Opening doors to opportunity for students at ECS Meetings
Here’s how to make ECS work for you.
Key #1: Prepare before you get there
Craft an elevator pitch
Prepare a concise, engaging introduction about who you are and what you do. Aim for 20 seconds. Practice until it feels natural and test it on trusted colleagues for honest feedback.
Bring business cards
Business cards create a tangible reminder of your interaction and make it easy to reconnect. If you’re unemployed, create personal cards with your name, contact information, industry, advanced degree(s), certifications/licenses, LinkedIn URL, and ORCID iD (if applicable). Consider adding a QR code that links directly to your ORCID iD.
Research attendees and speakers
Review the ECS Meeting Call for Papers and Online Program to identify speakers in your field of interest. Check their bios and recent publications to familiarize yourself with their work. Symposium organizers’ contact emails are typically listed in the Call for Papers.
Set realistic goals
Goals can motivate and energize you. Aim to make one meaningful contact per day or collect ten names for follow-up after the meeting. Keep your goals achievable to avoid diminishing your confidence.
At every career stage, relationships make the difference. How do students build those relationships? You hear it all the time: to land your dream job, collaboration, or mentor, you need to network.
“ECS meetings offer wonderful opportunities for networking and for making career-changing connections. At a recent ECS Meeting, a student introduced themself to me and shared a business card featuring a QR code linked to their publications. I thought it was an excellent way to promote both themself and their work—in an ideal environment for building meaningful connections.”
Robert Savinell
ECS 2nd Vice President
Distinguished University Professor
George S. Dively Professor of Engineering
Case Western Reserve University
Key #2: Actively engage
Use small moments
Attend the complimentary coffee breaks and strike up conversations while waiting in line—you never know who you’ll meet. Arrive early to sessions and introduce yourself to other attendees. Try simple openers like:
- “What session did you just attend?”
- “What stood out to you?”
- “Where did you travel from?”
Engage during symposia
Prepare thoughtful, relevant questions for Q&A sessions. Take notes so you can reference a specific slide or concept. Keep questions brief and focused—this is not the time for your elevator pitch. You may briefly mention your background for context but avoid long commentary.
Work the Exhibit Hall
Exhibitors showcase the latest products, services, and technologies, offering an efficient way to stay current with developments in your field while meeting representatives from multiple organizations in one location. Sometimes exhibitors have early insight into job openings—before positions are publicly posted. The Exhibit Hall also serves as a central gathering place for meeting attendees, making it an excellent venue to connect with professionals at all career stages who share your interests and may hold influential roles.
Key #3: Follow up
Follow the 48-hour rule
Send a follow-up email message within 48 hours—ideally within 24—while the interaction is still fresh. Make it personal. Don’t rely on AI! Write a thoughtful message that references your conversation. Thank them for specific advice. Share a relevant article or resource if appropriate. Suggest a next interaction, for example, by a phone call, on line, or in-person meeting, or request to visit their lab.
Be persistent—but professional
If you don’t receive a response right away, follow up again without being pushy. It may take two or three messages. If you referenced ongoing research, provide a brief update or ask for additional advice to continue the conversation.
Connect on Social Media
Within 24 to 48 hours—while you’re still fresh in their mind—send a request to connect on social media, especially LinkedIn. To establish an ongoing digital dialogue, stay engaged with your contact by liking, sharing, and commenting on their posts. Thoughtful engagement demonstrates genuine interest in their work, not just what they can do for you. It also allows insight into their network, which may open the door to more opportunities.
Engage again in person
It’s highly likely that your contact will speak at another ECS Meeting or ECS-related event (e.g., webinars, conferences, ECS Section events, etc.). Look for them in Calls for Papers, submit abstracts to their symposia, and attend their talks. Re-introduce yourself if needed. You’re not a groupie—you share a common passion in their area of expertise, and continued engagement reinforces that shared professional interest.
Good luck with finding that perfect next job, mentor, or collaboration. And don’t forget the many ways the ECS community can help!