Attending User Groups and Conferences
Practice · Chapter 17
Attending
Section titled “Attending”- A fun way to learn: presentations by industry leaders, Q&A sessions, and chances to talk with presenters afterward.
- Share what you learned by preparing your own presentation for your organization.
- Local groups, live-streams, and recorded sessions make attendance possible even without travel to major conferences.
Presenting
Section titled “Presenting”- Conferences and user groups need speakers — look for openings at events you can realistically attend (search online, ask colleagues).
- Prepare well:
- Pick a clear topic you are excited about.
- Know your audience and what they want to get out of it.
- You may need to submit a proposal for approval — follow the event’s guidelines.
- Once accepted, apply the 4 Ps of presentations — plan, prepare, practice, present — from Leadership / soft skills.
Meeting new people
Section titled “Meeting new people”- Discussing your craft with people outside your usual circles exposes you to fresh viewpoints and ideas.
- Networking before and after sessions grows your network and can open new opportunities; veterans’ perspectives on shared challenges bring new insight.
Citations
Section titled “Citations”- Software Architect’s Handbook (Packt, 2018), Ch.17 “Attending user groups and conferences”, pp. 1181-1183.