Attending conferences is one of the best ways to meet professionals in your field and to learn about the latest developments in your field.  If you would like to chat with SNRE Career Staff before or after a conference for additional tips, please contact us at: snre.careers@umich.edu

Upcoming Conferences:

• July 14-19: ASME International Conference on Energy Sustainability (Minneapolis, MN)
  
• Sept. 9-11, 2013: RETECH2013 (Renewable Energy Technology Conference & Exhibition) (Washington, D.C.)
  
• Nov. 9-12, 2013: North American Association for Environmental Educators (NAAEE) (Baltimore, MD)
  
• Nov. 15-18, 2013: American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) (Boston, MA)
• April 7-10, 2014: National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) (St. Petersburg, FL)

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Conferences:

• Present at a conference (either in a session or do a poster presentation).  You will get a high level of visibility.
  
• Volunteer (registration desk, note-taking, etc.) and many conferences will give you a free or reduced registration rate.  In addition, you will be more visible to conference attendees and organizers.
• Look at the participant and speaker list and make a list of people you would like to meet at the conference. 
• Create a list of questions to ask people about their organizations/ careers.
• Bring business cards and resumes.
• Practice a short elevator pitch to introduce yourself to others.
• Get business cards of people you meet and make notes on the back so you remember your conversations and any follow-up you promised.  Scroll to bottom of page to access info on creating and printing business cards for SNRE students:
• Invite people you meet to join you for coffee, breakfast, lunch or dinner to get to know them more informally.

Conference Follow-Up Tips:

• Sort through business cards you picked up and identify people you want to stay in touch with and send them a request to be a LinkedIn connection with a personalized note about meeting them at the conference and staying in touch.
• Make sure to follow through on any follow-up items you promised (send someone a resume, set up an informational interview, etc.).