sure that you do a follow-up online. Add them on Facebook and Twitter, and tag them in a conference-related post.
• Give yourself all the opportunities to learn. Attending a conference should not be mainly about building a network of contacts. It should first and foremost be about learning about your industry and learning from the experts in it. Take down notes in all the sessions that you attend, and conduct your own recap by consolidating and organizing your notes. You don’t go there just to look for banking jobs and finance jobs!