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Tip of the Week

October 10, 2018

Four tips for taking good notes at your fall conferences

In addition to being Pumpkin Spice Latte season, it's also conference season for us in financial aid.

If you're lucky enough to attend one of the industry conferences, you may be asked to share what you learned. That's where your great notetaking skills come in handy, and here are a few reminders:

• Don't rely on the slides to be your notes. Slides with bullet points don't give you enough information. Write down details for each bullet point so you'll have a better understanding of the presentation or discussion.
• Don't let your notes go stale. Review them soon after the conference. You probably can't write everything down but if you review your notes after the meeting, you will probably be able to fill in any details from memory.
• Be organized. Date and title the notes for any session. Some notebooks are designed for easy organization and available at office supply stores. This organization will help you if you want to refer to them later.
• Develop your own shorthand. This works for either typed or handwritten notes and helps you keep up with the speaker. However, be sure you are able to translate that shorthand later.

When you review your notes, it's also a good idea to summarize them with either one or two important key points or next steps.

These note-taking skills will help you make the most of the conference season. After all, it won't last long - just like those pumpkin spice lattes.

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Mapping Your Future^®, Inc.
P.O. Box 2578, Sugar Land, TX 77487
(800) 374-4072