As I type this, my best friend is running the Boston Marathon. I’m across the country, tracking her splits on an app (she’s crushing it). She qualified 18 months ago and has been diligently training since then. Logging miles and miles. Hill workouts. Strength and conditioning. Dragging herself out of bed, even on those days, she’d rather snooze her alarm. Race day is never easy, but there’s nothing like reaching a goal—especially after months of hard work and preparation.
If you’re headed to ICDC this month, you’ve been preparing for a different sort of marathon, and now you’re ready…
You've Done the Work, Let it Show
Real talk: You’ve already done the hard part. Whether you've mastered your skills through role-playing, poured over case studies or prepared business presentations, it’s time to cash in on all that sweat equity.
Here are a few tips as you get ready to travel:
- Download the 2024 DECA ICDC program & mobile app
- Create packing checklists to help
- Plan what to wear
- Organize key competition technology, notes and materials
- Overcommunicate with team members
- Get plenty of rest before the conference
- If it’s your first conference, ask your DECA chapter for advice
And once you’re there? Now’s the time to fully engage and showcase your knowledge. While you may or may not advance to the finals, the real value lies in the “doing” itself. Not every high school and college student has the chance to get practical, hands-on career experience—embrace it.
Build Connections for Right Now and What's Next
“It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” You’ve likely heard that overused one-liner at some point in your life.
And while all of us at DECA would argue that what you know definitely matters, that statement is a cliche for a reason—there’s some truth to it. Social connections are incredibly valuable to any career, and conferences are a great place to build them. At ICDC, you’ll have the chance to network with other students, industry professionals and potential mentors.
Here’s how to approach your conversations and build lasting relationships:
- Be positive: An upbeat attitude or demeanor is easy to spot. Share a conference highlight or something you enjoyed. (In contrast, complaints or rants can tank a first impression fast.)
- Stay curious and open-minded: Ask good questions; genuine interest in the other person will get the conversation moving.
- Find common ground: Shared interests, a similar major, or a favorite speaker—whatever it is can break the ice and get you talking.
- Look for ways to contribute: This could be as simple as adding value to the conversation (perhaps something you gained from a particular session) or something bigger (like realizing you can collaborate on a project outside of ICDC)
- Dial into opportunities: You never know when a new acquaintance could lead to a summer job or open the door to a future career. Pay attention to details and exchange information when you want to stay in touch.
Goodbye Comfort Zone, Hello 21st Century Skills
In the age of AI, 91% of learning and development professionals “agree that human skills, or soft skills, are increasingly important,” according to LinkedIn’s 2024 Workplace Learning Report.
Putting yourself out there isn’t easy, but ICDC will help you develop core collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity skills.
Every workshop, session and interaction is an opportunity to grow. Building these skills early in your career will help you stand out—in your interviews, on your future teams and throughout your professional life.
Beyond ICDC
Think of each competition, role play and strategic decision as a professional building block. These experiences will prepare you for big moments throughout your career. Things like future job interviews (where confidence and the ability to think on your feet are key), as well as speaking spontaneously and improvising in business situations (invaluable skills for any role).
ICDC can lay the foundation for your professional life—if you come ready to engage, learn and stretch your skills. Your future self will thank you.
Looking for more real-world experience? And the ability to create your own flexible schedule? Stop by the Vector Marketing booth for more information about our summer and year-round work opportunities.
