Photo Credit: Kerry Woo Photography
I’m a big fan of attending conferences and also volunteering. This is something I suggest to anyone who is trying to become part of a community (for work or for fun). Over the years, I have had a chance to work with some really fantastic people, some of whom are considered the top "people to watch" in their respective areas of expertise. I’ve also experienced some lessons learned at events that applied to my day job or my life in general. Recently, I was at Music City Tech and spoke with Junior Developer Toolbox about conference attendance and how it can impact your career. Go here to listen to the podcast - Junior Developer Toolbox Podcast
1-Free Entry to the Event
If you're a contractor or working for a smaller company that doesn't have the education budget to pay for you to go to conferences, this is a great way to attend without paying. Most conferences have an expectation that you will be volunteering part of your time to help out with the event and the other part of the time will be spent as an attendee of the event. If you're lucky, you can get to volunteer as a session monitor so you can hear talks while you're on volunteer duty. An few extra bonuses that may await you include free food, free drinks and free swag!
2-Forced Networking
For people that are introverted, shy or not great at meeting new people, this is an easy way to network without actually trying. The first step is to simply email someone. Then at the event, just show up at the registration desk and tell them you're there to volunteer and they will introduce you to people and point you to where you should go. Easy peasy. You could very well meet your best friend this way. Do this a few times and you'll find that going to other meetups or networking events is less painful because you will likely already know a few people.
3-Leadership Opportunities
Since many events are not only supported by volunteers but they are also led by volunteers, there is a high likelihood that you will get a chance to help out in a leadership capacity if you want. Especially for people that are new to a field, this is a great way to gain experience that you can share with potential employers (here on LinkedIn or on your resume or portfolio). Odds are you'll be working with other people that have experience as a leader and they'll not only invite you to help out as a leader but they'll show you how to do it.
4-Giving Back
It takes a special kind of motivation to get out of bed early on a day off to help get a conference started for the weekend. Most employers look positively at people who choose to give of their time to help support their community. It’s also an indicator that you are looking for ways to grow which is helpful for people who are new to their field.
5-Earn Certification Credits
Part of career growth may include getting certifications that require you to earn credits in order to maintain them. Attending conferences is a great way to earn those credits and volunteering can allow you to earn credits for the conference itself and sometimes more credits for helping out on the planning crew.
For ideas on where to volunteer, I suggest searching for the events or organizations that interest you and checking their website for volunteer information. You can also contact them via social media but be aware that they might not answer quickly if it's more than 6 months prior to the event.
@Deanna2000 - More about me? See my Intro Post