How do I make the most of an academic conference?

Question: I’m going to an academic conference this summer with a professor. Since I want to go to grad school, how can I make the most of my time at the conference?

Conferences offer lots of opportunities for two things: learning and connecting. If you are preparing to go to graduate school, conferences are a smart way to get engaged with the larger academic community.

Here are some strategies for making the most of your time at the conference.

Go to interesting sessions

Interesting sessions can give you lots to think and talk about. And if you are still exploring what topics you might like to study and/or research in your graduate work, you might be able to attend sessions that showcase other people’s research that can give you some ideas of options for yourself.

Attend the social components

A lot of the value of a conference is found outside the actual sessions. The social components of the conference such as the lunches, cocktail hours, and informal outings, are where lots of great new friendships and work relationships are made. It might be a bit intimidating at first to head into a room full of chatting profs, but if you can strike up the nerve, you will likely find several friendly people to speak with.

Have a contact card

Perhaps the most-often heard line at a conference is “Can I have your card?” People who enjoy meeting you may want to get your contact information so they can follow up with you after the conference. Make a simple contact card to have with you. It is like a business card, but you can have a contact card even when you don’t have a “business.”

Your card need not be complicated – it could even contain just your name and contact information. Sometimes students add other details about their interests or experience, for example “Geography student interested in environmental resource management,” but if you don’t know what else to say, your name and number/email is enough.

Speak with a professor beforehand

If you are hoping to meet particular people, or just want a little support at an event where you may not know a single soul, could a professor you know already make things easier for you? Perhaps at the conference they can introduce you to other people. And even if they are not attending the conference they might be able to steer you towards people who they know or give you other tips.

Be realistic

“Making the most” of your time can easily become “feeling pressured and exhausted to meet everyone and do everything.” If you find yourself needing breaks, go ahead and take them. Set realistic expectations for how many people you will meet and speak with.

Think ahead

Before you go, think about what you are going for. Do you have particular questions you want answers to? If so, think about who you want to ask and who you want to meet. But planning needn’t be your tactic – you can also just go with the flow, and see what happens. Or use a nice balance of the two.

Enjoy the conference!

Click here to check out more of Cathy’s answers to pressing career questions from students and new grads just like you.

This article was written by Cathy Keates

Cathy Keates is a career counsellor and trainer who has worked with university students and graduates for the past decade, helping them to strategically create careers they will love. She has worked as a career counsellor at Queen's University and was the associate director of the career centre at York University. Convinced that we can all create lives based on authenticity and integrity, she is the author of the new job search book Not for Sale! and shares her thoughts about finding work without losing yourself on her blog, Transform Your Job Search.