Guest post by Jamie Gillenwater.
Before the STC Summit in 2010, I hadn’t attended any professional conferences. I was nervous, and when I’m nervous, I research. Then, I research more. I read every blog post I could find about professional conferences: what to wear, how to act, how to prepare, how to select sessions.
If this is the first time you are attending the STC Summit, here are my tips:
- Don’t be afraid to approach strangers. Everyone is there to learn and connect with their professional peers. We learn by asking questions.
- Wear comfortable but professional clothes. There will be a lot of walking, talking, sitting, standing, and first impressions. You don’t need to wear a suit, but nice slacks and a blouse or dress shirt are appropriate.
- Take notes from each session. These will help you retain information, but they also give you something to reference at a later date. These notes will also remind you which expert you should contact about a specific topic.
- Consider specific challenges you face in your company and position. Attend sessions related to this challenge, ask questions, and speak with other attendees.
- When you return home, follow up with at least three people you meet. I have met many friends and professional mentors at the STC Summit. If you build these relationships, the value of this conference continues throughout the year.
- Editor’s addition: Attend the Summit First-Time Attendees Orientation webinar (absolutely free!) on Thursday, 4 April, from 4:00-5:00 PM EDT (GMT-4)
If you are new to the field of technical communication, it is important to get your feet wet. Learn about content, soft skills, and your users’ expectations. Don’t focus on tools unless you have a specific need.
Use the Summit as an opportunity to explore the opportunities available to you and your company. Here are a few sessions you might want to check out:
- Empowering the Introvert Within: Becoming an Outstanding Leader, presented by Ben Woelk and Hannah Morgan
- Every Page is Page One, presented by Mark Baker
- The Content Life Cycle: A Strategic Compass, presented by Mollye Barrett
- Transforming Technical Content into a Business Asset, presented by Sarah O’Keefe
- Purposes, Personas, Conversations, presented by Ginny Redish
- Flexible Content Demands Future-Ready Organizations, presented by Sara Wachter-Boettcher
- The Art of Explanation, presented by Lee LeFever
You might also want to consider attending the Lightning Talks for a little fun, along with the progressions to discuss real-world issues with the experts in a small group.
No matter how you approach the conference, you will get out of it what you put into it. If you attend sessions, chat with other participants, and visit the Expo, your time will be well spent.