Going Beyond Internship: Conferences

Going Beyond Internship will be a series of reflections about what I have experienced that may go beyond the "typical" internship experience. I hope to address these experiences as they arise and cover such topics as presenting at conferences, attending school board meetings, creating professionally focused goals, and getting published (beyond the blogger realm). Honestly, I have yet to experience all of these but I am in the process and would love to share.

Today's topic: Conferences
More specifically: Getting the most out of attending and/or presenting

In a earlier post I mentioned how I presented with a group at ISCA and WSCA. These were both interactive-based oral presentations. This month, I, with two of my professors, facilitated a Round Table Discussion at the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference (WACES). In the past I have presented posters at the Washington Counselor Association Conference (WCA), and the American Psychological Association Conference (APA). Most of these opportunities have arisen from the fact that I have been blessed and honored to attend institutions where research and presenting have been greatly encouraged. From these experiences, I have learned that conferences are a brilliant time to network, and discover something new. Sometimes, the new discovery is a sandwich shop in Seattle, but sometimes it is a new way to function as a counselor. Therefore, I wanted to share a couple of tips for how you can get the most out of a conference!

1. Find out what conferences are nearby -- ISCA was only a 30 minute drive away which made the conference incredibly convenient. You can also look for different states and see where national organizations are hosting their annual conferences. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it does not.
2. Volunteer -- If you are not presenting (or even if you are) you can see if it is worth your while to volunteer. Not only are you able to add volunteering to your resume but you may be able to attend multiple sessions for free. Volunteering at ASCA when it was in my city was my first real introduction to the school counseling world and I left completely pumped for what I want to pursue for the rest of my life. Also - you can often get a free t-shirt!
3. Know the submission deadlines -- I have missed many deadlines and been bummed out. If you are passionate about presenting on something, get the application in!
4. Meet people -- Having business cards is a great way to get your name out there, but even by introducing yourself to one person at each session, you are building your networking skills. Who knows what resources the others in the room can provide unless you make that connection!
5. Follow up -- Especially if you are presenting. It is obnoxious when you sign up for more information or to receive the PowerPoint and no one gets back to you, ever. Don't be that person.
6. Try out different formats -- This upcoming presentation will be my first round table! By switching up the format, you can challenge yourself to learn more and stretch your creativity. It also prevents you from getting board with the same presentation (which is what the APA poster session felt like since it was the 3rd time we presented).
7. Check out the freebies -- You can always get pens at conferences. You might also leave with a ton more information or toolkit that you were not expecting.
8. Check with yourself -- Was this experience worthwhile? For me, that means leaving with at least one new piece of information or one new strategy to approach counseling. Maybe for you worthwhile means you have another entry for your resume, or you really built relationships, or you are excited for next year, or you cannot wait to get that sandwich. Check in with yourself.

Conferences and presenting at them is not for everyone. It may seem that presenting is simply a good resume booster. However, conferences are a fact of our professional lives. Sometimes this means that you have to push yourself to be social or learn a new technique and sometimes it means that the location of the national conference will dictate your family vacations.