Tips for attending a conference

Conference Etiquette

Top tips for attending an academic conference

Think carefully about your schedule. Read through the programme in advance and pick and bookmark the sessions and workshops you’d like to attend.
Be on time. There is a 15 minute break between each session (longer at lunch) which is more than enough time to get to your next session. Please ensure that you are seated before the session officially starts to give delegates enough time to present. Remember too that all conference sessions will have a limited capacity, and when a room is full, it's full, so get there early if you don't want to miss out on a particular talk.
Stay for all the presentations in a session. Please listen to all the presentations in a session, even if you have come particularly for one speaker. Leaving in the middle can be off putting to the other presenters. Please note: if you have a disability or individual needs which cause you to arrive late or mean that you need to leave early, then that is completely fine.
Support each other. Be active listeners and supportive of your fellow delegates. Ask questions in the Q&A and give all speakers a clap at the end of their presentations. Asking simple questions that you would like to be asked about your research, eg. motivations for researching that topic, key findings etc., is a really easy way to initiate conversation.
Wear your name-tag. This can help other delegates approach you, and to see the institution you are representing. It’s also helpful as a reminder of your name when people are meeting others for the first time.
Be comfortable, but professional. There is no official dress code for the conference, but we recommend smart casual attire. Just make sure that you’re not wearing trackies or really casual clothing. If you’re looking for an opportunity to dress up, our delegates’ formal dinner is a great chance to do so!!
Say hello. Most of our delegates have travelled a distance to be at the events, and many will be the only representative from their institution. Try to use the 15 minute breaks in between sessions to talk to the presenters. Discussing their presentation is an easy way to initiate conversation, and offering them positive feedback on their presentation is great for creating a supportive environment and creating networks. If you’re attending a sit-down dinner, it’s likely that you’ll end up at a table of strangers. Take the initiative and introduce yourself — others will follow your lead, and it will likely lead to conversation throughout the meal.
Ask questions which you would want to be asked. Don’t be confrontational but try to ask supportive questions which allow delegates to expand on their research. Asking about other delegates' career goals and the steps that they’re taking toward them may help you in your own career. Remember that the students are from a range of international backgrounds, so they may have advice and insight relevant to your sector that students or lecturers at your university may not have.
Ask if you don’t know!: Our Volunteers (in blue t-shirts) and Team members (link to Team pages) are happy to help - if you don’t know something – please do ask any of us.
Keep your phone on silent. There will always be somebody in the room who has forgotten to silence their electronics. Don’t let that person be you.
Take advantage of extra social opportunities. Social activities are great for networking. It can be easier to talk to other delegates when you’re doing something fun or in a less formal setting. Social events are also great for building friendships and closer connections with delegates that you may have only spoken briefly to at the conference. So try to take advantage of all the social events going on throughout the conference.
Be timely in making connections after the event. Don’t lose others’ contact information or neglect to send thank you emails or a message on LinkedIN, to anyone you may consider working with in the future. Following a large event, you can wait a few days before sending an email to ensure your message is not buried in their inbox. You may also find out about other research projects or opportunities and support each others’ careers via LinkedIN.

Tips For Navigating A Conference with Social Anxiety

These below tips are adapted from the full article Navigating the Academic Conference with Social AnxietyLink opens in a new window - Please visit the website to read the full article.

Know the Schedule
You Don’t Have to See Everything
Take Breaks for Yourself!
Learn to Talk to New People
Dress for Comfort (But Still Professionally)

How to network when you're feeling anxious

Take time to understand your anxiety

Everybody’s anxiety is different but pinpointing your triggers will help you manage it effectively. If you need help, try learning some mindfulness techniques to explore your anxiety further.

Make an action plan to deal with your triggers

Developing an action plan might be trial-and-error to begin with, but once you have one, you’ll be much more confident networking with social anxiety.

Make practical arrangements

Arriving at a conference flustered and late after getting lost will only heighten your social anxiety. Plan ahead and make some practical arrangements like how you’re going to get there and what you’re going to wear so you can focus on showing up as your best self.

Checklist of things to carry with you:

Extra pens
An extra charger
Mints
Chapstick
Hand sanitizer
Hand lotion
Snacks for the conference floor
A light sweater
An umbrella

Keep your inner critic in check

Take 5 minutes and practise mindfulness, affirmations or grounding techniques to keep any doubts at bay. Perhaps use some of these affirmations:

I am fearless in approaching others and am confident while networking.
I connect easily with my colleagues and I constantly seek for opportunities to network with others.
Asking for contact information is easy for me to do because I am naturally a social person who loves connecting with others.
I just naturally click with other people and build strong lasting friendships. I enjoy networking and growing my connections.
I am confident when I socialize and network because I am an optimistic thinker who wants the best for others.

What to do after networking

Reward yourself once you’ve finished

Once you’ve finished networking, reward yourself for stepping outside of your comfort zone. It doesn’t have to be anything huge, just something you love to celebrate your win.

Reflect on your experience

Whether you think you’ve been successful or not, try to reflect on your networking experience after you’ve finished. Instead of focusing on lots of negative things, limit this to 3 wins and 3 things to improve on.

Follow up with your connections

You’ve done the hard work so don’t waste the effort of networking with social anxiety and waste opportunities. Follow up with your connections soon after you meet to stay at the front of their mind.

The University of Warwick