The significant ROI for me attending a conference is engaging in conversations over the conference app and letting everyone know I’ll bring my recording tools for podcast episodes. People were already engaged in productive discussions about my industry when I arrived at the meetings.
Conferences are crucial to networking, but so is having a podcast. When you’re strategic, this combination is natural and potent. Re-imagine connecting in ways to have great conversations, deep connections, and possibly be remembered for opportunities down the line. It’s a long game, but job search is a long-game lifestyle strategy.
The last two conferences I attended in person opened up a couple of business opportunities and added episodes to my roster for several months. On one in Feb. 2023, I live-streamed conversations with several industry leaders on my LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter channels. With excellent hotel Internet connections, the recording was seamless and more straightforward than virtual interviews. Through the live stream interviews, I connected to a couple of other opportunities for speaking due to the video’s visibility.
At the second conference, I recorded several months of podcast episodes and content to repurpose for the rest of the year. Most importantly, I met many people I wouldn’t have met without this strategy.
The critical takeaway is when you have a mission or intention, your conference experience can be career-filling. When you connect, have great conversations, and use the information to retool to give an employer or a connection value, then it can be a powerful experience. I hope by sharing my conference experience, you can reimagine how yours could be.
About Mark Anthony Dyson
I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.