Five Must-Attend Communications Conferences For Students
- South by Southwest
- Social Media Week
- SEAT Conference
- Consumer Technology Association’s CES
- IABC World Conference
Communications conferences are the types of events that provide students preparing to enter into the industry with a place to network, hear about the newest trends, and elevate their professional profile. While these events are not usually required for students, attending at least one event a year during a degree program may offer valuable insights into the industry and perhaps give students insights into a career path that they want to pursue. The five events listed below all are useful to students; please note, however, that there are more events available in case a student has specific career needs.
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Online Communications Degree Programs
1. South by Southwest
South by Southwest is a national conference that takes place annually in Austin, Texas. This is a creative industry event that lasts for over a week and features speakers, networking events, concerts, workshops, film premieres, question-and-answer sessions, and more. In 2019, this event will have over 25 designated tracks for both students and professionals. Mostly known for having strong entertainment industry ties, SXSW, as the program is called, is a great networking event for students who wish to work in the creative industry. Communication students may also find the lecture series based on the subject to be quite interesting.
2. Social Media Week
Social Media Week is a one-day conference that will be held on April 30, 2019, in New York City. This is considered to be an international conference, as more than 50 countries will be represented by students and professionals. As the title suggests, this conference focuses on social media, emerging trends, and how various platforms can work to help professionals in the marketing and communication fields.
3. SEAT Conference
The SEAT conference is a four-day event that takes place July 21 through July 24 in Dallas, Texas. It is sponsored and organized by the Sports and Entertainment Alliance in Technology and focuses on industry professionals that work as sports or entertainment communicators and marketers. C-level executives, social media professionals and others are also in attendance. Lectures, featured speakers, workshops, and networking events are normal occurrences at this event. Students are eligible to attend this conference; attendance will give them a first-hand look at how the field works.
4. Consumer Technology Association’s CES
One of the most highly anticipated events for communication professionals is CES, which stands for Consumer Electronics Show. This is a four-day event that takes place annually in January in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a trade-only show, meaning that only those with a business interest can attend. However, some schools will act as sponsors for their students, especially programs who have a requirement that students attend one event. While this is a trade show, that doesn’t mean students won’t be able to learn anything or network: as a technology-based show, those who are interested in working for technology companies after graduation will be able to network with future employers in order to earn internships. Walking around the exhibit hall will also introduce students to new specializations in the field, making it a great choice for a first conference.
5. IABC World Conference
Students who are in graduate school and have some experience in the field may be offered the opportunity to attend the IABC, or the International Association of Business Communicator World Conference. This is a communication conference that takes place over four days annually in early summer. Students who are attending school part-time and already work for an organization, or those who are members of the IABC, will be offered the chance to attend. This is a professional conference that focuses on business communicators, meaning students in this specialization will benefit from attending the conference. With networking events, workshops, featured speakers, a gala and more to attend, students will be able to meet potential employers, network with like-minded professionals, and stay updated with the trends in the field.
The communications industry is great for ambitious professionals who enjoy working in the field and have goals that they want to accomplish. Schooling is a great start, but the best way for students to learn about the industry and their place in it is to attend events. Events like these help students establish a network of professionals, which is critical for their career; it’s so important to attend at least one that Forbes lists it as one of their top tips for industry newcomers. The communications conferences on this list may not be for every student, but they are a great place to start learning about the field.