Last updated on Apr 6, 2024

You're attending a translation industry conference. How can you make the most of your experience?

You've registered for a translation industry conference and you're looking forward to learning new skills, meeting new colleagues, and expanding your network. But how can you make the most of your experience and get the best value for your time and money? Here are some tips to help you plan, prepare, and participate in a translation conference.

1 Choose your sessions wisely

Before you go, check the conference program and identify the sessions that interest you the most. You may want to prioritize sessions that are relevant to your specialization, target market, or professional development goals. You may also want to balance your schedule with a mix of presentations, workshops, panels, and networking events. Don't forget to leave some room for breaks, socializing, and exploring the venue.

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Luisa Portocarrero Intérprete AIIC Member

Your interpreter for everything to do with mining and technical matters - Spanish, English and French
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Go as a team! These conferences gather the best of the speakers and experts on a specific topic. Therefore, you may end up selecting 2 or 3 that talk at the same time! In order not to lose any information, what works best is to go with some colleagues, one goes to each presentation, organize yourselves and then compare notes! This sharing will not only be useful but fun over a cup or coffee or a glass or wine! Also, do not hesitate to explore outside your comfort zone or your area of expertise. Sometimes, you will learn about new trends or techniques that otherwise you would not have. Finally, enjoy your time! Get your Business cards ready and participate at every activity outside the conference too (Zumba, tours, dinners, etc.)

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Luis Pastor

Freelance Conference Interpreter
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The first thing is to have a "read ahead" on the topics and the speakers, so you don't go "blind". Participate as much as possible by asking questions and doing some networking. These conferences in general are an opportunity to see the new trends and listen to the experiencies of others. Most of the time you'll find some things in common.

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Jose Manuel Miana

Traductor/Editor/Copywriter Consultor Automotriz
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In my experience, the best idea is to look beforehand at the event's information so you can choose which talks are more interesting to you. Be there early so you can meet some other professionals, and bring a notebook to pick every piece of important info.

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2 Bring your business cards and portfolio

A translation conference is a great opportunity to showcase your work and connect with potential clients, partners, and mentors. Make sure you have enough business cards to hand out and a portfolio to display your samples, testimonials, and credentials. You may also want to prepare a short elevator pitch that summarizes your services, skills, and value proposition. Be ready to exchange contact information, follow up, and stay in touch with the people you meet.

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3 Engage with the speakers and attendees

One of the benefits of attending a translation conference is that you can learn from the experts and peers in your field. Don't be shy to ask questions, share your insights, and join the discussions during and after the sessions. You may also want to use social media to tweet, post, or comment about the conference and interact with other participants. Be respectful, professional, and courteous when you communicate with the speakers and attendees.

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Jonathan Downie

Interpreting and training to enable churches to reach, teach and disciple their multilingual communities.
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Speakers at translation conferences very much appreciate being given high quality, FairTrade chocolate, as well as hugs, and for you to buy their books.

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Alexandr Kalmykov

Lead Technical Translator
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Translation conference as well as any other conference is a great chance to obtain new acquaintances and directions for further professional development. So the importance of laying your shyness aside and engaging to the maximum of your communication skills cannot be stressed enough.

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4 Explore the exhibitors and sponsors

Another way to enrich your conference experience is to visit the exhibitors and sponsors booths and learn about their products, services, and offers. You may find some useful tools, resources, or opportunities that can help you improve your translation practice. You may also want to participate in the raffles, contests, or surveys that some exhibitors and sponsors may organize and win some prizes or discounts.

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Crystal Sauls

International Best Selling Author★Helping Global Businesses Communicate★Language Services★Translation★Consulting★Screenplay★Script Writing
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Try to visit each table or have a team to work the floor so that everyone table is visited. People like to engage with others and it's important to do at these types of events. Exchange social media accounts. It's always good to keep up with industries even if you are not using their services right away. Think of another colleague that may benefit from having the contact information of people you meet at conferences.

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5 Take notes and reflect

During the conference, you may be exposed to a lot of information, ideas, and feedback. To make sure you don't forget or miss anything important, take notes and organize them by session, topic, or action point. You may also want to review your notes after the conference and reflect on what you learned, what you enjoyed, and what you can apply to your translation work. You may also want to share your takeaways and impressions with your colleagues, clients, or online community.

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6 Follow up and follow through

After the conference, don't let the momentum and connections fade away. Follow up with the people you met and thank them for their time, interest, or advice. You may also want to send them your resume, portfolio, or references if they requested them or if you want to pursue a collaboration or opportunity. You may also want to follow through on the action points, goals, or plans that you made during the conference and track your progress and results.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You're attending a translation industry conference. How can you make the most of your experience?

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1 Choose your sessions wisely

2 Bring your business cards and portfolio

3 Engage with the speakers and attendees

4 Explore the exhibitors and sponsors

5 Take notes and reflect

6 Follow up and follow through

7 Here’s what else to consider

Translation

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