How To Make The Most Of Your Conference Experience

Career advancement conferences like SHPE, NSBE and SWE are great places to meet employers and learn about potential internships and jobs. They can also be really overwhelming!

To make the process a bit less daunting, check out these tips & tricks that can help you make the most of your next conference experience.

Do your research before the event. The worst question you can ask a recruiter is “so, what does your company do?” Take the time to learn about each company so that you can jump right into a conversation with specific questions that demonstrate your interest. Better yet, check out what open roles are available at the company that also match your level of experience, skill set and interest. Use your time with the recruiter to discuss why you’d be a great fit.

Review the event agenda. Take a look at the schedule ahead of time so you know when your target companies are presenting and where to find them – don’t waste your valuable time trying to decide which session to attend the today of.

Think outside the box. Be open minded. Push yourself to visit a few companies you haven’t heard of before - you never know what types of amazing opportunities you might learn about!

Get your elevator pitch ready. Make sure you have your 30 second introduction down pat – and make it memorable! Recruiters will be meeting hundreds (if not thousands) of students and you’ll need to stand out from the pack. Think about highlighting experience you’ve had that is relevant to the company or a specific role – this will help recruiters think about you as a potential candidate rather than just another hand to shake.

Take notes! If you’re asking recruiters questions, write down their answers! This will make you look really engaged and excited about opportunities. Taking notes makes you better able to follow up on areas of interest and continue the conversation post event.

Close the loop. Make sure you get the name of everyone you speak with (or their contact info!) and follow up after the event. Generic notes will get quickly deleted so try and make yours personal – reference the job you spoke about or remind the recruiter of a particular experience you shared. And definitely let them know if you’ve applied for a job at their company so that they can keep an eye on your application and help you through the process!

Connect with other attendees. Use your time to both promote yourself, but also to meet like-minded students who you can learn from and grow with!