CPD
July 2022
Continuing professional development, or CPD, is a type of further education or advanced training which leads on from initial formal education – i.e. a BA or MA – and is continued throughout a professional’s working life. The main aims of CPD are to keep professionals aware of changes and developments in their field and to acquire new skills and knowledge that will help them advance their career. In some occupations this is obligatory, such as for doctors and lawyers who have to stay aware of the latest developments in their field.
For freelance translators, this could mean deepening subject knowledge, improving translation techniques or developing stronger business models. Translation software, for instance, is constantly being developed and updated, as are the file formats it uses and the range of functions it provides. Not only are we to assume that these developments are for the general good of translation, thus it would be beneficial for us to be aware of them, but we should also be mindful of a software’s life cycle: as new versions are created, old versions are phased out. Many of these changes are gradual; however, take a moment to consider all the technological advances and new findings which arise in just one year, not only in IT and technology, but also in medicine, physics, chemistry, business, geography… the list is endless. In every one of these areas, new discoveries are being made and new processes developed, resulting also in new linguistic terms and concepts. Our ability to keep up with these changes keeps our services current and effective in the long term.
Despite CPD not necessarily being “required” to work as a translator, it is still strongly encouraged by translation organisations, with some asking for proof of CPD in order to reach the higher membership tiers of their organisation. So how can we actively undertake CPD?
Workshops and conferences
Attending events in person is not only great for learning new things, but also for embracing networking opportunities and prising us away from our desks! Visiting and contributing to online forums is, of course, another form of networking but it's just not the same as speaking to someone face to face.
Conferences and workshops tend to be offered and advertised by professional organisations, university departments and other language-specific groups and websites. It's also well worth looking into local, regional and national business networks relevant to where you live and seeing what kind of CPD opportunities they provide.
Webinars
Webinars are a great way of giving you access to talks from the comfort of your own home and are hosted by a variety of language service providers, from CAT tool developers to translation organisations and networks, right over to standalone professionals looking to share their expertise.
Self-study
As recent translation graduates will be well aware, there is a whole host of literature available both on aspects of translation and areas of specialism. Once I finished my university course and set out to become a “real” translator, I found that many of the course books I'd used weren’t necessarily relevant to real translation. One book I did find extremely useful and practical during my studies was a textbook on audiovisual translation, published by St. Jerome Publishing. After searching for the publisher online I was pleased to find an extensive range of literature focusing not only on general translation techniques but also on specific specialist areas. Even if you're not a legal translator, for instance, you'll likely still have to translate legal language in your usual fields. In my quest to improve my own legal knowledge and feel more confident when legalese cropped up shortly after qualifying as a translator, I purchased St. Jerome's Legal Translation Explained , which I can recommend. The various chapters cover wide-ranging elements of the law and legal systems, detailing the types of language used in different kinds of documents and suggesting translation approaches that should be considered in each case.
Besides reading subject-specific literature, another way of actively undertaking CPD is by immersing yourself in your source language, especially if you don't live in a country where your SL is spoken. This doesn’t have to mean hours spent reading technical manuals or medical pamphlets, but rather reading news articles, listening to podcasts or watching films in your SL to prevent those carefully acquired tongues from fading away. It could also be worth looking up popular industry journals and magazines as you start to build up specialist areas.
Back to basics
If you've recently completed a translation course, take the time to go back over your notes and handouts, and pick out anything useful before they get hidden away. This might not give you any new knowledge, but it will help you retain some of the things you spent hours writing essays on! Not only could this be useful for brushing up on CAT tool features, but also for going over tutor feedback on previous translations and pinpointing areas you could improve on as part of your CPD.
A longer term option, once subject specialisms emerge, might be to go back to formal education in order to strengthen a particular subject area that will give you an edge as a translator. This doesn’t have to mean another years-long university course, it might also be achieved through a part-time course, evening classes or distance-learning programme.
Business advice
Something that tends not to be taught as part of a university translation course is how you actually run a business. Where do you have to register? How do you deal with taxes? Do you need to open a separate bank account? There is no single answer for any of these questions; each depends on your individual situation. It is, however, well worth searching for organisations in your country of residence which give help and advice that can be tailored to your specific circumstances. In the UK, for example, the government website has a section dedicated to business and the self-employed with useful information for people starting out. And don’t forget about groups you're already part of: speak to an advisor at your local bank, make an appointment with your university’s careers centre or, if you're still studying, ask your department to arrange an extra seminar on the business side of freelancing.
In sum...
There are countless ways in which you can approach CPD, just as there are various areas you can choose to develop and strengthen. By regularly undertaking CPD, you will continually build your knowledge base, which, in turn, will improve your confidence and help you promote yourself as a quality-conscious language services provider.
July 2022
Continuing professional development, or CPD, is a type of further education or advanced training which leads on from initial formal education – i.e. a BA or MA – and is continued throughout a professional’s working life. The main aims of CPD are to keep professionals aware of changes and developments in their field and to acquire new skills and knowledge that will help them advance their career. In some occupations this is obligatory, such as for doctors and lawyers who have to stay aware of the latest developments in their field.
For freelance translators, this could mean deepening subject knowledge, improving translation techniques or developing stronger business models. Translation software, for instance, is constantly being developed and updated, as are the file formats it uses and the range of functions it provides. Not only are we to assume that these developments are for the general good of translation, thus it would be beneficial for us to be aware of them, but we should also be mindful of a software’s life cycle: as new versions are created, old versions are phased out. Many of these changes are gradual; however, take a moment to consider all the technological advances and new findings which arise in just one year, not only in IT and technology, but also in medicine, physics, chemistry, business, geography… the list is endless. In every one of these areas, new discoveries are being made and new processes developed, resulting also in new linguistic terms and concepts. Our ability to keep up with these changes keeps our services current and effective in the long term.
Despite CPD not necessarily being “required” to work as a translator, it is still strongly encouraged by translation organisations, with some asking for proof of CPD in order to reach the higher membership tiers of their organisation. So how can we actively undertake CPD?
Workshops and conferences
Attending events in person is not only great for learning new things, but also for embracing networking opportunities and prising us away from our desks! Visiting and contributing to online forums is, of course, another form of networking but it's just not the same as speaking to someone face to face.
Conferences and workshops tend to be offered and advertised by professional organisations, university departments and other language-specific groups and websites. It's also well worth looking into local, regional and national business networks relevant to where you live and seeing what kind of CPD opportunities they provide.
Webinars
Webinars are a great way of giving you access to talks from the comfort of your own home and are hosted by a variety of language service providers, from CAT tool developers to translation organisations and networks, right over to standalone professionals looking to share their expertise.
Self-study
As recent translation graduates will be well aware, there is a whole host of literature available both on aspects of translation and areas of specialism. Once I finished my university course and set out to become a “real” translator, I found that many of the course books I'd used weren’t necessarily relevant to real translation. One book I did find extremely useful and practical during my studies was a textbook on audiovisual translation, published by St. Jerome Publishing. After searching for the publisher online I was pleased to find an extensive range of literature focusing not only on general translation techniques but also on specific specialist areas. Even if you're not a legal translator, for instance, you'll likely still have to translate legal language in your usual fields. In my quest to improve my own legal knowledge and feel more confident when legalese cropped up shortly after qualifying as a translator, I purchased St. Jerome's Legal Translation Explained , which I can recommend. The various chapters cover wide-ranging elements of the law and legal systems, detailing the types of language used in different kinds of documents and suggesting translation approaches that should be considered in each case.
Besides reading subject-specific literature, another way of actively undertaking CPD is by immersing yourself in your source language, especially if you don't live in a country where your SL is spoken. This doesn’t have to mean hours spent reading technical manuals or medical pamphlets, but rather reading news articles, listening to podcasts or watching films in your SL to prevent those carefully acquired tongues from fading away. It could also be worth looking up popular industry journals and magazines as you start to build up specialist areas.
Back to basics
If you've recently completed a translation course, take the time to go back over your notes and handouts, and pick out anything useful before they get hidden away. This might not give you any new knowledge, but it will help you retain some of the things you spent hours writing essays on! Not only could this be useful for brushing up on CAT tool features, but also for going over tutor feedback on previous translations and pinpointing areas you could improve on as part of your CPD.
A longer term option, once subject specialisms emerge, might be to go back to formal education in order to strengthen a particular subject area that will give you an edge as a translator. This doesn’t have to mean another years-long university course, it might also be achieved through a part-time course, evening classes or distance-learning programme.
Business advice
Something that tends not to be taught as part of a university translation course is how you actually run a business. Where do you have to register? How do you deal with taxes? Do you need to open a separate bank account? There is no single answer for any of these questions; each depends on your individual situation. It is, however, well worth searching for organisations in your country of residence which give help and advice that can be tailored to your specific circumstances. In the UK, for example, the government website has a section dedicated to business and the self-employed with useful information for people starting out. And don’t forget about groups you're already part of: speak to an advisor at your local bank, make an appointment with your university’s careers centre or, if you're still studying, ask your department to arrange an extra seminar on the business side of freelancing.
In sum...
There are countless ways in which you can approach CPD, just as there are various areas you can choose to develop and strengthen. By regularly undertaking CPD, you will continually build your knowledge base, which, in turn, will improve your confidence and help you promote yourself as a quality-conscious language services provider.
The human side of translation
November 2018
After attending the SDL Trados Roadshow in Munich last week and chatting to some of the other attendees, I once again found myself pondering the life of the translator, especially that of the freelancer. Ever since deciding to work as a freelancer as opposed to working for an employer and physically sitting alongside colleagues, I’ve made a conscious effort to stay sociable as a translator. The job of any freelancer can be a lonely one, which makes securing and maintaining connections within the industry even more meaningful. This could be by attending local translator meetups, conferences or client events, by joining and actively contributing towards industry-specific groups and associations, or simply by having a good rapport with clients and fellow translators online, in person or over the phone. It's this last point in particular that I fear we are losing, or at least being encouraged to dispense with, for the sake of increased efficiency.
It’s nothing new that life is becoming increasingly automated. The pace is picking up, especially in the business world, where there is a growing expectation for immediate solutions to problems and increasing impatience if these solutions are not delivered pronto. In the translation industry, I feel day-to-day processes are being accelerated by two means. The most obvious, though not the focus of this blog post, is through the increasing incorporation of machine translation and the gradual shift, in some areas more than others, from translator to post-editor. The argument here being that less time is required for translation proper, resulting in increased productivity – quantitatively speaking at least – and thus greater translation capacity. If the translation itself is the product then the second means relates more to the packaging or, more specifically, the reduction thereof; the desire by some to streamline the overall translation process, whether in terms of preparing quotes, sending out requests or uploading files.
At one of the talks back at the Elia conference in February, I actually found myself fascinated by the way in which one speaker – a translator and agency owner – had embraced automation at his company, for instance by incorporating an automated quoting system. Rather than having to email to and fro, a platform had been developed allowing clients to simply upload their texts, indicate the specialist area, and immediately receive a quote. The same day I went for dinner with a fellow attendee who was telling me about an automated process he used to allocate suitable translators from a large pool of subject areas and language combinations to jobs that would come in through a similar system. For the sake of staying on topic, let’s assume that both these approaches to automation work like a dream. While this is all well and good in terms of a quick turnaround, and as much as I’m open to new technologies, a big part of me fears we’re losing the human side of what we do.
I imagine most of us who work in this industry, regardless of in what capacity, chose to work in it first and foremost because of our simple love of languages. With this comes an appreciation of different cultures, perhaps a keen urge to travel, to discover new places and new people, to converse and, insofar as possible, to communicate across borders and barriers. For me at least, that is the essence of why I do what I do. Plus I like to talk. A lot. How sad then if in order to do our job – in order to facilitate communication – we are being asked to accept the opposite and have our own communication channels cut down.
It’s for all the above reasons that I hope we aren’t starting to witness the demise of our tongues beyond the products we deliver. It would appear that at some point the road pursued by the LSP splits into two. The first path seeks to drive forward the trend towards greater automation and less human communication in the hope for heightened productivity. It gets you from A to B precisely as the crow flies. Then there’s the other option, a second path that equally gets you from A to B but meanders slightly. It comes with a mountain backdrop, shadow and light, and the twittering of birds. Both paths start and end in the same places, you simply have to decide whether you want to turn your trip into a more fulfilling experience or whether you’re happy to arrive at your destination aware of little more than the number of miles you’ve covered.
I’m a big believer in building and maintaining respectful client relationships. From taking the time to look at a text a client has not only created but also deemed important enough to warrant a translation, to deciding – from an LSP perspective – which translator would be the best fit for the assignment. And not just because they were the first to respond to an automated job request for a “medical” or “legal” text. I love to work with people who ask how I am, how my weekend was and whether Munich has had any snow yet. And they actually want to hear my response! They appreciate what I do just as much as I value them as my colleagues. They make long days at the desk that little bit brighter and more sociable.
By all means, every single one of us should be embracing, or at the very least experimenting with and developing our own opinions on, the latest technologies out there. I’m not advocating that we collectively shake our heads at technological advancement, neither in terms of MT nor process automation. However, I certainly hope that the rise in this kind of technology does not imply a breakdown in human contact. It’s one thing to work with a machine, but it’s another thing entirely to be treated like one. I’m sure there are clients out there who place emphasis on speed and convenience when choosing an LSP, who simply want to get the job done. But I believe there are just as many, if not more, who like to be more involved in the translation process and want to know who it is they're working with. No matter what side of the fence you find yourself on, I urge all of us not to lose touch with the human side of our work and not to forget what made us so passionate about our profession in the first place.
November 2018
After attending the SDL Trados Roadshow in Munich last week and chatting to some of the other attendees, I once again found myself pondering the life of the translator, especially that of the freelancer. Ever since deciding to work as a freelancer as opposed to working for an employer and physically sitting alongside colleagues, I’ve made a conscious effort to stay sociable as a translator. The job of any freelancer can be a lonely one, which makes securing and maintaining connections within the industry even more meaningful. This could be by attending local translator meetups, conferences or client events, by joining and actively contributing towards industry-specific groups and associations, or simply by having a good rapport with clients and fellow translators online, in person or over the phone. It's this last point in particular that I fear we are losing, or at least being encouraged to dispense with, for the sake of increased efficiency.
It’s nothing new that life is becoming increasingly automated. The pace is picking up, especially in the business world, where there is a growing expectation for immediate solutions to problems and increasing impatience if these solutions are not delivered pronto. In the translation industry, I feel day-to-day processes are being accelerated by two means. The most obvious, though not the focus of this blog post, is through the increasing incorporation of machine translation and the gradual shift, in some areas more than others, from translator to post-editor. The argument here being that less time is required for translation proper, resulting in increased productivity – quantitatively speaking at least – and thus greater translation capacity. If the translation itself is the product then the second means relates more to the packaging or, more specifically, the reduction thereof; the desire by some to streamline the overall translation process, whether in terms of preparing quotes, sending out requests or uploading files.
At one of the talks back at the Elia conference in February, I actually found myself fascinated by the way in which one speaker – a translator and agency owner – had embraced automation at his company, for instance by incorporating an automated quoting system. Rather than having to email to and fro, a platform had been developed allowing clients to simply upload their texts, indicate the specialist area, and immediately receive a quote. The same day I went for dinner with a fellow attendee who was telling me about an automated process he used to allocate suitable translators from a large pool of subject areas and language combinations to jobs that would come in through a similar system. For the sake of staying on topic, let’s assume that both these approaches to automation work like a dream. While this is all well and good in terms of a quick turnaround, and as much as I’m open to new technologies, a big part of me fears we’re losing the human side of what we do.
I imagine most of us who work in this industry, regardless of in what capacity, chose to work in it first and foremost because of our simple love of languages. With this comes an appreciation of different cultures, perhaps a keen urge to travel, to discover new places and new people, to converse and, insofar as possible, to communicate across borders and barriers. For me at least, that is the essence of why I do what I do. Plus I like to talk. A lot. How sad then if in order to do our job – in order to facilitate communication – we are being asked to accept the opposite and have our own communication channels cut down.
It’s for all the above reasons that I hope we aren’t starting to witness the demise of our tongues beyond the products we deliver. It would appear that at some point the road pursued by the LSP splits into two. The first path seeks to drive forward the trend towards greater automation and less human communication in the hope for heightened productivity. It gets you from A to B precisely as the crow flies. Then there’s the other option, a second path that equally gets you from A to B but meanders slightly. It comes with a mountain backdrop, shadow and light, and the twittering of birds. Both paths start and end in the same places, you simply have to decide whether you want to turn your trip into a more fulfilling experience or whether you’re happy to arrive at your destination aware of little more than the number of miles you’ve covered.
I’m a big believer in building and maintaining respectful client relationships. From taking the time to look at a text a client has not only created but also deemed important enough to warrant a translation, to deciding – from an LSP perspective – which translator would be the best fit for the assignment. And not just because they were the first to respond to an automated job request for a “medical” or “legal” text. I love to work with people who ask how I am, how my weekend was and whether Munich has had any snow yet. And they actually want to hear my response! They appreciate what I do just as much as I value them as my colleagues. They make long days at the desk that little bit brighter and more sociable.
By all means, every single one of us should be embracing, or at the very least experimenting with and developing our own opinions on, the latest technologies out there. I’m not advocating that we collectively shake our heads at technological advancement, neither in terms of MT nor process automation. However, I certainly hope that the rise in this kind of technology does not imply a breakdown in human contact. It’s one thing to work with a machine, but it’s another thing entirely to be treated like one. I’m sure there are clients out there who place emphasis on speed and convenience when choosing an LSP, who simply want to get the job done. But I believe there are just as many, if not more, who like to be more involved in the translation process and want to know who it is they're working with. No matter what side of the fence you find yourself on, I urge all of us not to lose touch with the human side of our work and not to forget what made us so passionate about our profession in the first place.
Business cards: where to begin?
I had a chat with my friend and professional graphic designer Adam Hayward about the merits of good business-card design. Here's what he had to say.
A very open question to kick off – why should freelancers bother with business cards? There are so many ways for us to advertise ourselves nowadays, are they really necessary?
Though you are right to say that there are so many ways to advertise nowadays (online especially), I would argue that a business card is less about advertising and more about a simple form of communication. It's a potentially sealed deal, or at least a call to action, when meeting someone one-to-one. A business card won't do the job for you, but it will connect you to your contact details which someone will then have to hand. It may not create business immediately but when a potential client recalls you and your services, there's a better chance they'll get in touch if a business card is lurking in their wallet or desk drawer.
What kind of information should be included on a business card? How text-heavy should it be?
As with many applications of graphic design, "less is more" usually rings true. However, when it comes to deciding which contact details to include, technology has provided us with various portals of communication. The tricky part is understanding which ones your potential clients prefer to use. Having two to three options covers a lot of bases for clients wanting to speak to you right now (telephone) or who just want to know a bit more (website) or who are shopping around (email). What's important is how you want to receive these forms of communication. If you're often not around to pick up the phone, for example, then it may do your business more harm than good to include a telephone number.
Is there a standard size that should be used?
There isn't an international standard, but most are designed to fit a pocket/wallet (being a similar size to a credit card). To stand out, many companies and professionals are now breaking this mould. Some opt for bespoke die cut shapes, different ratios and even different materials. The key is then to ensure that the attention-grabbing factor outweighs the frustration of the card perhaps not fitting comfortably or smoothly into a wallet.
Would you recommend choosing a card with content on both sides, or is one side enough?
"Less is more" still applies here, but having a whole other side and not using it is wasted potential. It shouldn't necessarily be an opportunity to pile in more content, but more a space to say something about you or your business visually. Branding aside, a cute photo of a kitten would be better than a blank space.
Do you have any tips for creating a logo or image that others can connect to you?
Tricky one. It's hard to suggest a tip without going into the whole reasoning behind branding, but I would say that it is well worth having a logo or image. The shorter the thinking time between associating your (business) name with what your business does, the better. Branding is something that shortens that gap.
How important is colour choice?
It depends on what you're trying to achieve. As with all visual factors such as shape, size, weight or font, if it communicates the wrong message, it could produce serious negative results.
Comic Sans is known for causing a bit of a stir in the wonderful world of fonts – what should be considered when choosing a font?
All kinds of things should be considered, from how you want to come across to simple technical aspects such as legibility.
There are plenty of different templates, not to mention low prices, at several online one-stop shops for business cards... opinion?
I accept this is part of the commercial world but, like many things, if you want to take cheap options then you're likely to get cheap results. If you want to be perceived as generic then go for something generic. Technology is putting more control in the individual’s hands. This is great for people who may never have had the opportunity to create their own branding before, but it does create a sea of mediocre (more often than not: bad) output. Although you could argue that this helps the truly good work shine. My frustration with the availability of these “one-stop shops” in terms of what I do is that many don't believe there is a genuine skill (or even talent) to graphic design and thus think it isn't worth paying for because the impact of bad design often isn't immediately obvious.
Where do I begin in terms of printing? What do I need to consider?
Printing is the final stage of the product and should be considered as carefully as the design itself. Paper weight, type, quality and cut are just as important as design factors. Again, as with anything, if you go for quick and/or cheap, the quality will suffer. If you go to a professional printer’s (and not a chain store that offers a whole range of products and services) then you're much more likely to get back something professional. Professional printer's will be run by people who not only know their stuff, but will actually care about the product you're trying to create.
Thanks Adam, this has given us plenty of food for thought!
I had a chat with my friend and professional graphic designer Adam Hayward about the merits of good business-card design. Here's what he had to say.
A very open question to kick off – why should freelancers bother with business cards? There are so many ways for us to advertise ourselves nowadays, are they really necessary?
Though you are right to say that there are so many ways to advertise nowadays (online especially), I would argue that a business card is less about advertising and more about a simple form of communication. It's a potentially sealed deal, or at least a call to action, when meeting someone one-to-one. A business card won't do the job for you, but it will connect you to your contact details which someone will then have to hand. It may not create business immediately but when a potential client recalls you and your services, there's a better chance they'll get in touch if a business card is lurking in their wallet or desk drawer.
What kind of information should be included on a business card? How text-heavy should it be?
As with many applications of graphic design, "less is more" usually rings true. However, when it comes to deciding which contact details to include, technology has provided us with various portals of communication. The tricky part is understanding which ones your potential clients prefer to use. Having two to three options covers a lot of bases for clients wanting to speak to you right now (telephone) or who just want to know a bit more (website) or who are shopping around (email). What's important is how you want to receive these forms of communication. If you're often not around to pick up the phone, for example, then it may do your business more harm than good to include a telephone number.
Is there a standard size that should be used?
There isn't an international standard, but most are designed to fit a pocket/wallet (being a similar size to a credit card). To stand out, many companies and professionals are now breaking this mould. Some opt for bespoke die cut shapes, different ratios and even different materials. The key is then to ensure that the attention-grabbing factor outweighs the frustration of the card perhaps not fitting comfortably or smoothly into a wallet.
Would you recommend choosing a card with content on both sides, or is one side enough?
"Less is more" still applies here, but having a whole other side and not using it is wasted potential. It shouldn't necessarily be an opportunity to pile in more content, but more a space to say something about you or your business visually. Branding aside, a cute photo of a kitten would be better than a blank space.
Do you have any tips for creating a logo or image that others can connect to you?
Tricky one. It's hard to suggest a tip without going into the whole reasoning behind branding, but I would say that it is well worth having a logo or image. The shorter the thinking time between associating your (business) name with what your business does, the better. Branding is something that shortens that gap.
How important is colour choice?
It depends on what you're trying to achieve. As with all visual factors such as shape, size, weight or font, if it communicates the wrong message, it could produce serious negative results.
Comic Sans is known for causing a bit of a stir in the wonderful world of fonts – what should be considered when choosing a font?
All kinds of things should be considered, from how you want to come across to simple technical aspects such as legibility.
There are plenty of different templates, not to mention low prices, at several online one-stop shops for business cards... opinion?
I accept this is part of the commercial world but, like many things, if you want to take cheap options then you're likely to get cheap results. If you want to be perceived as generic then go for something generic. Technology is putting more control in the individual’s hands. This is great for people who may never have had the opportunity to create their own branding before, but it does create a sea of mediocre (more often than not: bad) output. Although you could argue that this helps the truly good work shine. My frustration with the availability of these “one-stop shops” in terms of what I do is that many don't believe there is a genuine skill (or even talent) to graphic design and thus think it isn't worth paying for because the impact of bad design often isn't immediately obvious.
Where do I begin in terms of printing? What do I need to consider?
Printing is the final stage of the product and should be considered as carefully as the design itself. Paper weight, type, quality and cut are just as important as design factors. Again, as with anything, if you go for quick and/or cheap, the quality will suffer. If you go to a professional printer’s (and not a chain store that offers a whole range of products and services) then you're much more likely to get back something professional. Professional printer's will be run by people who not only know their stuff, but will actually care about the product you're trying to create.
Thanks Adam, this has given us plenty of food for thought!
Preparing to attend an industry conference
July 2015
Getting ready to attend your first conference but not sure where to begin? Here are a few pointers to get you started.
Read through the conference information
If you do just one thing ahead of a conference, make sure to read over the materials released beforehand. Not only will this provide information on session content and speakers, it will also cover essentials such as when and where you have to register, how to get to specific buildings, forms of public transport, parking facilities, etc.
Research specific topics
Even if you've signed up to “introductory” subject sessions, you should still make sure you have a basic understanding of the topic. With the wealth of high-quality information available online, there really is no excuse for going into a session completely unprepared. Investing a couple of hours in advance will go a long way to you understanding and following the discussion, thus considerably improving your own knowledge of the topic.
Put together an elevator pitch
Speak to a friend, or even your own reflection, about what it is you do, and make it snappy! Think about who you might be speaking to and what you could mention that might make your introduction stand out come the end of the day.
Business cards
Business cards are a quick and easy networking tool to have to hand. At the very minimum, include your name, company name if you have one, your professional role and languages, and your preferred forms of contact. See my chat with Adam Hayward (above) for a more detailed look at the importance of a business card.
July 2015
Getting ready to attend your first conference but not sure where to begin? Here are a few pointers to get you started.
Read through the conference information
If you do just one thing ahead of a conference, make sure to read over the materials released beforehand. Not only will this provide information on session content and speakers, it will also cover essentials such as when and where you have to register, how to get to specific buildings, forms of public transport, parking facilities, etc.
Research specific topics
Even if you've signed up to “introductory” subject sessions, you should still make sure you have a basic understanding of the topic. With the wealth of high-quality information available online, there really is no excuse for going into a session completely unprepared. Investing a couple of hours in advance will go a long way to you understanding and following the discussion, thus considerably improving your own knowledge of the topic.
Put together an elevator pitch
Speak to a friend, or even your own reflection, about what it is you do, and make it snappy! Think about who you might be speaking to and what you could mention that might make your introduction stand out come the end of the day.
Business cards
Business cards are a quick and easy networking tool to have to hand. At the very minimum, include your name, company name if you have one, your professional role and languages, and your preferred forms of contact. See my chat with Adam Hayward (above) for a more detailed look at the importance of a business card.
