{"id":773317,"date":"2026-05-14T16:55:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T23:55:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/?post_type=arcwatch&p=773317"},"modified":"2026-05-14T16:55:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T23:55:28","slug":"making-the-most-of-esri-uc-a-qa-for-students-and-young-professionals","status":"publish","type":"arcwatch","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/arcwatch\/making-the-most-of-esri-uc-a-qa-for-students-and-young-professionals","title":{"rendered":"Making the Most of Esri UC: A Q&A for Students and Young Professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5342,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","transcript_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","castos_file_data":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10932],"tags":[25072,483562,296442],"arcwatch_issues":[493495],"class_list":["post-773317","arcwatch","type-arcwatch","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-esri-user-conference","tag-esri-user-conference","tag-esri-young-professionals-network","tag-networking","arcwatch_issues-may-2026","arcwatch_sections-the-geospatial-report"],"acf":{"short_description":"Are you new to the Esri User Conference? Learn tips on how to prepare for the event, plan your schedule, and grow your professional network. ","pdf":{"host_remotely":false,"file":"","file_url":""},"flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Inside the San Diego Convention Center, the Esri User Conference (Esri UC) hums with energy. Voices overlap in crowded halls as phones glow with QR codes ready for quick introductions. Attendees pause for the perfect LinkedIn photo in front of art\u2011lined wall displays, while others step aside to grab a snack before slipping back into the crowd for their next session.\r\n\r\nFor students and early\u2011career professionals, excitement mixes with nerves. At this scale, where do you start?\r\n\r\n\u201cThat impostor syndrome is real,\u201d says Raquel Perez, an Esri industry marketing manager and founder of the Esri Young Professionals Network<\/a> (YPN). Having attended 16 Esri UCs, Perez says each year she enjoys watching first-time attendees arrive feeling unsure and leave with connections and a clearer sense of direction. \u201cThose moments,\u201d she says, \u201cwhen someone realizes, \u2018I belong here,\u2019<\/em> are what make the Esri User Conference special.\u201d\r\n\r\nHer advice for making the most of the week is simple: Come as you are, curious and excited to engage. Here, Perez shares practical tips on preparing ahead of time and approaching the week with confidence.\r\n\r\nThis interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.<\/em>\r\n\r\nQ: Why should students and early\u2011career professionals go to the Esri UC? What are some affordable ways to attend?<\/strong>\r\n\r\nA:<\/strong> For many students and early\u2011career professionals, the Esri UC is where GIS shifts from classroom experiences\u2014which can vary widely\u2014to something tangible they can imagine building a career around<\/a>.\r\n\r\nIn one week, attendees hear directly from people doing the work, see how organizations across industries use GIS, and begin to understand what different roles and career paths actually look like. Those conversations often help connect coursework and skills to real jobs.\r\n\r\nThe Esri UC also gives students a chance to invest in their development. That can mean getting feedback on a r\u00e9sum\u00e9<\/a> or portfolio at the Esri Careers booth, or spending time in Hands\u2011On Learning Labs to explore tools they may not have access to in school."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":773320,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Esri encourages students and young professionals to attend the Esri UC. The conference is designed to bring people into the GIS community and meet them where they are in their careers. For students, that often starts with student\u2011only pricing or applying to Esri programs<\/a> like student assistantships<\/a> or summer internships. YPN offers early-career professionals additional ways to attend, including discounted registrations, one\u2011day or Expo\u2011only access, volunteering, and virtual presentations.\r\n\r\nThe key is to see the Esri UC not just as a conference but as an opportunity to invest in your future.\r\n\r\nQ: What should students and early-career professionals do before the Esri UC to make the most of those opportunities?<\/strong>\r\n\r\nA:<\/strong> You don\u2019t have to have everything figured out before you arrive, but coming prepared to engage will help you get the most out of your experience. I always recommend keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date and using a QR code\u2014such as LinkedIn\u2019s built\u2011in code or a digital business card app\u2014on your lock screen so it\u2019s easy to connect with people on the spot. Having a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and a portfolio from school projects, internships, or your first role gives people context for what you\u2019ve worked on and what you\u2019re interested in."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":773321,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"It also helps to think ahead about what you want out of the week. Identify a few industries you\u2019re curious about, a tool you want to explore, or skills you want to build.\r\n\r\nFinally, prepare a simple conversation starter\u2014something you\u2019re comfortable saying. Try:\r\n