Now that we’re in the full swing of fall, conference season is a favorite recurring work perk for me during September- late November months. For the past two years, most conferences were virtual, so I’m super excited to get back to attending in-person professional events. Now for some, conference may be considered just a normal part of the job, but for so many others (like myself) , it is a great opportunity to get out of the office (or home) to network, and gain new insight on relevant topics within your field. Personally, I love to attend industry-specific events to advance my professional development goals and learn about important trends, or the work others are doing in my field.While most conferences may be helpful, it’s important to note that all conferences are only as valuable as you make them. As a result, here are my top three tips for getting the most out of a work conference.
- Arrive on Time. It may be super tempting to walk into the conference hours after it starts since you can technically set your own schedule; however there’s great value in going to a conference on time. For instance, typically during a conference that starts at 9am, conference planners will usually have coffee and other refreshments out 10-minutes prior. Getting there early allows you an opportunity to mingle with other conference goers while enjoying the refreshments, scan the room for other attendees you may want to talk, or organize your day in relation to the sessions you’ll attend. Getting to the conference earlier provides you more opportunities to engage, network and organize your schedule.
- Have a plan for the sessions you will attend that are applicable to your field or of interest. When I was a young, I was eager to sit in on EVERY session offered. Now that I’m a senior professional with a workload that never sleeps, I can afford to attend every session like my eager, young self would at one point in time. Instead of have to be strategic in how I utilize my time. As a result, If the conference offers different topics or session tracks, I will attend meetings that are most applicable to my work or sessions that peak my interest. It never hurts to hear a fresh perspective on how to execute your current work better or learn something new that may potentially benefit you in another role later in your career. Personally, I received a few career promotions just because I had the curiosity to learn something new (at conferences) that could benefit my employer.
- Attend the receptions. Typically receptions are the last item of a long day of conference sessions. With that said, it can be very tempting to call it a day early. Before you do, consider how receptions can be super helpful to meet new people. For one, most receptions offer complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, allowing people to feel more comfortable and relaxed. This is a great opportunity to strike up a normal conversation with folks and exchange resources/contact information.
Now that we’ve got the official business out the way, another important consideration in planning for any work event is what to wear. First impressions certainly matter, so in figuring out what I wanted to wear for an upcoming conference, I stopped by my local Ann Taylor store. I tried on a few different looks, but I ultimately decided on this beautiful Seamed Flare Midi Dress in Plum Rose pictured. I paired it with a velvet blazer of the same color I’ve been wanting to wear for quite some time.
Not sure if this is your color? No worries, I linked a few alternative dresses in this similar style from Ann Taylor below.
Are you excited for conference season? Let me know in the comments!
