4 Tips for Finding the Right Session
If you’re looking for the right session to kickstart your experience on Crainstorm, there are a few things you should consider.
1. Know Your Area of Expertise
Apply for sessions about subjects you feel comfortable speaking about. If there’s too much of a gap between your knowledge and that of the host, it could lead to difficulty connecting your ideas to their goals. Thoroughly read any descriptions in the brief before applying and make sure you feel you have something to contribute to finding a solution.
Note: If someone invites you to their session, however, consider that they may have chosen you specifically for a fresh, outsiders’ perspective on their challenge!
2. Understand The Value You’ll Bring
Are you a fresh face, bringing an outsider’s perspective to the session? Or are you an expert contributing your industry knowledge and experience? Pick sessions that allow you to fill the role that you most identify with and let the host know how you’re planning to contribute when you apply.
3. Don’t Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself
Applying is free, so while you don’t want to apply for sessions you’d be uncomfortable participating in, you can try for some that might not be an obvious fit or might take you outside of your comfort zone. The host screens participants, so the final decision is theirs. Crainstorm is about bringing diverse thinking together, so sometimes the odd choice could be the perfect fit.
4. Remember, Sessions Should Be Fun!
It’s not all work and no play, in fact, great ideas can happen when everyone is being a bit silly. Apply for sessions that interest you and you’re more likely to add something to the discussion.
Sidebar: Since online sessions for pay are a new premise, we are currently offering free versions in addition to scheduling weekly “free” storms that allow anyone to get familiar with the platform without the pressure to perform. Feel free to join us for the next Wednesday Reset, or to schedule your own free session with friends or colleagues to get acquainted with the process.
The Application Process
The Brief
To find the right session, you should start with the brief. The brief is a chance for the host to give a quick description of the challenge they’re facing, some background info and outside references so you can decide if you’re qualified and interested. It also includes the date, time, duration, payout and the number of contributors for the session.
Pro Tip: Go beyond the brief to find out more about the host. All hosts can be reviewed by anyone who has contributed to their sessions, so check their reviews and do a quick search of their organization to see if they’re someone you want to work with.
Imposter Syndrome
Now that you know all the requirements for the session, make sure you don’t underestimate yourself. The contributors enemy is imposter syndrome – that feeling of phoniness experienced by qualified candidates despite documented success that prove otherwise. Trust that you have something to bring to the table and that hosts will want to hear your ideas.
The most important traits of a good contributor are the ability to keep an open mind, the willingness to listen and the eagerness to contribute your own ideas. Beyond that, it’s up to the host to decide if you’re the right fit.
The Application
This is your chance to sell yourself to the session host. Treat it like a mini cover letter and let them know why you’re the right fit for their particular challenge. List relevant achievements, skills or life experience, all tailored to the session-at-hand. Also, remember the host is invited to leave you a review after the session and these live on your profile. Be honest when applying and don’t oversell yourself.
Non-Disclosures
When you sign up for an account on Crainstorm, you agree to our confidentiality agreement. It requires you to keep all information shared by your hosts private. This includes the topic, nature, host, budget, background, description and content of the session. For a full description of the agreement, you can visit our terms and conditions page.
In addition to the general confidentiality agreement, some hosts may also wish to include their company non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in their reference files and require participants to agree before participating.
These measures are in place to give hosts the freedom to share information openly – an important part of the creative process – and it should be taken seriously.
Getting Paid
Since you can check out what you’ll be paid and the length of the session beforehand, you can decide if it’s worth your time to apply. If you’ve attended a paid session, you’ll receive payment for your contribution within 72 hours. You’ll need a PayPal account setup with the same email you used to sign up for Crainstorm to receive your funds.
Keep in mind that if you are unprepared for your session, have a poor connection, or do something else that decreases the productivity of the session, your host has the right to remove you within the first ten minutes without payment. Make sure you’re ready and settled before you begin the session.
Now that you know what you should be looking for and how to apply, it’s time to get started!
