So… I’m going to the SHRM10 conference! Check out the video below. I also have my video notes below for your immense enjoyment.
Okay, HRCI (Human Resources Certification Institute), it’s time for a social media makeover! I alluded to this post when I was talking about everything else going on in my world recently. I am doing my best not to be mean-spirited or rude, because that doesn’t help anyone do anything better. Everything I say today should be taken with a smile. 
(<–Like that!)
Near the end of last year, I realized that HRCI was on Twitter. Being a lover of HR certification, I was thrilled to see them there. I had a few back-and-forth chats with Alexis, and we shared a few tips and ideas back and forth. Fun was had by all. Although they were using their URL in every. single. tweet. I was still inclined to give ‘em a break.
Flash forward to the past few weeks. They’ve been doing work on their website. How did I know that? Well, they’ve tweeted over a dozen times in a three day period about what you can do on their website. Okay, so they’re sharing. That’s something, I suppose. Continue Reading »
Before I went to HRevolution, I heard rumblings about a new guy on Twitter. Curtis Midkiff (aka @shrmsocmedguy) is SHRM’s new guy in the social media space. And with China Gorman stepping out (video below), they’re going to need someone stepping in to keep ‘em on the right track in the social space. I caught up with Curtis for a quick email interview earlier this week…
SHRM has been exploring ways to maximize our use of social media platforms both as an organization and as a service to our members. As a part of that one of the first items that our CEO and the rest of the global leadership team decided was that there was a need to have someone added to the SHRM staff that could be a leader in the area of social media and how we use it to engage our employees and our members. And I am lucky to have been the one they selected to carry out the job.
My goal is to really to work with the folks here at SHRM to make sure that we are using social media tools as a way to educate and engage our members while also connecting with others within the HR profession to increase awareness of SHRM. I also hope to be the Ashton Kutcher of the HR Twitter world…can you help me get to a million followers Ben? [Considering my paltry 2,400, I'm probably not the best resource, Curtis.
Hmmm, I am a buffalo wing conneisseur with in-depth knowledge of that subject. I will be releasing a list of the best wing spots prior to the SHRM annual conference…stay tuned.
I am excited about what we are doing in that space this year. In addition to being able to follow us @shrm10 and on Facebook, this year we are debuting the social media lounge. This will be an area at the conference for registered bloggers to congregate to post their blogs and videos. We will have plasma screens, video back drops, and computers kiosks and wi-fi as well. In addition, we are going to have a “blog squad” of SHRM members that will cover the people, places and events of the conference. The blogs and videos that we post will be featured on the annual conference website.
We are also hosting an official tweet-up on June 28th at a secret location in San Diego… How’s that for marketing? But seriously, we are going to host an event for folks to connect the dots with their “tweeps”.
They will get to hang with the SHRM social media guy, wouldn’t that be enough? And once their laughter died down, I would say that there are a number of people working hard here at SHRM to put together a conference that is worth every penny. Another interesting event this year is our voluntourism event with the uso where shrm members will create packages that will be sent to our troops.
The sessions are going to be great and folks will get to connect with over 10,000 hr pros in lovely san diego. And hall and oates are gonna bring back the 80s and some good memories.
Make sure you catch up with Curtis (Curt?) on Twitter. He’s @shrmsocmedguy over there!
These ideas for SHRM chapter leaders are a part of the SHRM Chapter Leadership Guide.
I often hear from other HR pros who are members of a local SHRM chapter that stinks. Depending on your chapter leadership, you could be having an amazing experience or a horrible one. Whichever you may be in, it wouldn’t hurt to pass this link on to someone at your local chapter. And if you are in a leadership position, explore the list. I don’t have all the answers (admitting that up front!), but I do love coming up with ideas that could really be beneficial for the average HR professional.
Here are a few ideas to make things more interesting and engaging for your members. Continue Reading »
Today I don’t have to ramble at you (aren’t you thrilled?). My pal’s going to do it for me. My buddy Allen Robinson has given me permission to republish the post he’s written about his SHRM experiences. He says they’re not as bad as everyone makes them out to be. I’m not going to agree or disagree with his assessment, but I will shut up and let Allen do some talking. Here we go!
How many times have you heard that SHRM is more or less a waste of space, a dinosaur of an organization or just not meeting the needs of the HR community? I have been hearing this more and more lately.
My view of SHRM apparently is different than the growing disdain among my fellow HR Professionals. As I was developing my knowledge of HR at the University of Michigan, I was given a great deal of support by SHRM either directly or indirectly. There in lies the key to why I feel that SHRM is still a relevant organization. Continue Reading »
How can SHRM chapters and members get more out of membership? Read on for a few ideas. This post is a part of the SHRM Chapter Leadership Guide.
HR Barbie, AKA Tamara in Ohio, asks the following:
I am so glad I found your site. It is so important for the newly minted HR Professionals, like me.
It was extremely hard for me to transition into HR, and like you, I did not find an HR position until I began attending CSHRM meetings (Cleveland chapter).
My problem with SHRM in general, is that it is directed more towards the management side. For professionals new to HR like myself, who only implements policy and is not a policy maker, it can be very off putting or in some cases a waste of time to attend.
I really want to join / attend on a more regular basis. Perhaps in one of your next posts you can write about how we can make chapter SHRMs benefit all levels of HR.
I’ve heard from others like my buddy Tamara here, and I know it isn’t a local problem for her. I don’t know if these chapters are expecting the national chapter’s offerings to make up for their lack of value or what, but it seems pretty silly to me.
In all of the HR certification talk that I get into, I really don’t know much about the Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) exam.
What’s on it? Who takes it? Is it worth the effort?
Recently I had the opportunity to interview Lori Goldsmith, SPHR/GPHR (LinkedIn, Twitter) about what her experience was like. If you’re wondering what the GPHR exam is all about, you’re going to learn from someone who’s been there and done that.
If you like this post feel free to subscribe or check into the study guide. It’s not GPHR specific, but the testing tips are definitely helpful for the HR certification exams and you have a money back guarantee.
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Me: Why did you decide to get GPHR certified? Continue Reading »
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