7 Things To Do At A Conference

A few pieces of advice about going to conferences and what one does at them.

Here’s a few pieces of advice about going to conferences and what one does at them.

Have you ever gone to a conference and thought “What am I doing?”, “Why am I here?”...

  1. Drink loads of water and eat something. It’s a long day, if you’re staying there. With lots of people packed into a confined space, germs are flying around and you need to keep your immune system functional or you will get the dreaded con-flu.

    • Mind yourself. If you need to take a break from socialising and talking to people – take one. Chances are at a tech event there’s a bunch of less than extroverted people. Sit down, have a snack, watch the world go by.

  2. Grab loads of swag. Every company with a stand will bring their best in pens, stickers, RFID blocking wallets, bottle openers, coffee cups… It’s all basically useless and you need it. Swag is the greatest part of any conference.

    • Ask what the vendors does – have a bit of a chat. Don’t grab and go.

  3. Tell the speakers you enjoyed their talk. Weirdly, this doesn’t happen so often, apparently? It’s a nice thing to do and it will make someone’s day.

    • This is a great way to move into a conversation too.

  4. Bring your knowledge back to the office. This year’s ShipItCon is about the future of shipping software. This is a chance to be the beacon for your office’s DevOps roadmap.

    • No matter your level, you’ll be able to contribute.

  5. Network!! Most people will get their job through networking. Go talk to people.

    • The experienced conference attendees always say that the real conference is in the hallways.

  6. Tweet loads and/or post on LinkedIn. If you don’t post thoughtful insights and gratuitous selfies, were you even really there?

    • Don’t be afraid to go solo. Lots of people go to conferences on their own.

  7. Enjoy the after party! It’s a great and informal way to chat with people in the software shipping industry.

    • Don’t go overboard with the free booze though.

There’s loads more that could be said but these are a few of the essential tips! ShipItCon is going to be a calm, chilled out, day for discussing what the future of DevOps and software shipping will bring. Tickets here and going fast (nearly half are gone already!)