It’s conference season and everywhere you look there seems to be a new event. We just wrapped our ClearanceJobs Connect event, the annual gathering of national security hiring managers and security experts. Our team is now gearing up to attend AUSA, and we’ll be at DoDiiS at the end of the month (whew!)
When it comes to events, registration is the easiest part. It’s critically important to keep the momentum going and to continue to make the most of an event after it’s over. Here are a few tips to help you maximize the next event you attend.
1. Have a pre-networking plan.
Make a note of who you want to connect with or get to know prior to the event – and go ahead and reach out! You’re more likely to get time with the key players if you schedule it in advance.
2. Take an Out of Office.
Breaks aren’t time for the action stop and for you to hide out in the bathroom, or to try to catch up on your entire day job. Breaks can be a great time to schedule those networking meetings or to get to know someone new. As hard as it is, the more you can connect from your day job while attending a conference, in general, the more you’ll get out of it.
3. Figure out your notetaking game.
AI can record and transcribe sessions, and many people are taking advantage of that. I’m your grandma, so I don’t do that. I actually retain more with handwritten notes. You do you – but in general, if you don’t have some format for recording some of what happened, you’re less likely to remember it.
4. Make a plan to share what you learn.
One of the best ways to take advantage of a conference is to find someone who you can meek with to share the key takeaways after the event. Whether you brief your leadership, your team, or a friend, verballing unpacking key lessons learned and talking through other ideas is a great way to keep the event momentum going.
