Here is an honest account of my experience at REFACTR.TECH this weekend - my first ever tech conference.
I'm naturally an introvert. Talking to strangers gives me anxiety and loud crowded scenes make me 😵💫
The time leading up to the conference, I kept telling myself I was going to get out there and meet all the people I've talked to online and get photographic evidence that I can talk to people. I told the internet I was ready to meet everyone there and excited to step out of my comfort zone.
It kind of went like that. When I got there, I was immediately overwhelmed. There were people walking and talking everywhere. Developers, managers, PMs, typing away on computers and taking quick meetings. Some people came with their team. I felt so so small.
Searching for a lunch table, I felt like I was in high school again. Asking "Can I sit here?" to a group of people wearing company swag & trying to find a way into the conversation was really tough. Not impossible, but it took a lot of effort.
Going to tables where companies paid to be there and scout for talent, I felt so weird being like "Hey tell me about this company, I'm looking for a job and I'm entry level." Obviously I didn't say it exactly like that... but people did give me funny looks, so if you have any suggestions on some openers I can use, please let me know.
I got to talk to a few people though, and I'm really glad I pushed myself to do so. I met some online friends, even though it turned out to be only hello from me cause I forgot how to talk.
However, that's enough of the stress.
This is why I will attend another conference
(even though I said I never would again)
I got to attend a talk given by Shaundai Person (@shaundai on Twitter) where she decoded technical terms she's heard while working in ways a five year-old could understand. This talk resonated with me because I am new to the industry, never worked on a dev team before, and sometimes when I read technical docs I feel so lost that I begin to wonder if I'm actually supposed to be a developer.
Angie Jones (@techgirl1908) helped me understand the concept of decentralized identities - something my boyfriend has been talking to me about for months, but it just didn't click. Now I'm ready to buy a .eth address.
Nerando Johnson (@nerajno) not only came up to me randomly before his talk to be aggressively supportive of my journey lol, but also talked about the importance of building a community to build coding skills. He was a complete stranger that randomly decided to inspire me.
Cecelia Martinez (@ceceliacreates) made debugging look fun and easy during her talk and provided simple inspiration as a latine woman working in a white male dominated industry.
Mark Noonan (@marktnoonan) talked about the importance of accessibility when building applications, how to frame questions about design choices, and creating a process for yourself to avoid spending unnecessary time fixing preventable mistakes.
These were just some of the talks I got to attend, but the most relevant to me as a newcomer. I might have been able to get this information through my own searching, but it could have been harder to understand and not as memorable.
Stepping out of my comfort zone allowed me to meet some great people and learn new things. Sometimes the extra push is worth the opportunity.
How do you tackle new situations? What helps you break the nerves?
Top comments (1)
I’m so glad you had some good experiences despite the stress! Conferences can be overwhelming for sure, but over time you make connections and feel more comfortable. A lot of people feel the same way, even if it isn’t obvious. We’re all just awkward humans doing our best 😅 It’s also important to take some breaks too to decompress. Best of luck in the job search! A good opener can be “Hi, I’m interested in learning more about entry level opportunities at COMPANY.”