Top HR Conferences To Attend In 2021

Why Attend HR Conferences

Learn from industry experts

Many of the HR conferences listed on this page do a tremendous job at bringing in industry thought leaders.  The peers in HR tend to learn best practices from one another.  Other industry conferences might be vendor-heavy with content, but in the HR landscape, HR conferences tend to be very focused on quality educational resources.  You’ll be learning from fellow HR professionals about best practices and HR fundamentals in a changing world.

Legal liability protection

The number one reason HR professionals report they invest in HR conferences is to avoid legal risk before an issue arises.  Current and potential changes in labor compliance create strong talking points at HR conferences and help you stay on top of current affairs and relevant issues.

Continual learning credits

There are two major certification credits HR conferences will help you obtain.  SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP and HRCI and the main continual learning credit systems represented at HR conferences.  Check with the specific conference you’re considering attending to ensure they offer what you need.  Most of the conferences listed here offer dual credit hours so you can obtain credit hours for both.

HR Tech and Vendors

The HR industry’s best vendors will often find themselves in the exhibit hall of HR conferences.  Take the time to ask questions about new technology, resources, tips and recommendations.  These vendors have a strong pulse on what is happening in the HR landscape.  These tools help you stay competitive and ensure you’re leveraging the best tools for your organization.

HR Recruiting Resources

• Track the sources for every job posting with this free tool – https://vivahr.com/campaign-url-builder
• Understanding the power of Google AI job search – https://vivahr.com/google-ai-job-search
• The Culture Marketing Show, how to craft and share your hiring story – https://vivahr.com/category/the-culture-marketing-show

HR Conferences FAQs

How do I get certification credit for attending an HR conference?

There are two primary continuing certification programs.  HRCI, has been the more globally known and recognized certification.  They offer a search page that will allow you to find the HR conference you attended and apply for the continuing learning credit to be applied.  The other certification is run by SHRM.  They have SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP.  Recertification is required every three years.  Professionals will need to earn 60 professional development credits.  HR conferences are a great way to build those certification hours.

Is there networking at HR conferences?

One of the best parts about attending the hr conferences is the relationships you’ll make.  Many HR professionals will attend the conferences to meet up with peers, find mentors and grow their network.  As much as you’ll be attending an hr conference to learn, you should equally plan on bringing business cards to network and connect.

How many human resource professionals attend conferences?

Each conference will host a different amount.  The HR conferences listed on this page will have around 800 up to 10,000 attendees.  The national conferences can have as many as 15,000 hr professionals attend.

There are several virtual HR conferences that boast of 30,000 hr professionals attending virtually at a time.

Joshua F.

Redline Electric & Solar

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How to plan for your upcoming HR conference

• • Build your wish-list: Before you go, make sure you create your list of key questions you’re facing right now in your career, industry, team.  These can be your talking points while meeting with peers or during Q&A time at the end of speaker presentations.  It can also help keep you focused in the exhibitor area knowing who you should spend your time talking to.
  • Is there a conference app? Find out if there is a conference app.  Download it before you go to see latest announcements and potential peers, mentors you can meet up with.  The best relationships are built outside the hr conference.  Find out where the after parties and peer dinner groups are meeting.  WiFi is not always a sure thing at the venue.  Make sure you download the app before you go.
  • Get your Twitter account ready – Much of the conference chatter happens via a Twitter hashtag thread.  Find out what the conference hashtag will be, save it in your search preferences in your Twitter mobile app.  Engage.  These events are so much better when you can share what you’ve learned, insights and tips with your HR friends.  Great way to see who else is attending and who you may want to follow on Twitter for post-event conversations and networking.
  • Block out time for meetings.  The relationships you make will be better than the presenters’ message (sorry speakers! I know you agree though 🙂 Find time in the conference schedule to have one on one coffee connections or lunch meetings.  Get to know other professionals.
  • Take advantage of the early-bird sessions.  The more well-known speakers are scheduled during the meat & potatoes time slots of the conference.  However, some of my favorite sessions during HR conferences have happened during the pre-conference time slots.  The ‘up and comers’ are speaking and put a TON into their presentations.   Don’t overlook the newbies to the speaking scene.

Types Of HR Conferences

• Compensation and Benefits
• Diversity
• Employer-Employee Relations
• Labor Law Compliance
• Maintaining a Safe Environment
• Recruiting and Talent Acquisition
• Training and Development

Each of these categories of HR conferences will specialize around the current pain points your employer may be facing.  Some of the larger conferences will have breakout sessions for each of these categories, but you will gather more depth at a dedicated conference educating around a very specific niche.