Ever since we tumbled into our Great Recession and began the long climb back out, I’ve been reading about a decline in the conference business -- called the “meetings industry” by those in the field.
Influenced by budget cuts and fears of public perception, corporate and government managers have been holding their teams back from conference attendance. Some events have even been canceled or postponed in response.
Luckily, the resilient meetings industry is recovering, as measured by everything from hotel registrations to catering orders. Even if recent frugality measures leave a permanent imprint, a return to the general concept of conferences is afoot.
As a career counselor and job search strategist, I may be more enthusiastic about these events than your average bear. I can think of no better way to absorb industry knowledge, learn about trends, meet all levels of professionals in all types of companies, and network like crazy -- all in a hotel with a pool and sauna. What’s not to like?
I do understand that conferences can be a chore to someone who’d rather not leave hearth and home to hear the same topics discussed by the same people for the umpteenth time. But when I get those comments, my response isn’t to drop conferences from the professional development agenda; my advice is to find a better session.
Of course, the choice of conference may not be the problem. It’s amazing to me how many folks hop on the plane and land at the registration table with absolutely no strategy. They don’t get anything special out of the week because they don’t put anything special in.
I blame both the participants and their managers when this happens. The participants should feel abashed for not preparing themselves better, and the managers should be chastised for not expecting them to. But that’s not the worst sin in my book.
Worse than having low expectations when it comes to conference takeaways is the increasingly common insistence by managers that the team do their regular jobs while gone from the office. After all, isn’t that what cellphones are for? These poor souls are sabotaged by the very people who will later wonder what the point of the conference was, since no one seemed to learn anything.
If you have that kind of manager, I can only say: You need the conference more than most, because you need a new gig.
To find a conference, ask others in your field or simply search the Internet. Once you’ve found an event to attend, here are three levels of involvement to consider.
Level 1: Attend daytime sessions, then spend evenings in your hotel room. Of course this is my least favorite: Why waste the opportunity to meet people in the evening? If you must confine your activities to the day, be sure you chat up the vendors on your breaks, and that you network seriously at lunch. And take good notes in those sessions.
Level 2: Attend at least one evening event, to facilitate networking. Even a riverboat cruise can fit the bill, as your goal is to see people in a less structured setting. In these cases, try to meet people in companies you admire, or whose jobs are at a higher level. Don’t worry about making an impression; rather, be a good social companion and ask for a card so you can email later when you’re both back in your routines.
Level 3: Add profile-raising by leading a session or introducing a speaker. This will take some planning ahead of the conference, but even a last-minute bid can work if the conference organizer has had a cancellation.
Whichever level of activity you choose, your first problem will be the same: getting there. If you have a recalcitrant manager who doesn’t see the value of attending conferences, you may be able to compromise: Will your boss let you draw salary for those days if you pay your own way? If not, you may have to get creative about finding a conference you can afford in terms of time and money.
Of course, if you’re currently unemployed, you’ll be able to skip the “convince the boss" step and leap to the “How can I make this happen” question. Options range from simply paying to seeking scholarships to trying to barter your assistance for a registration.
While it’s tempting to wait until you’re employed again to attend a conference, it makes sense to go now when you most need contacts and industry training. Just be sure you have a plan so you can get the most out of the situation, especially if you’re footing the bill yourself.
Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com or at 626 Armstrong Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.
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