Tag: tips

  • How to Network at a Seminar/Conference

    share-itThere isn’t a better way to find like-minded people than at a seminar. These peers can help you learn about different topics that will better your understanding and therefore, your business. Making new connections is key to furthering your career. Knowing how to network at a seminar is crucial. Here are a few tips.

    How to Prepare Prior to the Seminar:

    • Come ready. Make sure you bring updated business cards. Know your goals—what do you want to get most out of this seminar? Are you looking to find a new job? Do you want to bring in more business for your company? Or do you want to meet people who will deepen your understanding of your craft and keep you updated on trends?
    • Make a schedule. Once you know your goals, you can make your schedule. Which people do you need to meet or see present in order to achieve your seminar goals? Who do you want to talk with? Typically, your seminar will have a website that has the schedule and background on the presenters.

    If you aren’t sure about what to expect, check our blog post for tips on attending seminars.

    Things to do During the Seminar:

    • Collect business cards from people you want to stay in touch with. It’s better to network with people who will build your career rather than exchange your card with everyone you meet.
    • Listen and ask (meaningful, excellent) questions. Introduce yourself and pay close attention to what the other person is saying to find out if there is any common ground. Remember, building connections takes time and effort.
    • Join the conversation on Twitter. Chances are your seminar will have a hashtag. When a presenter says something worth sharing, retweet it. Check the hashtag to see what others are saying. Can you answer someone’s question? Then do so. You might meet people on Twitter that are worth having a bite to eat with while at the seminar.

    Things to do After the Seminar:

    • Send follow-up emails; find your peers on Twitter. Make notes about people you met, and attach them to the business cards they’ve given you.
    • It’s possible that you didn’t get to connect with everyone you wanted to. Send a note to the presenter or panelist and let them know you appreciate their expertise. You can then request additional information if necessary.

    It’s important to establish yourself and connect to the people you met or the presenters you listened to. Otherwise, you aren’t getting the most out of the seminar.

    Here at Integrated Consulting Group, we specialize in the design, development, and customization of SAP Human Capital Management business software for leading edge North American companies with global reach. Have any questions about SAP? Feel free to contact us via the contact page of our site, or on Twitter or LinkedIn. We’d love to hear from you.

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    photo credit: MDGovpics via photopin cc

  • Tips for Attending Seminars

    business-seminar

    Business seminars are a great way to sharpen your skills, learn what’s new in the world of business, and to network. Just as we talked about with conferences last March, there is a right way and a wrong way to attend seminars.

    Here are a few things to keep in mind:

    • Come prepared. Look at the schedule ahead of time. Which speakers do you want to see? What topics are you interested in learning more about? Familiarize yourself with the speakers’ works – What papers or books have they written? What are their areas of expertise?
    • Take notes. Our minds tend to wander even during the most interesting of conversations, so taking notes is the best way to stay focused.
      • Bring your laptop or notebook, a highlighter and a few pens, and a pack of post-it notes. They will all come in handy.
      • Review your notes. That way, if a question arises, you have a chance to ask the speaker directly. You will also be able to talk with other seminar attendees about the presentation and get their take on the subject.
    • Ask questions. If there is something you don’t understand or want explained in more detail, don’t be afraid to ask during the Q&A portion of the presentation. If you want to have a discussion about the topic with the presenter, try to catch them after the presentation or some other time during the seminar.
      • It’s important to remember to speak for the right reasons—it is more impressive to give a suggestion or ask an in-depth question than to try and pick out flaws in a presentation.
    • Take it all in before applying. Don’t try to overhaul your business by next Monday. It’s okay to use some of the new ideas and materials right away, but it’s best for you to sit down with your business associates and plan a course of action incorporating the new ideas in a way that’s right for your business.
    • Travel. Travelling seems to be pretty obvious, but there are a few things to keep in mind when attending a seminar that is out of state (or even out of town). When travelling a longer distance, try to arrive the day before the seminar begins just in case you run into delays. Make sure you have a hotel room before arriving to the city. If you fly in, check if the hotel offers a service to take you to and from the seminar. If not, ask the front desk to call a taxi for you.

    In next week’s blog post, we will talk about presenting at a seminar and offer some tips for giving the best presentation possible.

    Do you have any favorite tips or recommendations for making the most of a business seminar? Let us know on Twitter or LinkedIn–we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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    photo credit: Cydcor via photopin cc