Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
The roundup of Promoting Professional Geekery is here.
OK you're speaking at a con about careers. You might be managing an entire track of career events. So what more can you do to encourage people attending your convention or conventions to try the route of the professional geek?
Why, by inviting other professionals – but not just to speak. Give them tables, give them their own area. Start a Pro Section at your con.
Your work place may be the geekiest thing ever or it may be so straight-laced people fear there's going to be an office comedy made of it. No matter what, it's a great place to form a geeky group – and a great way to support professional geekery.
Think of all the things you can do at work that bands people together for geeky interests, or just band geeks together. A gaming group, a group for programming arduinos, an anime viewing group, what have you. Why not found one – you and all your fellow employees may enjoy it.
It's also a great way to support professional geekery. Yes it may be fun and relaxing, but it's also a huge professional advantage:
There's really no downside as long as you do it right.
If you've read this blog for any length of time, or any of my books, you know I'm big on people joining professional associations. They're great for networking, for keeping your skills up, and more. They're de rigeur for any professional.
So I'm going to assume that you're joining one, have joined one, or are so seized with guilt after the above paragraph you're going to join one.
Now, when you are/if you are part of a professional association, you want to make sure they know about things from the geeky side of things. They might not always know about the people who have a passion for the same subjects they do – but are coming at it from the fan/geek/otaku side.