Conference Networking: Get the Most Out of Your Experience
Who you meet at a conference is more important than what you learn!
I occasionally have the opportunity to attend professional conferences, and recently, I had the privilege of attending the National Career Development Association (NCDA) Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. With over 900 career counseling professionals from around the world. I even connected with some from Japan and China—it was a rich environment for connection and growth.
Pre-Conference Opportunities
The conference included optional Professional Development Institutes (PDIs)—intensive, four-hour workshops led by some of the most respected voices in the field. In my experience, these pre-conference sessions often offer deeper value than the shorter breakout sessions during the main event.
One highlight was a session on Career Construction theory developed by Mark Savickas (pictured above). While the workshop was led by his students and colleagues, Mark himself also participated. I jumped at the chance to volunteer as the subject for a live demonstration. Through questions about my childhood heroes, interests, and formative memories, Mark walked us through his powerful process. It was inspiring and deeply personal.
Afterward, I continued to connect with Mark, his colleagues, and others in the workshop, gaining both insight and meaningful relationships.
Saying Yes Leads to Opportunity
Throughout the conference, I volunteered whenever possible. One memorable moment came when I participated in a Jeopardy-style game and won a free one-year NCDA membership. My win was mostly thanks to being teamed up with NCDA President Marty Apodaca who fed me the correct answers. I also connected with President-Elect Dirk Matthews, who played a fairly good likeness to Alex Trebek, and several other board members. These interactions weren’t just fun; they were meaningful networking moments that opened doors.
How to Get the Most from a Conference
Whether you find conferences energizing or intimidating, here are three ways to maximize the long-term benefits:
- Prepare Beforehand
Connect with attendees or presenters in advance via LinkedIn or a conference app. If the agenda is available ahead of time, choose your sessions early and research the presenters. Pre-conference contact makes walking into sessions much less intimidating. - Participate During
Engage by asking questions, chatting with peers, or volunteering. If you’re introverted, lean into one-on-one interactions. You might turn to the person next to you and say, “I’m a bit introverted—mind if I share my thoughts with you instead of the group?” Ask people you meet if you can send them a LinkedIn request or email to continue the conversations at the conference. - Follow Up After
Stay in touch with mentors and peers. Offer help where you can and remind people how you met. If your LinkedIn connection wasn’t personalized, send a follow-up message referencing your interaction.
I added at least 50 new contacts to my network before, during, and after this conference—many of whom are industry veterans, collaborators, and future mentors. I intend on joining committees and engaging in virtual meetings. I’m excited to see how these relationships grow and hope to return next year as a presenter to reconnect with these incredible professionals.
Final Thoughts
Networking is the most powerful tool for building your career, finding clients, and discovering mentors. Whether you’re at a global conference or a local meetup, these small steps can transform your experience. You never know—you just might get inspired by a "living legend" in your industry.
*I teach a pre-conference virtual workshop about networking before, during, and after, a conference and would love to have an opportunity to share it with your attendees. If you have the ability to add this option for your conference, please let me know. Ideally, I would teach this on Zoom 2-3 weeks prior to a conference. Cost is negotiable and trade options are welcome as well. Contact me for more discussion.
