Bookmark This! #SHRM18 Conference Edition
A couple of weeks ago, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) held its annual conference in Chicago. Over 22,000 human resources professionals were in attendance. It was an exciting and extremely educational event.
It was also impossible to take in everything that the event has to offer. It’s just huge! So, I wanted to share just a few of the things I found along the way.
I’ve mentioned before that certified professionals can earn recertification credits by reading books. Well, SHRM announced during the conference a new list of books that are eligible for recertification credit. And I’m excited to share that both of my recent titles, “Manager Onboarding: 5 Steps for Setting New Leaders Up for Success” and “The Recruiter’s Handbook: A Complete Guide for Sourcing, Selecting, and Engaging the Best Talent”, are now eligible for recertification credits.
Speaking of things certification-related, SHRM also recently announced a new specialty credential for talent acquisition professionals. Look for more information about this new offering in future articles.
Another topic of conversation was government. Compliance has always been a big part of our HR roles, but the legislative landscape is changing rapidly. I know that there are moments we simply want to tune out all of the politics, but HR professionals need to find reliable sources to stay on top of what’s happening at a federal, state, and local level. And with legislation like GDPR, we even need to think on a global scale. If you’re not a member of the SHRM A-Team, consider checking it out. SHRM Government Affairs keeps us current and shares some ideas for pending legislation – like this bill on Workflex – that can be a win for employers and employees.
I’m not sure if this has always been a feature at SHRM conferences, but SHRM had an area dedicated to their Knowledge Center. As a SHRM member, you can contact the Knowledge Center for information at no additional charge. Ask them a question, they will research an answer, and send it to you via email. In the past, I’ve used the Knowledge Center for topics like inclement weather policies and meal/rest breaks.
Finally, one of the biggest reasons that I love attending the SHRM annual conference is networking. I can catch up with old friends like John Jorgensen and Steve Browne. And I can spend time getting to know new bloggers. If you don’t subscribe to The SHRM Blog, check it out. It’s a great place to find new voices in the human resources space. For example, I particularly liked this post from Mary Faulkner on “Style or Substance”.
As HR pros, our professional development is important. We spend a lot of time justifying resources for employees to get the training and development they need. Don’t forget about yourself. Mark your calendars now for #SHRM19 in Las Vegas on June 23-26, 2019. Look forward to seeing you there!
Oh, and P.S. I hope you don’t mind a little humblebrag, but the SHRM Store recently announced their top-selling books from the conference and “The Recruiter’s Handbook” was on the list! Thank you to everyone who has purchased a copy. I very much appreciate it. Also a big congrats to friends Steve Browne and Tim Sackett for making the list as well.
