HR professionals are increasingly facing the same challenges. In times of the so-called war for talent, finding the right talent is becoming ever more time-consuming and difficult. Yet the challenges go far beyond the broadly used term skills shortage.
Still, the term is often used as a buzzword for the current situation on the labor market. But the war for talent isn't actually the core of the problem – it's more of a side effect. First, the skills shortage must be distinguished from a general labor shortage. A labor shortage exists when demand for workers permanently exceeds supply, so that companies cannot fill their vacancies with suitable candidates.
In other words, there is an imbalance on the labor market. One consequence is low application rates, for example. HR professionals should therefore adapt to current labor market conditions and the far-reaching digitalization of HR. One specific question takes center stage:
"How do I reach qualified candidates today?"
Focusing exclusively on traditional recruiting methods (job ads, job boards) is a serious mistake for any HR professional today. Driven by digitalization, methods from sales and marketing are increasingly being combined with traditional recruiting processes. On top of that, organizations are becoming more agile, work models more diverse, and the workforce more demanding.
Communicating, listening, asking questions, sharing experiences – direct contact between like-minded people is an indispensable part of every change process in the modern working world. We're talking about HR networking. Unfortunately, it is not yet widespread or widely used. To give you an overview of the options, today we're presenting the most important and most interesting events.
These HR Events Are Worth It
Today we're presenting our top 5 events and trade shows that HR professionals shouldn't miss. Exchange best and worst practices with other HR professionals, get inspiration for creative and innovative processes, and above all: challenge your own processes against the market!
Specialized, Small-Scale Events
The annual St. Gallen Leadership Day serves as a platform for executives and HR experts to gain information and exchange ideas. The goal of the event is to bring together and reflect on the latest research findings and experience from practice and academia in order to make leadership even more successful.
Future-oriented topics, trends, and challenges are explored and examined together with renowned speakers. Unfortunately, it has already passed for this year: this year's St. Gallen Leadership Day took place on March 20 and 21, 2019. Under the theme "Change 2030 – New Transformation Models for the World of Work of Tomorrow", executives could look forward to a special and, above all, future-oriented topic.
For employer brand managers and HR leaders who want to build and strengthen their employer brand, it pays to set aside May 28 and 29 for the Employer Brand Experience conference in Hamburg. Over two days, around 35 speakers will cover 4 thematic tracks, among other things:
- Identity & Branding
- Culture & Transformation
- Sourcing & Recruiting
- Retention & Engagement
Last year's event was a resounding success: officially, around 100 participants attended on both days. A third of them were experts who had even been nominated for the "Employer Brand Manager of the Year" award. A large number of recruiters and HR marketers from a wide range of companies attended as well and will be there again this year. You can certainly look forward to another diverse program on employer branding and organizational development.
For something "in between," the Purple Squirrel Society association offers networking in a relaxed after-work atmosphere. At regular meetups, HR professionals can make interesting contacts and exchange ideas on current topics and experiences. The association is based in Berlin, so it is primarily of interest to HR professionals in the area.
HR Trade Shows and Conferences
The Zukunft Personal Europe is a leading European trade show held in various cities across Europe. Germany, Hungary, Austria, Russia, and Turkey act as established drivers of the future of HR management and are therefore ideally suited to represent the event.
With more than 25,000 visitors annually, Zukunft Personal is definitely one of the major HR events. And it has a lot to offer beyond its size. Content-wise, it goes all out: the Meetup Area enables networking with industry experts and their communities. In so-called meetups, experts exchange ideas on all kinds of HR topics. The Startup Village is also exciting, for example: young entrepreneurs present their innovative business ideas on the Startup Stage. You can look forward to many engaging talks on current and future-oriented topics.
Of course, Aschenputtel will be there this year on May 7 and 8 in Hamburg. Would you like to join us? Then get in touch with Susanne Milinevska, Growth Consultant (susanne@aschenputtel.agency). We still have tickets available and would be delighted to invite you – free of charge!
Our Secret Favorite
One of the major events, with around 1,500 attendees, is the New Work Experience. Unfortunately, it has already passed for this year: the event took place on March 7, 2019 in what is arguably Germany's most spectacular venue – Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie. Every year, around 40 first-class speakers share their experiences and insights in keynotes, discussions, workshops, and master classes. As the name suggests, the entire event is dedicated to one topic: New Work.
The goal for the future is to move away from the current, traditional notion of work. Digital transformation is putting people back at the center. Creative input, personal ideas, and individual opinions should once again be highly valued within companies. After all, work is a creative act that should be continuously adapted in order to remain successful and attractive as an employer in the long term.
If this topic appeals to you too, don't miss the upcoming New Work Sessions by XING. They will take place on June 4, 2019 in Bielefeld. Three award-winning New Workers will report on their innovation projects and the transformation of their companies.
We're already very much looking forward to #NWX20, which will take place next summer. On June 10, 2020, top-tier speakers will take to seven stages under the hashtag #workingonsunshine and once again enrich us with exciting topics.
Conclusion
Specialized events on recruiting, employer branding, or future topics such as New Work are in ever higher demand. HR professionals certainly have a wide range of HR events to choose from. Whether classic formats such as conferences and networking events or more modern formats such as webinars and Working Out Loud sessions: depending on your position in the company, you can weigh which topics and events are interesting and, above all, most promising for you.
How you go about gathering new ideas and opportunities for exchange is entirely up to you. We'll close with just one thing: Make it Work!
You'll find a calendar with an overview of the most important HR events in issue 1/2019 of Personalmagazin and in the Personalmagazin app.
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