I can’t go to Recruitfest this year on September 23rd and 24th, and I’m pissed. It has the unfortunate fate of falling in a month that contains two of my kids’ birthdays, my anniversary, my Shriner initiation, and a guest spot on The View. Plus the fact that I’m helping to put on the first ever TalentNet Live Expo here in Dallas to coincide with ERE for those not able to make it to Hollywood, FL.
Suffice to say that It would be difficult for me to get to Toronto next month for Recruitfest. Why not bring the whole family along, or make it a great anniversary trip for me and the wife? I tried that. No go. "What the hell is an unconference?" was a typical response.
The value in attending such a conference is different for everyone. For me it’s not so much about learning the latest tricks and trends. I’m egotistical in that I feel I’ve got that covered. It’s more about reminding myself of the basics that bring me the most success. And getting that invaluable renewed passion for the game that comes from communing with my recruiting friends face-to-face. As a recruiter, it’s always comforting to see that we are not alone.
I have made so many good friends over the last year on RecruitingBlogs.com, and Twitter, and through my own blog who are going to be at RecruitFest. And knowing I can’t attend makes me feel a bit like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters, drawn to Devil’s Tower by some unknown force.
So as I sat at dinner last night, absentmindedly carving the shape of Toronto out of my mashed potatoes, I decided that I would help someone else get to Recruitfest. You see, I have a ticket already. And I will give it away to the person who leaves the most compelling comment to this post telling me why they need or want to go to Recruitfest.
That’s it. Leave an Oscar-worthy comment, and subscribe to my email updates here to qualify. I will announce the winner around the middle of next week. Plenty of time to buy a plane ticket or hitch a ride with Jerry Albright. If the stories, pics, and videos from the last one tell you anything, RecruitFest 09 will be informative, inspirational, and a great chance for a close encounter with your online friends in recruiting.
Way to go Jill! Congratulations and here's my twitter account. @JeffHurt.
Craig – I could so see you on The View talking about how recruiting has entered the social media arena. So if they called you, would you do it? Let me know and maybe I'll start a campagin.
BTW, I was so looking forward to seeing you in your Shriner's hat. Maybe instead we could see you in the Grand Poobah Hat like Fred Flintstone. Then Barney Rubble (Jeff Lipschultz) could join you! Ooops, I digress once again.
Craig, thank you for your generosity! I look forward to attending Recruitfest. My freelance work involves putting together business conferences for human resource professionals, so I will look at the conference from that perspective. Also, the field of recruiting has become especially interesting to me since I've been following you, @Animal, @karla_porter & many other recruiters on Twitter. Cheers & thank you again. Jill
Jill, you are the winner!
Announcing the winner of the free ticket to Recruitfest '09…I was going to do this in the middle of last week, but some things came of for some of the entrants that caused me to put that off a few days. But after careful consideration, the winniner is Jill Elswick. Jill posted the best comments and even garnered support for Jeff Hurt.
So congratulations Jill. I will send you a DM for details.
Thanks to all who participated. I appreciate you and will think of some way to compensate you for your time and patience.
Jeff, thanks for the vote of confidence! Let me know if you're ever back in the Star City. What's your Twitter? I'll follow you. Mine's @jillelswick
Craig, thanks for the opportunity. I'm entering Sarah White's contest too, in case I don't win this one. LOL, I really have no business at Recruitfest. I just want to meet @Animal.
Okay, since inquiring minds are asking…No, I'm not really going to be on The View. And I'm not really going to be a Shriner either. I just didn't want to list all the really pathetic things that I have to do instead of going to RecruitFest so I made up a couple. I thought for sure those would be pretty transparent, but maybe not.
Jeff Hurt (who wrote the last comment by the way) you crack me up. So do all the great folks who have responded to this contest.
Wait, back up a minute. The View???!!! When is that? Inquiring minds want to know so we can set our DVRs to record it! WOW, hat tips to you!
So will Jeff be on Oprah since you'll be on The View?
BTW, I give my vote to Jill Elswick since her hometown is Roanoke, VA. That's where I grew up even though I was born in WV and have called TX home since mid 1980s.
Ladies & Gentlemen, and Top Recruiters on Twitter:
I've been following @Fishdogs & @Animal & many other recruiters on Twitter for months now. All have given me great resources for my job search. Along the way, I've begun to consider recruiting as a career. My hometown of Roanoke, VA often has openings for health care recruiters.
*music plays*
I could see myself doing well in that job & enjoying it. I am also applying for a position in my hometown that would involve helping the city recruit and retain young professionals.
*officers approach podium*
I'd like to attend Recruitfest to explore the idea of becoming one of you.
*music stops*
Assimilate me at your own risk!
I wanna go to Canada!
I followed the assignment, @Fishdogs!
*escorted offstage*
Thank you for your consideration.
Jill
I'm preparing my Oscar speech…
You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack. But when I read Fishdogs blog, I knew Craig was one of my own. And my wolf pack… it grew by one. So there… there were two of us in the wolf pack… I was alone first in the pack, and then Craig joined in later. And six months ago, when Craig introduced me to RecruitFest, I thought, "Wait a second, could it be?" And now I know for sure, I just added more guys to my wolf pack…"
Modified from the movie The Hangover.
I'm certainly interested in attending RecruitFest (suggested through @karla_porter). Coming from Australia I've traveled far and wide (and we just don't get the cool conferences). I'm going to be based out of Toronto for a year and can't think of a better way to spend my 3rd week in the country!On top of that who doesn't want somebody there who talks funny?
P.S. This echo commenting system is quite cool.
@BillBoorman is keen to discover the concept of the unconference, to run one in London in October. Besides, big fan of @animal, want to watch and learn from the show LIVE, to meet slouch, Jerry and all the tweeple. After all those £s on flights, hotels etc wont have many $ left for tickets. As an act of international relations, spare 2 tickets for an international tweeter. Birthdays permitting, you can have 2 in return for London.
Bill
I feel your pain. For those who have a chance to go, I guarantee you'll meet some really great folks who I've had to interact with. Just remember not the feed the Animal.
Okay, I can't go either, but I wish I could enter because this post is cracking me up.
FYI, you don't have to be in need of a ticket to Recruitfest to post a comment here : )