As a journalist and speaker I have interviewed many presenters at key events related to careers including serving as last year’s career journalist for the Career Management Alliance Conference.
Whether you are a first time career conference attendee or not I hope a few of these tips will help you.There are countless examples. One is just pulling Dave Opton aside from Execunet years ago in Kansas City and interviewing him for a Resume Writers Digest Article that gave me the insider guide to entrepreneurism.
Last year I cornered many including Peter Weddle (of Weddles Guides) and The Ladders folks who, of course, gave me all of their secrets! Whether I chatted in the meeting with vendors, speakers or presenters I was always in learning mode. Yes, I snuck a lot of questions in to the conversations. Last year I interviewed the cast of the conference but some of my most meaningful conversations were with you in the hallways and at breaks.
1. Bring a digital recorder. Sometimes as a career coach and journalist I use one to remember thoughts as I am in my hotel room. Also I have been inspired to ask someone a question and lo and behold I get a gold answer. Then I notice no recorder, pen out of ink or something similar.
2. Look to get lunch with or hang around people that stretch you mentally. In 16 years in the career business I wanted to know, in quiet conversations and over lunch, what others who I admired thought and how they handled questions, themselves.
3. Bring a list of questions that you want answered on a yellow pad or whatever you use - your laptop. Then look to get them answered. You have expectations. Get them met. I hope this helps you really get the most out of the conference.
4. Study the speakers, presenters and vendors sites and get ready to grill them. Like Rob is saying from Audacious Audio you need to be ready to increase revenue, renew relationships, create new networks and new bonds.
I will show you how with Career Search but be open to new ideas; don’t just go to stay in Status Quo mode! The world of careers is too big to do alone.
5. Oh yeah, have some fun! I do that too.
John O’Connor, CCM
The 2008 CMA Conference kicked off with a gala reception and town meeting at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. And hey, its wasn’t even cold, not even for this California boy! (Hi around 60).
There was alot of terrific discussion, including the unveiling of the location and date of next year’s conference. 
