e-recruitment strategy

What Should Conferences Deliver to the Delegates?

If you haven't logged into a BlogTalkRadio show yet, you missed a real corker yesterday.  @Steve Boese put out his 69th HR Happy Hour show live from the HR Southwest conference, with a room full of outstanding HR practitioners and consultants, many of whom you may be familiar with from the @billboorman TruLondon series, Twitter and blogs.

Steve's show description:  In partnership with our friends from Voice of HR, the HR Happy Hour will talk about the HR conference scene, and our live panel will share their observations about HR conferences and discuss what works, what doesn’t and where they’d like to see HR conferences headed in the future. Recordings of many of Steve's shows can be found in the RCEuro.com Audio and video player, including last night's show.

BlogTalkRadio is live, uncensored internet based broadcasting, with participants dialing in from anywhere in the world.  For this show, Steve had a panel in a conference room plus callers (including yours truly, representing the UK and #SRCONF).  Participants included (using their Twitter handles) @SteveBoese, @TrishMcFarlane, @Stelzner, @loismelbourne, @ChinaGorman, @Seiden, @ChrisPonder, @Frannyo, @fishdogs. My apologies if I missed anyone. 

There has been a recent and lively debate here in the UK about what a conference should look like and deliver, started by Andy Headworth on his SironaSays blog.  My partner for Social Recruiting Conference 2010, Vic Okezie, and I have made some comments, as have leading lights like Jon Ingham, James Mayes, Gareth Jones, Stephen O"Donnell and Bill Boorman.

The debate on both sides of the Pond is what a conference should look like, how should content be delivered -and to whom. Vic has been running a great blog series on the background to organising our event, which you can read here. 

A common theme is that delegates want great content and in particular want real user stories.  Entertainment only speakers, jugglers and lots of give aways (swag in the USA vernacular) are not that relevant. Vendors that deliver real value and information are relevant. Industry speakers who can provide case studies are relevant and desired.  Corporates who have faced challenges (and can talk about them) are highly regarded.

WiFi, mobile reception, twitter back channels, on-site blogging and other interactive elements are becoming the expected norm, as is the use of live streaming for those that can't make it onsite.  Venues that ignore these elements of any conference, not just one that has a Social Media theme, will soon be loosing out to more adaptive locations.

Have a listen to the show in the home page player and send me your comments.  Come register for the #SRCONF event and listen to 10 real life corporate practitioners share their trials, tribulations and successes implementing direct sourcing and social media.  Take part in the Twitter conversation now and, if you can't make it, watch the live stream on 30 November.

Don't be afraid to ask me

A question has been dominating my thoughts the last few weeks - am I unapproachable as a business resource? 

How else to explain that the 100s of people that I have met at conferences, engaged with via social media and even worked with over the last 20 years or so never seem to call to ask for my professional help?  And it isn't just me; I have had similar discussions with a number of colleagues, independent thinkers and operators, who get rave reviews for their knowledge and expertise during a conference, seminar or workshop and then wait for the phone call (or email or text message or tweet) which seldom comes.

Do we need a new theme song? 
"Call me, don't be afraid you can call me, Call me and I'll be around...."
(amended lyrics, with apologies to Petula Clark)

Or is it just that people don't really know what we do?  We are seen in that micro climate of the conference, the workshop, the blog or the Meetup - perhaps we are then pigeonholed into that mini area of expertise that we spoke of or demonstrated on the day.  Does our 'expert' status frighten away possible clients?  Have we not showcased the range of individual skills, talents and help that we can offer?

OK, then, here is my stab at it.  With thanks also to friends and colleagues who have recently sent messages out via LinkedIn and email to explain what it is that they do, helping me to better understand the real value they can bring to an organisation.

Who is Alan Whitford?
I have over 20 years experience in recruitment, human resources, talent management and technology solutions from all sides of the table; as a 3rd party recruiter/headhunter, as an in-house recruiter, defining recruitment processes and strategy, recommending and selecting technology solutions, building and implementing recruitment and web solutions and most recently have built a pan-European community and knowledge portal for the recruitment industry.

Wow, all of that then? But what do I really do?

I can:
    ▪    Deliver my passion for recruitment and the central role it plays in a company's success, no matter what the company size
    ▪    Run in-house workshops/healthchecks on all aspects of recruitment, including the emergence of social media
    ▪    Provide company strategic direction and change management consulting
    ▪    Brainstorm and create business strategy
    ▪    Develop and implement candidate attraction strategies and tactics
    ▪    Focus on candidate relationship management
    ▪    Define and select technology solutions to better enable recruitment and HR processes
    ▪    Measure your recruitment success with ROI workshops

In a nutshell, I can help you define what to do and then help you to actually get it done.  No project or task is too small or to large to work on.   My services can be purchased as stand-alone discrete solutions by the 1/2 day or full day,  or combined in an end-to-end strategy project.  Every completed project has the additional benefit of our free 30 day e-mail review and consultation service, with unlimited questions, helping to ensure that you continue to apply your newly-acquired knowledge to the best effect.

My Key Message: (and a final song lyric - Thanks Elvis)

If you got a problem, I don't care what it is
If you need a hand, I can assure you this
I can help.

How can we stay in touch?
Tel:          +44 7971 864620
email:     [email protected], [email protected]
Skype:     awhitford
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/alanwhitford
Twitter:     alanwhitford

And, as a final note, if I can't help you, I almost certainly know someone who can and will happily refer you on.

Thanks for listening. I look forward to working with you.

Best regards

Alan

What are we looking for at a conference?

10 days to go before I get on the big bird to Chicago and then a bus to Madison to join the TruCrew and a great line-up of track leaders  and participants to share knowledge at TruUsa .  I am leading some tracks (Job Board 2020, Culture Clash, JIT Sourcing)  and hope to pile into many others while there.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the future of traditional conferences, the Unconference movement and the more ad hoc ‘conferences' that we have on social media gatherings on Twitter with #hashtags like #TNL. Check out the radio show that Tru co-founder Bill Boorman and I conducted on Tuesday this week on hashtags and a range of Twitter tips from #mrbill

I was one of 3 speakers at a ‘traditional' event today, hosted by Recruitment Consultant Magazine , in Manchester (that is England, not New Hampshire). We ran the same event a couple of weeks ago in London (England, not Ontario) Recruitment Conference IT and Technology 2010 #recconfit2010  You might have seen my exciting effort at breaking the ice with audience in London.

Targert audience for both events was professional recruitment consultants (agencies), along with a smattering of technology suppliers and media types.  

I had the pleasure of leading off with a presentation on Social Media (a recurring theme, as I had the same slot at this conference a year ago). Raymond Pennie (@rpennie) of Kamanchi followed talking about creating effective strategies (with some focus on the impact of technology) and Felix Wetzel (@FelixWetzel) of Jobsite (a major #TruLondon sponsor) discussed candidate and advertiser behaviours (now and future) along with sharing some interesting research

Why do I bring this up when I am supposed to be writing about #TruUsa?  In one word: Engagement

I have spoken at, chaired or led more than 200 conferences, workshops or events over the last 10 years or so.  Which ones have given me the most buzz, the most satisfaction?  Other than Global Recruitment Conference 2008 , which I organised and chaired in Amsterdam, with an outstanding group of global thought leaders and delegates, I have to say that it has been those events where I set up or ran workshops/breakout groups. Why? Because in that environment, you get the engagement of every delegate/attendee - either with you as a session leader or with the others in the room.

In a sense, today confirmed that. We had an excellent group of delegates, professional and committed to their industry and their business, eager to learn from the 3 Talking Heads and the hosts.  All 3 of us tried to engage with the delegates (none of us are what might be considered wallflowers when it comes to speaking to an audience).  We had a few in the audience who were willing to discuss their company, strategy, questions and experiences. Feedback from delegates at the breaks and the post event drinks was excellent, delegates were happy, had learned and gathered real value from the day. The organisers (Jim and Gary) had two successful events and the sponsors/exhibitors did well.  But for Felix, Raymond and I, it felt a bit like an opportunity lost - for the delegates to engage in real debate and discussion with each other throughout the afternoon (although it did happen during the breaks).

That brings me full circle to Engagement - the real essence of an Unconference.  Track leaders start a conversation, hoping to guide it a bit and sometimes act as a referee if required.  The participants in the track drive the discussion/debate -its direction may go places other discussions just cannot reach.  In any session, the engagement of individuals - with each other, with a track leader or two (if we are lucky) is exhilarating.  Learning what challenges others have (Hey, look at me, I'm not so far behind) or successes someone is experiencing (Hey, if he/she can do that, we sure can!) - make it worthwhile flying 4,000 miles and taking a 3 hour bus ride to get to Madison. As it was worth it for the North Americans who flew over for #truLondon.

I can't wait. See you all there - or on video feeds on RCEURO, hashtag #TruUsa, twitter posts @rceuro, @alanwhitford or whatever means we come up with to share the experience.

As #mrbill says, it isn't just about the conference, it is about the conversations that happen for weeks leading up to an event and months afterwards. That is what I call: Engagement.

Looking ahead to TruLondon II and TruSource in London

Wow, less than 4 weeks to go and the Bill Boorman phenomena takes on its latest iteration with TruLondon II  and TruSource 17-19 February.

Inspired by RecruitFest in Toronto last year, Bill has grasped the Unconference model with both hands and taken it into places and worlds unknown.  We have all gratefully jumped on board, giving us a chance to share knowledge and learning with colleagues and strangers on a level playing field. No more are we seen as just 'talking heads', but as session Track Leaders. But. to me, even that  is a misnomer. We are active participants, learning as much as we teach.



The only downside?  I want to sit in on every session, itch to put in my $.02 with other leaders, learn from the delegates, ask them what they really want to see happen in recruitment and share in their triumphs as well as sympathise with their disappointments.

What will I be doing?
Talking about Job Boards 2020 with long time collaborator Keith Robinson  and online marketing expert Simon Lewis.

Looking at the Cultural Clash of cross border recruitment (as a Yank abroad for over 30 years, I have experienced this first hand in many countries) with  Brit Jon Ingham, American Laurie Reuttimann, Canadian Geoff Webb and Dee Allan from Singapore.

Discussing Bill Boorman's pet topic (one of many), Phoenix Recruiting with blogger and thinker extraordinaire, Andy Headworth.

Linking up with Shane McClusker to explore my own Talent Puddle principle; hoping to extend and question this concept.

Oh, and while this is going on, RCEURO will be there to conduct interviews, report on the action, broadcast online radio with our European Thought Leaders track and the Bill Boorman shows.

Come one, come all and enjoy a great three days.  Click here for Registration:

Read more about TruLondon, listen to the online radio shows and watch some of the video on the RCEURO site.

Thoughts for 2010

I have been invited by Bill Boorman to record a video with some of my thoughts and hopes for the recruitment industry for 2010. This was part of Bill's amazing #HRCARNIVAL initiative that he has been running on his Norton Folgate: The Recruiting Unblog. Bill has now posted over 80 Vlogs ranging from 1-5 minutes from the great and good of recruitment from around the world -  a real testament to the reach he has achieved in the last 12 months.

It has been an honour to work with Bill.  He has included me in his 'Manic Monday' of three BlogTalk Radio shows: 6am for Australia/New Zealand. Noon for UK/Europe and 6pm for the US audience.  You can listen to the latest shows on the players on this blog or by visiting the RCEURO site.

I hope you enjoy the video. Please get in touch with comments or suggestions.

Have a great 2010.

Gary Hayes Social Media Counter

According to Gary Hayes on his site Personalize Media, followers of social media are interested in the exponential growth of in the use of various SM sites. He has built a 'calculator' to show live statistics for a variety of social media and web based apps. Check it out.

Recuiter House Party on Blog Talk Radio

I have been invited to join Geoff Webb, the Radical Recruiter, on the Recruiter House Party as part of the Bill Boorman TruLondon Crew.

We will discuss the Recruiting Unconference held in London on 19 November and the 2010 conference, being held 18/190 February in London. Track information, including a profile of this writer, can be found here.

You can visit the radio show on the Blog Talk Radio site, dial in to listen and participate on the US number, +1 917 388-4359, or listen to the show on the Recuiter House Party player here on my blog home page. The show airs at 20:00 EST on Wed 9 December, 01:00 GMT Thursday 10 December.

The full tape of the show will be available on the RCEURO site in the morning.

Listen in, participate on the night.   Post show comments are very welcome.

TRULONDON BLOG STARTED BY GEOFF WEBB

Geoff Webb from Toronto, Radical Recruiter and session leader at TruLondon I in November has added to his many outlets with Tru Blog, which should grow to include content from many of the proposed Tru events, including Tru London II in London in February and possible Tru North and Tru USA.

Spreading the gospel of Bill Boorman and many many thought leaders in all aspects of recruitment from around the world.

RCEuro.com is happy to be a sponsor of the London series and I am personally looking forward to travelling to North America (back near my roots of upstate NY, only 85 miles or so from Torornto) to share learning and knowledge with so many individuals I have met on Twitter and the various recruitment blogs.

Recruiting Unconference - a growing phenomenon

Bill Boorman is pushing forward with his ambitious plans for Recruiting Unconference/TruLondon II in London on 17/18 February.  Track leaders from North America are joining the bandwagon, with full details to be announced shortly.

In the meantime, RCEuro.com has created an Event specific page for the November event, to host video, audio, photos and blog links about the first TruLondon.  If anybody has additional information or links, please send them to me and I will ensure they will be posted.

This is the first event specific page on the RCEuro site, which will become a model for future events that the community site sponsors.

Marc Ernst, founder of Belgian based HRMInfo and Bizinfo, is conducting a survey/questionnaire as the basis for the first interactive white paper about recruiting via social media/networks.

It is his goal to make broad use of the knowledge and experience of HR professionals on the subject of recruiting via social media/networks. Over 500 copies of the Dutch/French editions have been pre-sold and the marketing of the English language edition is beginning now.

The questionnaire can be downloaded here: Download Questionnaire_English.

Email responses should be directed back to Marc: [email protected].

As it has been a very busy few weeks on the Social Media front for recruitment, we urge our members and visitors to take a few minutes out of their busy day/night and answer Marc's survey. Results will be published on RCEuro in three languages as available.


Marc's contact details: Marc Ernst Director BizInfo
(knowledge provider & communities creator for professionals)
T: + 32 9 324 86 59
Mobile: + 32 497 21 85 06