5 Reasons Why Students Should Attend Industry Events
Industry Event – illustration by Nicole Clowes
By Brooke White
Information has never been so easy to access. With the internet providing endless resources for us to browse through, why would you bother going out to events to learn about your industry? Here are 5 good reasons why you should start attending events within your industry from Social Media reporter and Digital Media student, Brooke White .
Learn something new & different
At most industry events there will be at least one or two speakers who are highly respected within the industry. They may share some of the techniques which have assisted them to achieve their goals or discuss a new trend which you didn’t know about. Walking into any industry event, whether it’s a conference, presentation or workshop, and seeing it as a learning opportunity will automatically make your brain pick up the little hints and tips for a life of success.
Get motivated & get inspired
If you’re ever feeling uninspired about what’s going on in your workplace or industry, attend an event. Attending industry events can be extremely engaging and may kick you into gear. Speakers often share cool ideas that can inspire and motivate you. There may be new and interesting products for you to try out, or your creative tank may simply be filled by seeing other peoples work. Whether it’s to re-engage your reason for studying or leading you in a new direction, industry events are a great way to get inspired!
Meet new people & make friends
Meeting like-minded people is always beneficial. Making new contacts and relationships is a key part of any industry and attending events is a great way to meet new people. It’s always much easier to start conversations, because the people there will have some kind of shared interest. Don’t be shy! Introduce yourself, have a chat and get their details.
Networking opportunities & creating new connections
Alongside meeting peers you’ll find that a lot of business owners also attend these events. Some of them sponsor the event and will have their details and contacts displayed, making them easy to reach later on. As a student it’s important to stand out to employers, so take the opportunity to introduce yourself at the event. Talking to them while you’re at the event automatically puts you in front of everyone who prefers to wait and just email them later. It will also show that you’re keen to learn and want to stay ahead of trends. It shows you’re passionate and industry leaders will remember that.
Education & work opportunities
This is probably one of the most important reasons to attend. Industry events are one of the easiest and fastest ways to know what the latest learning and work opportunities are, such as: who is giving out scholarships, which schools have a new semester intake, which businesses are expanding and hiring and also when and where other industry events are occurring. As a student it is important to seek out these opportunities.
Tips when you’re attending events:
1. Take a notepad and pen. Trust me, there will be things you will want to remember.
2. Ask questions. Don’t go crazy with 50+ questions, but definitely feed your curiosity.
3. If you have business cards, take some along and hand them out. You never know who may call you later with new opportunities or connections.
4. Don’t be shy. There are heaps of people attending these events and their most likely into the same thing as you – talk about an easy conversation starter.
5. Have fun. Whilst you should see it as a learning curve and work opportunity, you still need to enjoy yourself. Attend because you want to, not because you have to.
Overall, attending events is beneficial for getting a feel for your industry. So the next time you hear about any presentations, conferences or workshops, talk to your friends and fellow students and go along together. Bring some business cards, step out of your comfort zone to introduce yourself and meet new people and most importantly, listen and have fun.