I’ve done a bit of traveling this year, and if there’s one thing I’ve gained from it, it’s that there are always doors waiting to be opened. Some of these doors are found at industry conferences.
Part of my travel involved attending such conferences. Conferences are more than forums for educational sessions; they offer the chance to stay up on trends, meet new people, and, if you’re in the market for a new job, perhaps find your next career opportunity.
Job seeking at conferences? Yes! While there is always networking and idea sharing at conferences, if you know how to network properly, there is definitely the opportunity to find a new job. And, where else can you find so many of an industry’s top people all in one place?
To maximize your job prospects at a conference, make a point to talk to as many people as possible. Make notes about the people and about the nonprofit organizations with which you come into contact. Carry a small notebook or make notes in your PDA. Business cards don’t allow room to make many notes; you want to ensure you can recall more than just basic contact information.
After exchanging introductions, take the conversation a step further by asking about current campaigns and projects. Learn about the people and the organizations they represent. Listen to what they have to say. Is there a place for your expertise in their organization? What skills can you bring to the table? As you are listening, think about where you might fit into the equation.
For example, while touring the exhibitors area of a recent conference, I stopped at a booth that didn’t have much traffic. Almost immediately, I engaged in conversation about the organization’s campaign. Excited about what I learned, and knowing I could get behind the campaign, I took the opportunity to tell more about me, my expertise and where I could see taking their campaign.
This kind of networking is beneficial whether you are job seeking or if your mission is to build contacts. Either way, you are sure to gain valuable insights about the nonprofit industry that will prove useful in future job pursuits.
0 Comments