5 Things I learned at the AAJA convention & general tips in networking

This year was my first time attending the AAJA (Asian-American Journalists Association) convention. I was very excited to go to this convention because I started a local AAJA chapter at my college, the University of Texas at Austin, during my sophomore year. Before then I didn't even know AAJA was an existing organization. But when my colleague started a local chapter of NAHJ, a lightbulb lit up in my head and I asked myself, is there one for Asians too?

Soon enough, I found that there was a whole national and Texas AAJA chapter dedicated to Asian-American journalists. I was shocked that I didn't know about this resource, but happy and relieved that there were more of us! I was determined to create a local AAJA for UT Austin to create a network of Asian-American journalists because I felt this strong network would be so crucial to my personal success and also to other minority students.

I absolutely love AAJA for its mission to increase representation of minorities in the media, and also because it's a place where I feel that I can truly be myself. This year, I was selected as one of five Columbia fellows who received a grant to attend the national AAJA convention in Houston. At the convention, I met some of the most incredible people. Their relentless passion inspired me to continue in the field, even if it is competitive, demanding, and at times can be very overwhelming.

Here is my top five list of things I learned at the AAJA national convention. I hope this helps whoever is reading my blog, and can benefit student journalists and young professionals looking to go in the field.

1. Know what you want to do

You may be saying, but I really have no idea what I want to do, and that's fair. But when you are at a career fair or a large networking event, it's important to have some sort of elevator pitch. What is your name, who are you, what kind of work did you do beforehand, what kind of work/role would you want to do in the future? Are you looking for an internship or job? Organize this information before you go to an AAJA convention, or really, any career fair or networking event because this will make it easier for you and the other person. (who just might be your future boss) Practice your elevator pitch in front of a mirror or with strangers and it will make you more confident. Remember, it's okay if you still don't have EVERYTHING figured out. Most of us don't. We're all probably just looking for opportunities to grow and hopefully land an internship or job that will be a satisfying fit. But you want to start thinking about what you would want to do because if you don't know, how do you expect the other person to know or to help you? Go through your past classes, internships, jobs and experiences and ask yourself which ones you enjoyed. Knowing what you hate can also help you narrow down what you don't want to do in the future. Make a comprehensive list and see if you can weed out some obvious no-nos.

• At the AAJA convention, I participated in the NBC revitalization workshop. This workshop was geared towards people who are interested in broadcast journalism, and while it was an amazing experience for me to practice writing broadcast scripts and network with broadcast journalists, I learned that I lean more in print & digital journalism. Knowing this was helpful for me when I pitched myself to others. 
  

2. Be flexible

So maybe on-air broadcast journalism isn't for me. (It may be for you and if it is, that's great!) But I'm open to video, podcast and social media. So while it's important to know what you want to do, it's also great if you can be flexible. Don't be that reporter who only stays in their lane. What I mean by this is, even if you are a print journalist, don't be afraid to start your own blog, engage in social media, learn Adobe Premiere Pro, maybe learn another language, etc. Of course, do things that interest you, but with how much journalism is shifting from print to digital, it's so important to have a variety of skills and to adapt to change. At the beginning of the 21st century, there was no Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. Now there are 330 million Twitter users, 1 billion Instagram users, and 188 million Snapchat users to date. So if you're a journalist and you still don't have a Twitter account, get on it! 

3. Create genuine connections

Remember that girl in middle school who was only nice to you because you shared your notes with her? How did that make you feel? It probably left a bad taste in your mouth because it made you think about how shallow the relationship was. It's the same way when you are networking with people. You want to be genuine in your approach. Yes, you might be desperate in looking for a job, or you might really want that internship so you try your best to fake your smile, laugh and personality to showcase someone who is just not you, just to get to where you want to be. Don't be that person. I really believe that if you are genuine in your approach to learn about the other person and their background, it can help open more doors for you in your professional career. You never know, but they might also become a great friend or a mentor later on. Part of creating genuine connections is sharing what you love or are passionate about. Once you start talking about what you really like, your personality will come through and you will be more comfortable doing so. Also sharing your concerns or struggles can make you seem more human and not just a picture perfect person with absolutely no flaws, which can make you seem distant.

4. Do your homework

Connecting back to creating these meaningful relationships, it's important to do your research beforehand. If there are a list of guest speakers, panelists and companies at the career fair, do a quick Google search to find out about them. Bring good questions with you and ask those to get a better sense of the company culture and people. It's important to be interested in the other person because this will help conversations flow- and honestly, a little flattery doesn't hurt. If you are eager to talk to someone at the convention, know what kind of work they do. If they are a reporter, get their Twitter handle and see what kinds of articles they write about. If something interests you, then you can ask them directly. Don't just show up with little to no knowledge because this will be awkward. Honestly at a place like the AAJA convention, there are so many people at the event that it's difficult to know about everyone. But I would still recommend this so that you can see who you want to talk to beforehand. This will make your experience at a convention less overwhelming and "all over the place."

5. Don't be a Debbie Downer

The AAJA convention was a four-day event with back to back workshops, guest speakers, movie screening, networking, networking and MORE networking. As an extroverted introvert, there were definitely moments where I felt that I've exhausted my energy. Constantly meeting and talking to people can be exhausting, but don't be a Debbie Downer. If you complain over and over again, no one will want to talk to you. If you are really maxed out for the day, don't be afraid to take a quick nap to refresh yourself. Or drink coffee, get a good lunch, etc. I know for me I need a good night's rest and a wholesome breakfast to be my best self. You know yourself best, so know when you need a break to showcase your best self.

I learned so many valuable lessons from the AAJA convention this year, and I hope to also go to next year's convention which will be in Atlanta, Georgia. I hope this post was helpful to anyone who is interested in joining AAJA (which you definitely should!) or to anyone who want some advice networking at career fairs.

Best of luck to you all!

Sunny K.