A guide to thriving at your first or next professional conference

BY MACKENZIE JOHNSON

Managing Editor

One of the most effective ways to instill fear and dread into the hearts and minds of many adults is to utter the word “conference.”

Stuffy rooms in desperate need of better ventilation, intimidating speakers with intimidating presentations and forced small talk among other attendees are all factors that encourage people to run in the opposite direction when the term “conference” floats around a room.

Due to this stigma that surrounds the basis of conferences, being stricken by anxiety at the thought of attending one yourself is completely understandable – however, it’s not always warranted nor accurate. 

In fact, many conferences are quite the opposite.  

Four members of the Texan News Service/JTAC executive team, myself included, were invited to go to the 2025 College Media Association (CMA) Spring National Convention in New York from Feb. 27-March 1.

This is a conference designed for journalists, by journalists, teaching skills ranging from how to layout a newspaper publication, to being a leader in a newsroom, to finding the right job and internship opportunities. 

I knew from the moment I heard about this conference that it would not be the generic type of gathering many people would associate with the word “conference” and view as pointless and unauthentic.

CMA was engaging, insightful and inspiring, and I can’t help but think that many other people presented with the opportunity to attend a conference—no matter the industry it’s in—would have a similar takeaway if they ditched the vilification regarding the concept of conferences. 

Your initial mindset going into a conference getaway is the foundation of your entire trip. 

Although I know most people still won’t count down the days on their calendar in anticipation for a conference like I did for CMA, the following advice for preparation and participation in a conference might just change your perspective of your next—or maybe your very first—professional conference. 

Conferences are not out to get you

Let’s face it, at first glance, conferences are an introvert’s biggest nightmare. 

However, conferences aren’t something easily avoided. If you have a job, or plan to in the future, the opportunity to attend a conference of some kind will more than likely arise. 

Still, the mandated task of networking and the possibility of having to partake in group discussions all day may sound unbearable to you.

Despite being so excited going into CMA, I was a little nervous about what the conference would entail. I was very interested in the sessions I was going to, but the thought of being surrounded by a large number of professionals and talented students was slightly intimidating.

Therefore, I certainly recognize the social anxiety these thoughts can bring, but it can be eased with one simple reminder: conferences are not out to get you. 

That one speaker more than likely isn’t going to randomly call on you to resolve a deep philosophical question. And, if for some very rare and improbable reason, he does, he won’t kick you out if you answer wrong – or not at all.

Conferences are often viewed as villains on a mission to take you down with irrelevant sessions and forced connections, but most conferences are designed to benefit you.

You wouldn’t be there if the conference wouldn’t in some way add value to your life or at the very least, your résumé.

And, sure, some conferences will add more value than others, and yes, some conferences will be more interesting to you than others. But at the very least, take comfort in knowing that the conference you’re attending was designed with you in mind, not the other way around. 

“You want me to go talk to that person?!”

Networking – is it really so important? 

As uncomfortable as it may be sometimes, there’s a reason as to why networking is so encouraged and pushed on the attendees of a conference. 

After all, there are few careers in life that are completely solitary and benefit from no connections. 

A major misconception surrounding conferences is that true, meaningful connections cannot be fostered there. 

Sessions are often viewed to facilitate only pointless small talk, with attendees only showing up because it’s required. However, this is not entirely true. 

Many conference participants crave to meet like-minded yet individualized people – it’s just sometimes daunting to instigate those connections. 

A helpful tip to motivate you to shake a few hands is to remember the people at the conference you're attending are more than likely in the same industry you are in. You already have common ground and a starting point to springboard a conversation off of. 

And if the conversation doesn’t take off past that, so what? 

You simply can’t let a conference pass you by without introducing yourself to at least one new person.

I recommend setting a goal of following the rule of 3s at an event: meet 3 people before the end of your trip, no matter how nerve-racking it may feel.

Note to self: Take notes 

Don’t be the person who walks into a conference room without anything to write on, whether that be physically or digitally. 

No matter the type of conference, there is always something a speaker says that you can take away back to your work, club, school, home or community.  

Don’t let that piece of intel fly by without writing it down. 

You’re there to learn, and even if a certain session is not particularly fascinating, there is undoubtedly something in there you can use. 

Be respectful of your speaker’s time, and be present in the session. 

If you have a question, ask it. 

A session speaker won’t bite you if you ask a question everyone else already knows the answer to – and if he does, he probably won’t be invited back to speak at the next one. 

Get comfortable with the uncomfortable 

A final rule of thumb to remember when it comes to conferences is to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. 

By design, most conferences won’t be particularly cozy, but rather a little awkward. 

I knew our CMA trip would not fall under the category of rigid, but I also paid no mind to the blanket statements regarding conferences, and I think that also played a big role in how valuable the conference turned out for me.  

Although I was a little nervous, I went into the conference with an open mind eager to learn – and it paid off. 

Most of the things worth doing aren’t always comfortable. You have to push yourself to broaden your horizons, and sometimes leaving your comfort zone comes in the form of speaking to the person seated beside you in a session or bringing up a point of discussion to a presenter.

No matter where your defined lines of comfortability are drawn, by altering your perspective and ditching the stigma surrounding conferences—or of any event for that matter—you’ll potentially find yourself embracing the opportunity to attend the next one.