Let's just say it... the event was a hit. ERE Expo 2009 (#ereexpo) was without a doubt one of the best recruitment and talent driven events I've ever attended.
Mad props go out of course not only to the speakers at the event but to the awesome team led by David Manaster of ERE. His vision of ERE becomes more apparent with each event and interaction with the amazing teams he's put together to pull off these large productions.
So while I could write pages of compliments about the speakers and organizers and provide examples about what worked and was improved upon - I'll think I'll just pull back and shoot from the hip a few things on the top of my mind in relation to what I took away. Keep in mind that I'll be throwing up some video snippets of presentations with thoughts on small segments - but here are the top items that stand out for me at the moment.
- I'd like to hear more buzz about what Steve Bonomo at adidas is doing. His partner in crime, Steve Fogarty is great... but I sense some quiet genius lurking in Bonomo. Their presentation on building up an employment brand using various resources to impact the job seekers experience was interesting and a great way to kick off the first day - but I think Bonomo would have been a great addition to the final panel if they'd had another seat.
- Many Recruiters are still struggling to understand how social efforts will cure recruiting challenges. I blame the rooftop screamers and naysayers for this perception of the impact that social tools like Twitter or sites such as Facebook will have on direct recruiting. All too frequently a conversation was overheard about social recruiting killing job boards or sourcers or x, y & z.
This simply won't happen and it's naive to think it will. I also believe that it's face-time at events like ERE that help convey an evenly weighted message to remind rookies and veterans alike: These are tools, not silver bullets. - It was great to see a growing consensus that the Recruiting function is becoming more about brand and attraction - and should not necessarily report in to an HR organization directly. Mike Grennier, Senior Dir. Corp Recruiting for Wal-Mart earned more than a few exclamations of approval during his session where the topic again came up.
- What was also great to see and hear from peers was the trend related to how Recruiting teams are picking up the social aspect and interaction with potential job seekers and fielding many of the typical "HR Questions" - where HR is too afraid to respond, and thus contributes to that already dysfunctional perception of being unreachable or distant. Hey HR folks... paying attention here? Keyword: PARTNER
- Analytics are key to everything. I took on a new role just over a month ago that pulled the AT&T HR/Staffing Reports team into my shop. What this ultimately meant was that while designing and implementing strategic recruiting initiatives - I'd have complete control in ensuring that appropriate measurements were applied and examined to all of our recruiting efforts.
So it's great anytime I can talk with or listen to Kevin Wheeler, President & Founder of Global Learning Solutions, about the importance of metrics and understanding how, when appropriately applied, they can have an incredible impact on the business. Kevin chaired the ERE event and did a great job with the final panel. - This event was the most socially interactive ever and I believe this was because of the social tools used during pre-game. You can't deny it. With such an incredible spike in first time attendees there was still an amazing sense of familiarity among both the attendees and speakers that I've not seen anywhere before. People that had never met in person were greeting each other as though they'd been working side by side for months.
Social tools got the majority of handshakes and initial greetings out of the way - and attendees showed up itching for dialogue.
It was pretty damned terrific to meet some people I've been networked with online for months and even years. It was fun (and slightly disappointing) to have come in 4th during the charity poker event - I was robbed on the river! It was terrific to see so many great people really taking advantage of the opportunity to communicate and share ideas.
Solid props. Job well done. I'll be back.
Comments
Posted On
Sep 16, 2009Posted By
Michael VanDervortWhat kind of "typical" questions could be so difficult that HR people are afraid to respond? Would love to see some examples.
I find this notion difficult to comprehend.
Posted On
Sep 17, 2009Posted By
Jenny DeVaughnYour summary is thought provoking. I especially liked this part:
Quote:
It was refreshing to hear Mike's discussion about a few recruiting hot topics, including the harsh treatment of an agency recruiter which are usually off-limits, especially on a stage like the ERE Fall Expo.
Thanks for being a respected ambassador for our industry. I know you will win the charity poker event one day!
Regards,
Jenny
Posted On
Sep 17, 2009Posted By
Keith RobinsonBack in 2000 I "went on the road in the UK" with a message "recruitment is 101 sales and marketing" so why does it have to report into HR the skill set, the DNA and therefore "the recuiter" has no real affinity with "HR". The importance of talent on the P&L and the futre of a companies success is "people". So great to see and hear over here a really message to that effect.
Brand is everything "but not as is often perceived" ie not a "preatty visual etc". Brand starts with the CEO and cascades down through the organisation...everyone is a recruiter. If a great CEO says great things about the people in his compny watch the hits on the career site go up, it happens.
Agree re social it is atool or channel depending on how you us it, funny have a TV/Live web cast going on next week, just on recruitment...kinda fearful but first debate with a great panel Job Boards are not dead but will evolve. Recruitment is now like TV in that we have multi channel opportunities and the bad news is they "fragment" the audience, the good news is we have choice.
Whoops sorry long rant but loved what you wrote.
The old Brit.
Posted On
Sep 17, 2009Posted By
Jason C BlaisI just wrote a recap for the association of Employment Websites that happened the day before ere, and many of the same issues are being looked at by this group as well. It's always good to see smart people moving in the same direction.
IAEWS RECAP jasonblais.com/.../...
jasonblais.com
Posted On
Sep 17, 2009Posted By
laurie ruettimannI also now believe that recruiters need to be working in R&D labs to develop the latest technologies. When someone creates a teleportation device, I want a recruiter there -- giving feedback -- before it's beta tested in the public.
Posted On
Sep 17, 2009Posted By
Patti YaritzIt was a pleasure to meet you in person at the Indeed event. I must agree with your thoughts on ERE Expo. Compared to the spring conference the mood was greatly improved. As someone who believes that we can do a better job of managing candidate experience I was thrilled to here both Steve Fogarty from Adidas and Marvin Smith from Microsoft talk about the "black hole" and no prospects left out of the communication loop even if they are not hired right now. This is a model that when truly aspired to will change the perception of recruiting for the better.
Posted On
Sep 17, 2009Posted By
KatMichael, I think that some of the HR questions that typically go unanswered are simply staffing related and touch on the hiring process, interviewing or even just something as simple as resume status.I know that not only does our Human Resources team not want to engage with external job seekers outside of the application process for fear of liability, they go so far as not allowing us to blog or even tweet if our identity is tied to the company. Chris hits the concern on the head that the missing partnership is fear based and does contribute to the perception that there isn't much H in HR anymore.
I did not get a chance to meet Laurie in person but I thought she was as smart as I thought she'd be. Her comment about teleportation and recruiters just confirms this even more.
The only thing I'd disagree with Chris on is more Bonomo over Fogarty. I'd enjoy more spotlight on Steve Fogarty at any session. CUTE! (no offense Steve B. as you are both adorable.)
Posted On
Sep 17, 2009Posted By
Jason SadlerAnd... I'm coming to Dallas soon.
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Sep 17, 2009Posted By
Sarah WhitePosted On
Sep 17, 2009Posted By
SheilaGreat to see you again!
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Sep 17, 2009Posted By
Mike GrennierI refuse to weigh in on the "which Steve is cuter debate" though. LOL. No comment.
Posted On
Sep 17, 2009Posted By
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