The Convention Career Engine

I have been attending conventions of various geeky and nerdy varieties for over 30 years as of this writing.  I’ve gone to cons in Utah and California, Toronto and Atlanta.  I have gotten autographs, bought odd stuff, laughed at music videos, and at one point run into Theodore Sturgeon in a men’s restroom.

(There is, I should note, no good way to say hello to a famous author in a bathroom, etiquette just doesn’t cover it.  Keep this in mind in the future.)

But one of the greatest things I’ve encountered at conventions is people who’ve made their hobbies, jobs, and interests into a career.  I saw people who had made it as writers, artists, programmers, and more.  I attended lectures by people who gave great advice.  I saw people network together to improve their job opportunities.

Yet, what I did see at many a convention for careers wasn’t enough.  Lectures, yes.  Some art classes.  Portfolio reviews.  But I always felt their could be more – a lot more.

Conventions could be giant career engines for those in attendance.  They’re a gathering of people who have passionate interests waiting to be trained.   The hotels and convention centers provide technology and opportunity for amazing presentations.  All of this is there plus the driving passion of people that like what they’re doing.

For those who can speak on careers, it’s also a great opportunity.  Getting your name out, getting some teaching of some kind or another, is a fantastic way to get your name out there, improve yourself professionally, and do good.  Recruiters could both speak on the job search and find new candidates.  Colleges could educate and recruit.  Potential speakers and educators can discover they’re really, really good at training and teaching.

It’s timely as technology changes jobs and careers.  It’s timely as geeks are, well, hot stuff these days, considering we’re making big films,inventing technology, and programming all the cool games.  It’s also timely as the economy is a giant colossal mess and we need all the support we can get for our professional lives.

It’s time we ramp up the career events at conventions, and make them into career engines.  It’s the age of the geek, the nerd, the otaku – and man, do a lot of us need all the help we can get.

I want you to rise to the challenge.  We need you and people like you to make this happen.

If you attend a convention, suggest they add more career events – and go out of your way to list the ones that would work.  I’m sure you can think of quite a few.

If you have anything at all to say on careers, offer to run events at cons on this subject.  If you can speak on the job search, or specific jobs, or something, do it.  If you know a subject that’s important but boring to many (say, economics) find a way to jazz it up so geeks and nerds get interested.

If you know or work with guests at a con, see what career events they can do.  I’m sure they have a lot to share – and may appreciate going in depth on certain subjects they’re not asked about.

In fact I challenge you right now to write a friend and mention the idea, write the con chair you know, something, to move forward on doing more convention career events.  Go for it.  Do it.  Heck, write and tell me about it.

It’s time for this.

In fact, to encourage people I did a book on this – “Convention Career Connection.”  The first twenty people to email me about this column get a free e-copy (PDF, ePub, or Kindle).  So go for it – I want you to make this happen!  Go here to enter!

Me, I see a bright future for the Convention Career Engine.

– Steven Savage