How to have a fun and productive CBC weekend

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference – usually known as “CBC Weekend” – is a fantastic opportunity to network with politicians, celebrities, and other up-and-coming professionals.  Each year, hundreds of NBLSA members and alumni join the CBC Weekend festivities.  There are plenty of NBLSA meetings and panels to attend, as well as more receptions, happy hours, and mixers than you can count.  Many first-time CBC Weekend attendees are amazed by the sheer number and magnitude of people they encounter in the District of Columbia during this powerhouse event.  As CBC Weekend 2013 approaches, let’s take a look at some tips and strategies for having the most fun and productive CBC Weekend possible.

GET PREPARED

The key for a successful CBC Weekend: plan ahead.  There are so many events to attend that it is impossible to just “wing it.”  You should research the official CBC-ALC schedule as well as the NBLSA CBC overview.  Also, check out the Fab Empire’s “Insider’s Guide to Congressional Black Caucus Week” 2013.  Get an idea of what events you must attend, what events you want to attend, and what events you would like to attend.  Prioritize your schedule accordingly.

Research the dress code for events.  If in doubt, dress professionally!  This also means that you have to make sure you get your dry cleaning and/or laundry done in enough time to pack!  If you’re tight on space and trying to avoid baggage fees, check out the Flight 001 Spacepak.  Whether you pack light or heavy, bring a bunch of business cards.

SET GOALS

Hopefully while reviewing the event schedules you have started to get excited about CBC Weekend.  Now, it’s time to think about why you’re going to CBC Weekend.  What are your career goals and how can attending CBC Weekend help?  Are there key figures you would like to meet or organizations that you want to support?  Do you have personal connections to an undergraduate institution or a Greek-letter organization?  Are you interested in meeting Congresspeople and their staffs? If so, which members of Congress are on your “hot list”?

Don’t allow CBC Weekend to become a law student’s version of Spring Break.  Setting goals beforehand can help your trip to CBC Weekend become a career-advancement opportunity.

GET ORGANIZED

Now that you know where you want to go and who you want to see, organize your information.  input as many events as you can into your calendar.  Plot out events that are close to each other so you can make the most of your time.  Plan your wardrobe ahead – you may not have much time to change between daytime events and nighttime events.  Organizing your schedule can help you pick low-stress outfits that transition from work to play – and give you more time to be out enjoying the festivities.  Time management is key in many areas of life, but especially when it comes to having a fun and productive CBC Weekend.

NETWORK EFFECTIVELY

Once you’re in “the place to be” with the “people to see” – what next?  The key is not just to be in the building, but to be networking effectively with other attendees.  Effective networking is more than just talking to a lot of people.  Before the CBC festivities kick off, you will want to work on your “elevator pitch.”   An elevator pitch is named as such because it should be possible to deliver in the course of an elevator ride following an accidental meeting with an important person.  Here, the pitch should be a short summary used to quickly and simply define you, your career goals, and why you are at CBC Weekend.

If your elevator pitch is interesting and value adding, the conversation will end with the swap of business cards or a scheduled meeting.  The rule to live by for CBC Weekend: give a card, get a card. If someone doesn’t have a card, jot their info down on the back of one of yours and stick in your pocket, or make a note in your phone.  If the person has a card, jot down on the back of the card where you met and what you talked about.  Then, when you follow-up – which you will, right? – you can reference what you talked about and hopefully get a thoughtful response.

Overall, networking is about QUALITY NOT QUANTITY.  Coming home with a stack of business cards means little unless the conversations that preceded the swap of those cards was meaningful.

If done right CBC Weekend can be the launchpad for your career.  Come prepared, with clear goals in mind and business cards ready, and who knows? Maybe you could end up working on Capitol Hill.  If nothing else, follow these simple suggestions and you are sure to have a good time, making professional connections and new friends.