How to Prepare for a Conference
How to Prepare for a Conference is a Villanova Career Center resource that helps students make the most of professional conferences before, during, and after the event. Conferences are valuable opportunities to learn from speakers, attend breakout sessions, meet professionals, connect with students from other universities, and build a stronger professional network.
Before the conference, students should:
- Review the conference website and full agenda
- Plan which speakers, panels, or breakout sessions they want to attend
- Confirm the conference location and schedule
- Review what to expect before attending
- Plan business casual outfits ahead of time
- Dress as if attending work in an office environment
- Connect with other Villanova students attending the conference
- Share contact information with other students in the group
- Coordinate with peers to attend different sessions and share notes
- Review and update social media profiles
- Make sure public social media accounts align with their personal brand
- Update LinkedIn if needed
During the conference, students should:
- Arrive at least 30 minutes early to check in, network, review materials, and plan the day
- Divide and conquer if multiple interesting sessions happen at the same time
- Take accurate notes and share helpful information with other Villanova students
- Ask questions during sessions
- Introduce themselves to other participants and presenters
- Participate actively instead of just observing
- Network with professionals, presenters, and students from other universities
- Collect business cards or contact information for follow-up
After the conference, students should:
- Thank supervisors if they allowed time off from an internship or job to attend
- Thank any staff member or office that supported or funded the conference trip
- Share relevant insights from the conference with supervisors or supporters
- Follow up with attendees and professionals through LinkedIn
- Include a personal message when sending a LinkedIn invitation
- Remind the person where they met and mention something specific from the conversation
- Connect with speakers on LinkedIn, even if there was not time to introduce yourself in person
- Use follow-up messages to explain how the speaker’s presentation was helpful or inspiring
Students can also review A Conference Junkie’s Guide to Attending and Enjoying Conferences and resources on writing effective LinkedIn connection requests for more support. This guide can help students approach conferences with more confidence, professionalism, and purpose while turning the experience into a stronger networking and career development opportunity.
