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There countless things we do during our careers that are easy to forget yet make us better.  In this episode, we look at counting conferences as professional experience.  We can easily overlook these valuable times spent in an immersive few days.  However, that would be a mistake on our part.  Here are some things to consider as you add conference attendance to your resume or brand.

A Known Quantity

The value in certifications and degrees is that there is a minimum of information we get from them.  These set a bar of our knowledge or experience.  A conference can do the same thing.  We will at least be exposed to the ideas covered in presentations, and those have a cumulative effect.  Think about how you would view someone that spent four days listening to content about being a better developer.  Do you think you might think of that person as having some ideas on how to be a better developer?  Yes, you would.  There is an experience that comes from attending such events that has a professional value.

Performing At A Conference

Attending a conference is one thing.  Presenting or speaking is a whole other level.  There is a degree of respect that is attributed to any conference speaker.  This respect may be more than reality dictates.  However, that is not a bad thing for you.  Expertise is an amorphous idea, so do not shy away from situations that can label you as one.  When you contribute to the content, you want to include conferences as professional experience.  There is just too much of an impression that it can make.

Non-Obvious Value Of Attendance

An item on a resume is helpful.  However, there is far more value than that of attending a conference.  We will be able to network with others.  There will be applications and solutions we will be exposed to.  We might even learn some ways to think outside of the box.  All of these side effects add up to being a better developer.  Therefore, we should take credit for it and list it among our achievements.

Episode Challenge: List recent conference experience on your resume or personal website.

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