Deriving value from a conference requires more than passive attendance. It demands a strategic approach, one that is both deliberate and actionable. If you want to maximize your benefits from attending academic conferences, read on.

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Understanding how the conference could be pivotal for your career is the first step. Conferences serve as a platform for showcasing your research, gaining constructive feedback, and staying abreast of the latest developments in your field.

 

Most of all, a conference is among the greatest opportunities for networking, which can lead to potential job offers, collaborative projects, invaluable insights from peers and mentors, and even long-term friendships.

It's no wonder that the thought of navigating a conference can be daunting!

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This is where a structured strategy, like the WOOP method, can make it easier. Well researched by NYU social psychologist Gabrielle Oettingen and her team, WOOP stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacles, and Plan.

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This four-step method has been effective across various goal-setting contexts and is particularly suited to maximizing conference experiences.

 

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W: What Are Your Biggest Wishes?

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To begin, defining your Wish, i.e., your aspirations for the conference, is paramount to devising an effective plan. What are your general hopes for the conference? Are you thinking about job opportunities? Or perhaps you want to find a research

collaborator? Are you seeking a publisher for your article or book? What are some best-case scenarios you can imagine?

 

O: Identify Specific Outcomes

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Now transform your broad wishes into concrete objectives by getting specific about who or what you hope to achieve. The clearer your goals, the more effectively you can focus your networking efforts.

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If you're seeking a job, you need to reach out to those who are in a position to hire someone in the role you're seeking. If you have a specific role or location in mind, who could help you find out more about it? If publication is your aim, list such things as the specific feedback you need, potential collaborators, or editors you'd like to connect with.

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Alternatively, you might first need feedback from other researchers. Who are the relevant experts for these goals? You can identify some in advance from the conference program, and many will likely attend presentations closest to your field of interest.

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Visualizing these outcomes enhances your preparedness. Here are a few successful networking examples I have personally witnessed after conference conversations:

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• From one biology postdoc to a doctoral student who shared a research problem: "Our lab purifies lots of this protein all the time. Let us send you the plasmid (DNA that codes for the protein) and protocol." This resulted in an exchange of resources, saving the student significant time and resources. The contributing lab received acknowledgement in the resulting publication.

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• From the inventors of a molecular biology technique to a doctoral student with an inquiry: "Oh that's straightforward. Come visit us and we'll show you how to do it." This offer of hands-on training to a student eliminated the need for time-consuming independent development and resulted in publication acknowledgement.

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• From a senior professor to a postdoc candidate: "Please apply for this fellowship. I will support your application." A straightforward step on the career path!

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• From a senior professor to a doctoral student on a 6-month fellowship in another country: "Please come visit us while you're in our country and give a talk." This ultimately led to a visit, a tour of a new lab with different approaches to research, and an exchange of ideas and friendly collegiality.

 

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What specific outcomes would significantly advance your publication, career, or research? Who are the key individuals you hope to meet? Remember, valuable interactions aren't solely with "rock stars" in your field. I recommend you target your networking by considering these three key groups:

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PIs, Professors, Institutional Leaders, and Journal Editors: These decision-makers can provide invaluable feedback on your research and publication goals, offer resources, facilitate collaborations, or create employment opportunities. They may be rich in resources but short on time. Seek them out at their presentations, dedicated field events, or even strategically position yourself at a conference meal.

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Pre-conference outreach can significantly increase your chances of connection. Also, many conferences include roundtable discussions on publishing; if you have a manuscript, seek feedback from editors and reviewers so you can address weaknesses in your manuscript before submission.

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Students & Postdocs: These individuals are the true experts in their specific research projects, methodologies, and work settings. They are more likely to understand your struggles, offer actionable technical knowledge, and have the time and interest to engage with your work. If you're on the academic job market, students and postdocs are the insiders, offering first-hand experience with departmental cultures, institutional resources, and the personalities of potential supervisors.

 

Connect with them at their talks, poster sessions, social events, and meals. Identifying talks and posters of interest beforehand will help you prioritize your time and energy at sessions that often have hundreds of posters.

 

Vendors: Don't overlook vendor exhibits. If you're in experimental research, these companies provide the equipment and supplies you use daily. They are eager to assist researchers, may offer opportunities to learn, and might even reveal new career paths.

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"Chance favors the prepared mind." ~ Louis Pasteur

 

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O: What Obstacles Might You Encounter?

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Identifying potential obstacles encourages proactive problem-solving. Some may be practical, e.g., funding and logistics. More often, it's one's mindset that hinders networking success. Common reactions we hear include:

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• "I'm so excited to meet professor X, but I'm not sure how to present myself.""I

• "I don't like to 'sell' myself."

• "I don't feel comfortable asking for help. Why should they help me?"

• "Why should I bother to meet other students? They can't help me."

• "Networking feels phony."

• "I don't think I have anything worthwhile to contribute."

• "I'm an introvert. I don't enjoy talking to people I don't know."

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One way to make the networking experience more comfortable is to reframe it. Think of it as "making friends in your field"—and conversations are the only way to start. Focus on the positive aspects of relationships, such as trust, rapport, and shared interests.

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Also explore different ways you offer value, whether it be skills, insights, or caring for a good cause. Reflecting on this helps you prepare that concise, impactful self-introduction you need to open a conversation with a good impression.

 

Finally, remember that you are not alone in having discomfort about networking. By offering a warm greeting, you give others the experience of feeling welcome and invited to be heard. Let the relationship unfold from there.

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"Good things don't come to those who wait. Good things come to those who initiate." ~ Susan RoAne | Tweet this

 

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P: Now Create Your Action Plans

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Hopefully, you're now excited about what you could gain from the conference by initiating conversations. You're now ready to make a plan.

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We can't offer a specific playbook for every encounter, but here are some top tips for before, during, and after the conference.

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Before the Conference: Familiarize yourself with the size and venue of your chosen conference. Some conferences have 15,000+ attendees and some 150. Be ready to navigate these details so you can be at the right place at the right time for planned and spontaneous meetings. Prepare a polished self-introduction, CV, and business cards so that you are ready to interact in-person and online.

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Choose professional attire that makes you feel confident and comfortable (and take along clothes and shoes for other activities, e.g., tours). Learn in advance about people you want to meet, and as time allows, be ready to find out more about what they care about, in work and in life.

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During the Conference: Listen attentively to understand problems, gather insider information, and make others feel valued. "Download" your learning using your favorite system for capturing and integrating your learnings and contacts (with spreadsheets, digital notebooks, scanners, etc.).

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TAKE BREAKS, especially if you're an introvert. Your ability to interact well will diminish with overload. While alcohol is admittedly an excellent social lubricant for some people, consider how it might affect what you hope to achieve at this conference.

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After the Conference: Reflect on your experiences and integrate your learnings into your research and career plans. Update your career documents. Organize your new contacts and nurture the relationships with an appropriate, simple thank-you note. The goal is to maintain easy communication.

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By integrating the WOOP method into your conference preparation, you can transform anxiety into actionable steps, ensuring that you harness the full potential of these academic gatherings. Taking time to clarify your wishes, envision outcomes, and anticipate obstacles will help you transform your conference plan into a powerful opportunity for networking, learning, and advancing your career. Enjoy!