6 Top Tips for Attending a Work Conference

Work conferences provide hard-working professionals with an opportunity to network with their peers, connect with potential new suppliers, learn more about an industry, and can help to position themselves as an expert.

If, however, you have never attended an event before, you might be unsure what to wear or expect. To ensure you don’t put a foot wrong, check out the following six top tips for attending a work conference.

1. Familiarize Yourself with the Agenda

Before you attend a conference, identify what you would like to learn at the event. You should then familiarize yourself with the event’s agenda to meet your personal goals. However, you must consider both the speaker and the subject matter to ensure you don’t miss out on a superb keynote address or session with an industry expert.

2. Review the Layout

With so many sessions taking place, it can be easy to become lost. To ensure you don’t create a negative first impression by arriving late, set some time aside before the conference to review the layout or ask the host for a map once you arrive, so you can quickly find a session.

3. Check into a Luxury Hotel

Rather than rushing to a conference on the day of the event, check into a hotel nearby, which will ensure you are filled with energy and enthusiasm when attending sessions and networking with other professionals.

For example, if you’re attending an upcoming event at San Diego Casino Resort, you can check into one of 300 guest rooms, which can help you to relax and unwind before and after a busy conference.

4. Wear the Right Clothing

Choosing the right outfit for a business conference can often be tricky, as you will want to appear smart and sophisticated while looking both relaxed and approachable. While you would be wise to review the dress code before you attend, business casual is often the norm.

It’s also important to wear clothing that will make you feel both comfortable and confident, as you’ll be spending the day standing, sitting and connecting with others. To find the perfect clothing, here are some business casual for plus size women looks to choose from.

5. Setup an Out-of-Office Reply

While you might check your work email throughout the event, you will not want to be bombarded with questions from colleagues or clients during a conference. To ensure you can focus 100% of your attention on a keynote address or session, set up an out-of-office reply and direct people to another member of staff in your department to answer any questions during your absence.

6. Carry Business Cards

You never know who you might meet at a business conference, which is why you must have many high-quality business cards to hand out throughout the event. As a result, you could secure a new client, investor, supplier, or business partner. Don’t forget to ask for their business card, so you can follow-up with them, too.