Number of View: 1583

As the staffing industry works towards greater symbiosis, the prevalence of social engagement is notable. And they’re getting quirkier.

 

Focus on TRU London II – The Recruitment Unconference

1-to-1, face-to-face, mano-a-mano, tête-à-tête: business is always about conversation.  It may be that the arena in which these conversations changes as time passes, however the key element of communication remains.

I really see the benefit of attending events where I can meet colleagues, competitors, experts and potential clients in a convivial atmosphere where conversation can be open and fruitful.

However I would also accept that for the majority of people the standard format for events and conferences are not conducive to creating connections as they rely on people being sufficiently motivated to initiate conversation.

Luckily this issue is being accounted for in the set-up of events – not least in the fairly new ‘Unconference’ format.  I was fortunate to participate in the recent Recruitment Unconference held in London and can not recommend this form of conference enough. The eagerly anticipated follow-up is on 18th & 19th February.  Dubbed TRU London II it promises to be a fantastic event for everyone associated with recruitment.

Social business waffle

Simon Lewis, editor of digital recruitment advertising platform, Only Marketing Jobs, comments: “The Unconference represents a unique opportunity for like-minded thought-leaders to express opinion without fear of retribution.  The common theme of the Unconference is ‘sharing & learning’, which very much sympathises with altruistic ethos underpinning social media – a much deliberated topic at this quirky event.  I liken it to the ‘water-cooler’ effect, where anyone from a business can congregate and waffle about stuff, quenching their thirst for knowledge.  Then they go back to their desks, better informed.”

An Unconference presents subjects as tracks that are led by selected leaders..and to be honest this is as structured as it gets!  Each track is given a space, an estimated timeframe and a leader who is there to inspire and, in some cases, referee. As these are smaller groups, and participants have the freedom to move between tracks, questions and subsequent discussions are constant and on a more personal level.

Certainly from those people I spoke to the feedback regarding this format indicated great support for the model, as most attendees had come away with information that was not ‘one-size-fits-all’ but instead reflected answers to some of the questions they had arrived with.

Enhanced offerings

However, it is not just about changing formats entirely – it seems to me that consultants are becoming aware that they need to provide a variety of options that suit businesses if they are to truly reach people.

Certainly part of this is pricing – some events this year have been priced out of contention for many businesses not least in the climate in which we have found ourselves in 2009.  Added to this, it has been difficult for businesses to justify having members of their team out of the office, especially as the conventional events cannot guarantee sufficient return on this investment. As I look at those events already scheduled for 2010, I see some acknowledgement of these problems (even if it is a little late).

Consultants, such as those at EngageFirst, are creating a variety of formats for their events in January 2010 from casual networking events, one-to-one consultancy/company-focused workshops and larger scale presentations.  They have acknowledged the need to provide businesses with a more personalised, cost-efficient method to educate staff and provide opportunities for like-minded businesses to converse.

 

So what are you waiting for? If you want to share your thoughts about the future of recruitment – with particular reference to the integration of social media within in – you should attend the next Recruitment Unconference.  You’ll regret it if you don’t.

 

 

What are your experiences of conferences etc?  Have they been useful to your business??  Are they just talking-shops with no real effect?? Should businesses even consider them at this time of cutbacks and consolidation?

Comment below – am interested to hear your thoughts

 

Original article written by Jacqui Hill | Social Media & Marketing Commentator

Headlines: Simon Lewis | Editor | Only Marketing Jobs

Related posts:

1. Social Media in Business Conference – 21st May 2010
2. CIM says marketing recruitment boosts business growth
3. Where is the staffing industry heading and how will jobseekers benefit?
4. Every successful recruiter will be blogging within two years
5. UK Marketing Academy announces influential business leaders
6. Promote your business at the marketing recruitment awards 2010
7. Opportunities & Threats: How Senior Marketers See The Future Of Social Media
8. UK Marketing Recruitment Company Launches Freelancer of the Year Awards 2009
9. How to use social media to attract talent for free
10. Digital Media MBA Summit 2010: Evolution of Social Media | 7th May 2010