9 Ways to Get the Most out of a Virtual Conference

With the 6th Annual WIBA conference approaching quickly, I thought I would share some tips and tricks to make this the best one yet (despite the fact that it's all virtual). Obviously due to the ongoing pandemic WIBA can't host our biggest event of the school year in person, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be beneficial. Below I have listed 9 different ways to be successful at a virtual conference.

1. Turn Your Camera On

I know, it feels weird. But if everyone else is doing it and you’re not, then you become the odd one out. Having your camera on makes a really great first and continued impression about you to the other delegates and to potential employers.

2. Utilize your Breaks

I strongly recommend not checking your instagram feed right away during the break between speakers/workshops. At that point in time, you’ve already been staring at a screen for a while, so try to change it up! I suggest going for a quick walk/stretch inside or outside your home if possible. Get a change of scenery and keep your body from going stiff.

3. Take Notes

Yes this may seem like a no brainer, however, you’re attending the conference to learn. Did you know that writing something down is equivalent to saying something 7 times? So, if the guest speaker or workshop host says something that really resonates with you, write it down in a notepad or journal that you can reference in the future.

4. Minimize Distractions

Wherever you choose to participate in the conference, try to put yourself in a spot where you can solely focus on the speech or workshop at hand. Yes, that means put your phone away. Sometimes you may think you’re able to hide the fact that you’re using your phone, but the majority of the time, almost everyone can tell. In order to engage yourself fully, do without it!

5. Clean Environment

As you probably know by now with the amount of zoom calls and breakout rooms we have experienced throughout this pandemic, your background and lighting are important. Laptops don’t have great quality cameras so in order to maximize your view, try to set yourself up in a good setting. This includes facing natural lighting or a lamp (if possible) and having a simple (not too distracting) background.

6. Dress to Success

Now yes this is only a virtual conference from the presence of your home. But to sense a little bit of normalcy to pre-covid times, dress up business casual! Now this doesn’t mean by any means that you need to wear a full pantsuit (unless you want to). But go beyond your everyday sweats for a change and wear a nicer top that makes you feel confident! The bonus with video calls is that you can still wear your sweatpants on the bottom… no one will ever know!

7. Be Prepared

This goes beyond just making sure your laptop is charged and having a paper and pen on standby. This includes being proactive. Something I recommend doing is to look at the conference itinerary and note which speakers or workshops most interest you. From there do a bit of research about them including finding them on Linkedin. This will ensure you absorb the content even more!

8. Don’t be Afraid to Speak

This one goes without saying. If you have a question or a comment, don’t just wait for “someone else will ask it”... that may never happen. Take the initiative upon yourself. Even if it’s in the chat box, you don’t want to regret it. This also shows employers that you are confident and interested in what they are saying.

9. Have Fun

You did choose to spend your day/weekend behind the screen so why not enjoy it! Beyond learning and networking these sort of events can be really fun! It’s all about your perspective so keep an open mind all weekend.

About the author:

Ainsley is WIBA's Strategic Growth Coordinator and a second year commerce student from Ontario with an intent to major in marketing. This is her second year being apart of WIBA, and her first year as an exec. She can’t wait for this new role to connect with local businesses in the community and host meaningful events for Dalhousie students.