Plan Ahead for the Annual Meeting

Is your goal in attending the AAPG annual meeting in Denver to gather data and develop tools necessary to best advance your career?

If so, here are some things to think about -- and prepare for -- before attending the meeting, courtesy of Career Partnering:

• Questions -- Do you have a crystal clear idea of what you need to satisfy your career goals? Can you clearly and succinctly communicate what you do, what you want and what value you bring to the industry?

• Two-Minute Drill -- Here's how to prepare and rehearse a concise and compelling explanation of what you do. In a word, practice. Get a tape recorder. Look in a mirror. Persuade friends and family to listen -- and comment -- on your mission.

• Brochure/Business Card/Personal Home Page -- How would you create a brief tri-fold brochure about yourself and your work, a business card, and open a personal home page on the Internet?

• Terrain Analysis -- Where is the work that you do being done today? By whom? Where will it be done in the future? Has it been outsourced by the core companies to contractors? What companies, contractors or consultants are doing this work now?

• Conduct Research -- Learn more about companies and/or projects that need the work you do. Use the exhibitor list and the AAPG annual meeting Web site to discover whether or not they will have representatives at the convention.

• Role of Spouse and Friends -- How could your spouse help you if he/she were at the convention? What do they need to know about what you do in order to further your interests?

• Attitude Adjustment -- Realize that:

  • You are self-employed no matter where you work.

  • Past difficulties become irrelevant if you can have a positive, self-confident state of mind.

  • Big changes going on around you are sources of big opportunities.

  • From now on most opportunity in the industry will be found in the project team model. How are you positioned to take advantage of this scenario?

At the convention, plan to:

• Check the pre-registration list. Who is at the convention? How does this modify your plans?

• Attend the free Career Transition Workshop on Sunday morning. Use it to expand your network and increase your visibility.

• Attend the Sunday night Icebreaker. This is the single most important event you can do. And once there:

  • Get a "feel" of the gathering. Take a 20-30 minute cruise through the exhibit hall. Pay attention to sound and tone of activity. Is it exciting, optimistic, depressed, solemn? Make notes of your impressions.

  • Listen for content. What are the attendees and exhibitors talking about? Are there themes in trends, plays, technologies and attitudes?

  • Technological trends. Search out the developing trends in technology and their applications. Look for information that will help you identify a niche for your value-adding service.

  • Educational Opportunities. Note the location of exhibits that provide on-site, hands-on education in the use of tools and technology relevant to your work.

  • Network. Take a disciplined approach. Set priorities. Use your "two-minute drill" -- and be prepared to follow-up when they say "Oh, really? Tell me more." Exchange business cards, and make follow-up notes on them. Make appointments for longer interviews and start building a meeting schedule. Carry a calendar notebook of some kind.

  • And after the Icebreaker, evaluate your success and plan the rest of the meeting. Remember you may have to kiss a lot of frogs.

And then:

• Visit the AAPG Career Booth Monday morning to evaluate opportunities and refine your plan and schedule.

• Cruise the International Pavilion to get a global perspective. Make notes of trends and technologies that are evident.

• Use meal-times for scheduled face-to-face meetings with prospects.

• Use the "technical tracks" to carefully plan the time you spend in sessions.

• Use social events to further your pre-convention goals and plan.