Volunteer Your Way Into Conference Experience
Volunteering at the 2019 BYU Management Society Asia Pacific Conference in Mongolia offers a practical way to participate beyond attending sessions. It places you near business leaders, entrepreneurs, speakers, chapter representatives, and fellow students while helping create a smooth experience for every delegate.
The conference focuses on the “Believe & Achieve” business plan competition, professional development, regional connections, and discussions shaped by the Asia-Pacific business community. A volunteer role can turn these themes into hands-on learning through event support, communication, organization, and problem-solving.
You do not need years of conference experience to contribute. Reliability, a welcoming attitude, clear communication, and willingness to learn are often more valuable than a long résumé. The key is to identify where your abilities match the event’s practical needs and make your availability clear to the organizing team.
Understand What Conference Volunteers Do
Event volunteers may assist with registration, welcome desks, room directions, speaker support, attendee questions, materials, or schedule coordination. Some tasks happen before the program begins, while others require attention during plenary presentations, breakout sessions, meals, or networking activities.
The exact assignments depend on the conference schedule and staffing needs. Read the available participation and logistics information carefully, then contact the organizers through the official conference channels to ask about open roles, shift times, dress expectations, and training.
A volunteer should be prepared to move between simple administrative duties and unexpected requests. Keeping information accurate, arriving early, and passing questions to the correct coordinator will help the event run professionally.
Match Your Skills With Meaningful Tasks
Think about the experience you want to gain before requesting a role. Registration work can strengthen customer service and administrative skills. Supporting a breakout session can improve time management and professional communication. Speaker assistance can teach you how conferences handle schedules, presentation materials, and last-minute changes.
Language ability may also be useful in an international setting. Volunteers who can communicate comfortably with local participants and visitors from other Asia-Pacific chapters can help create a more inclusive atmosphere. Familiarity with spreadsheets, digital check-in tools, photography, or social media may be valuable as well.
Regional events offer a broader perspective than a single local gathering. Reviewing information from other chapter activities, such as the Vietnam conference, can help you recognize the variety of audiences, programs, and organizational tasks involved in BYU Management Society events.
Prepare Before You Arrive
Contact the volunteer coordinator as early as possible. Introduce yourself briefly, state your connection to the BYU Management Society or conference community, describe relevant skills, and explain when you are available. If you are traveling to Mongolia, mention your arrival and departure plans so assignments can be scheduled realistically.
Before the event, study the published program, venue details, accommodation information, and travel guidance. Learn the names of key sessions, speakers, competition stages, and conference contacts. You do not need to memorize every detail, but you should know where to find accurate answers.
| Preparation area | Practical action | Experience gained |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Review sessions, breaks, and shift times | Time management |
| Attendee support | Learn venue routes and common questions | Customer service |
| Speaker assistance | Confirm presentation and timing procedures | Professional coordination |
| Competition support | Understand the business plan program | Entrepreneurship exposure |
| Communication | Save coordinator and team contact details | Team collaboration |
Turn Service Into Professional Learning
Volunteering becomes more valuable when you observe how experienced organizers work. Notice how they brief teams, handle changes, communicate with speakers, and resolve attendee concerns. These observations can teach project coordination skills that are difficult to develop through classroom study alone.
Use quiet moments responsibly for professional networking. Introduce yourself as a volunteer, ask speakers about their work when appropriate, and connect with participants during breaks. Keep conversations concise if you are on duty, and never allow networking to interfere with an assigned responsibility.
The “Believe & Achieve” competition can provide especially useful exposure for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, management, finance, or innovation. Supporting registration, timing, audience coordination, or finalist logistics may help you understand how business ideas are presented and evaluated.
Build Evidence Of Your Contribution
Keep a simple record of the responsibilities you complete. Note the number of shifts, the types of attendees you assisted, the systems you used, and any challenges you helped solve. Specific details will make the experience more useful in future applications for internships, scholarships, leadership positions, or employment.
Ask the volunteer coordinator for feedback after the conference. A short reference, written acknowledgment, or confirmation of service can support your résumé. Describe the role accurately, using action-oriented language such as “coordinated attendee registration,” “supported breakout sessions,” or “assisted international delegates.”
Your experience can also become a professional story. Explain a situation in which you had to adapt quickly, communicate across cultures, or maintain accuracy during a busy schedule. These examples demonstrate initiative and dependability more convincingly than a general statement that you enjoy teamwork.
Make Your Volunteer Role Count
Use the following habits to contribute effectively and gain transferable experience:
- Arrive early enough to receive instructions and prepare your assigned area.
- Carry a notebook, pen, schedule, and approved contact information.
- Ask for clarification before acting when a request affects speakers or attendees.
- Protect confidential information and represent the conference respectfully.
- Thank coordinators and teammates, then request feedback before leaving.
Conference service is most rewarding when it combines helpfulness with purposeful observation. Approach each assignment as a chance to understand event management, regional business relationships, and the professional standards expected in an international setting.
Contact the BYU Management Society Asia Pacific conference team through the available official channels, share your skills and availability, and offer dependable support. Your contribution can help delegates have a better experience while giving you practical evidence of leadership, communication, and organizational ability.