If you're looking to get some quick bits of advice for the upcoming SHRM Annual Conference, then read on! 28 experts give their advice from over 100 years of collective experience attending the largest HR conference in the U.S.

2. TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS
COLLECTIVELY THESE
EXPERTS HAVE OVER 100
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
ATTENDING THE SHRM
ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

3. SHRM RESOURCES
BLOGGING4JOBS HAS CREATED
MULTIPLE RESOURCES FOR
ATTENDEES TO GET THE MOST
OUT OF THEIR EXPERIENCE.
• SHRM ANNUAL GUIDE
• VIP PARTY LIST

4. FACES OF THE EXPERTS
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR
EXPERTS!
CLICK THROUGH TO
SEE THEIR TIPS!

5. MICHEAL HABERMAN
“BE SOCIAL. SAY HI,
SHAKE HANDS, TALK TO
PEOPLE. TALK TO
VENDORS, AND THEN
TWEET ABOUT IT.”
@MIKEHABERMAN

6. ROBIN SCHOOLING
“SET ASIDE SUFFICIENT TIME IN
THE EXPO HALL AND IMPROVE
YOUR ABILITY TO HAVE
MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS
WITH VENDOR REPS BY DOING
THIS WHEN THE MAJORITY OF
THE 15,000 OTHER ATTENDEES
ARE IN A SESSION”
@ROBINSCHOOLING

7. JOHN JORGENSEN
“WEAR COMFORTABLE
SHOES AND BRING YOUR
OWN DIET COKE. SHRM
ALWAYS MEETS IN PEPSI
FACILITIES.”
@JKJHR

8. MATTHEW STOLLAK
“GET YOUR COFFEE AT THE
HOTEL BEFORE HOPPING ON THE
SHUTTLE. THE COFFEE LINE IS
LIKELY TO BE A MUCH SHORTER
LINE THAN AT THE CONVENTION
CENTER.”
@AKABRUNO

9. TIM SACKETT
“HUG! HUG EVERYONE! THIS IS A
NEW HR AND LET'S FACE IT WE
ALL COULD USE A HUG,
ESPECIALLY HR PROS! WHAT A
BETTER PLACE TO GIVE OUR
FREE HUGS THAN SHRM IN
VEGAS!”
@TIMSACKETT

10. BEN EUBANKS
ON YOUR WAY HOME, MAKE A
LIST OF 2 THINGS YOU'LL DO
WITHIN A WEEK OF BEING HOME
THAT WILL MAKE THE
CONFERENCE INVESTMENT
WORTH THE TRIP.
@BENEUBANKS

11. ANDI DEAVERS
“USE THE CONFERENCE APP TO
HELP PLAN YOUR SESSIONS --
AND CONSIDER SELECTING A
BACKUP OR TWO JUST IN CASE
THE SESSION THAT YOU SELECT
IS FULL.”
@THEGIRLINHR

12. JENNIFER PAYNE
“PICK AT LEAST 2 SESSIONS
THAT ARE COMPLETELY
OUTSIDE YOUR NORMAL DAY TO
DAY RESPONSIBILITIES IN
ORDER TO CHALLENGE
YOURSELF TO THINK BIGGER
AND MAKE YOURSELF MORE
WELL-ROUNDED.”
@JENNJENSHR

13. AMY DILLMAN
“GET UP EARLY AND GO TO THE
MORNING SESSIONS. THIS
SHOULD BE EASIER FOR
CENTRAL AND EAST. GET A
GOOD START. IT MEANS YOU'LL
STILL GET SEVERAL SESSIONS
IN EVEN IF YOU BURN OUT BY
THE AFTERNOON.”
@RHUMBARFAN

14. RUSSELL KLOSK
“FIND WHERE THE SMALL
GROUP OF EXECUTIVE
LEVEL PRACTITIONERS
ARE AND MAKE FRIENDS.”
@RUSSMK

15. RAYANNE THORN
“PACK PROTEIN-PACKED
GRANOLA BARS AND MAKE SURE
YOU ARE ALL CHARGED UP!
LEAVE THE HEELS AND BIZ
SHOES AT HOME, YOU WILL BE
WAKING QUITE A BIT.”
@RAY_ANNE

16. CRYSTAL MILLER
“FOLLOW THE TWITTER STREAM
TO GET MORE OUT OF THE
CONFERENCE. THERE'S TOO
MUCH GOING ON TO BE ABLE TO
DO OR SEE IT ALL; FOLLOWING
THE HASHTAG #SHRM15 WILL
ALLOW YOU TO GET KEY
"SOUND BYTES" FROM THE
SESSIONS YOU DIDN'T GO TO!”
@THEONECRYSTAL

17. KEVIN GROSSMAN
“PRIORITIZE THE SESSIONS YOU
WANT TO SEE AND FOCUS ON
EXPANDING YOUR HR
KNOWLEDGE BEYOND WHAT'S
FAMILIAR. AND DEFINITELY PACE
YOURSELF BUT ENSURE YOUR
INVESTING IN GROWING YOUR
PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
ALONG THE WAY.”
@KEVINWGROSSMAN

18. WILLIAM TINCUP
“PICK THE BEST SPEAKERS TO
SEE NOT THE TOPICS. GREAT
SPEAKERS ARE RARE. TEN
YEARS FROM NOW YOU'LL NOT
REMEMBER THE TOPIC SOME
BORING ASSHAT TALKED ABOUT.
AND, DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.
TURNS OUT, VEGAS IS HOT.”
@WILLIAMTINCUP

19. HUTTO MINYARD
“REVIEW THE SESSIONS AHEAD
OF TIME. IF YOU’RE GOING WITH
PEOPLE YOU KNOW TALK TO
THEM ABOUT SPLITTING UP AND
SHARING NOTES FROM
DIFFERENT SESSIONS. THIS WILL
HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF
THE SESSIONS AND FORCE YOU
TO NETWORK”
@HRRECRUIT

20. MAREN HOGAN
“SAY YES TO EVERY
INVITATION, UNLESS IT'S
A GUY IN A VAN ON THE
STRIP!”
@MARENHOGAN

21. SHARLYN LAUBY
“SHOW UP FOR "ATTENDEE
ORIENTATION". IT'S A GREAT
WAY TO MEET OTHER
ATTENDEES AND LEARN HOW TO
MAKE THE MOST OF THE
CONFERENCE. EVEN IF YOU'VE
BEEN TO SHRM ANNUAL
BEFORE, THE SESSION
PROVIDES A NICE REFRESHER.”
@SHARLYN_LAUBY

22. STEVE BROWN
“GO TO SESSIONS THAT
STRETCH YOU TO LEARN NEW
HR PERSPECTIVES. MAKE
MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS
WITH OTHER HR PROS. DON'T
JUST HANG WITH THE PACK YOU
CAME WITH. START A NEW PACK
OF YOUR OWN!!”
@SBROWNHR

23. JOSH ROCK
“IF YOU'RE ATTENDING WITH A
CO-WORKER, SPLIT UP. YOU CAN
CONNECT FOR DINNER/DRINKS
LATER BUT GET DIFFERENT
SESSIONS AND MAX IT OUT. IF
YOU'RE SOLO, MAKE A FRIEND
AND SHARE SESSION NOTES.
THEN GO WHOOP IT UP
TOGETHER!”
@JROCK96

24. JOAN GINSBERG
“IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE
FORTUNATE FEW WHOSE
EMPLOYER IS PAYING FOR
EVERYTHING #SHRM15, BE
AWARE OF HOW LUCKY YOU
ARE, WORK HARD TO VALIDATE
YOUR EMPLOYER'S FAITH IN
YOU BY RETURNING WITH REAL
VALUE FOR THEIR BENEFIT.”
@JOANGINSBERG

25. SALIMA NATHOO
“DO YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT
A NEW TECHNOLOGY? WOULD
YOU LIKE TO STRENGTHEN
YOUR PROFESSIONAL BRAND
THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA? HAVE
A MISSION AND LET YOUR
SENSIBLE SHOES GUIDE YOU.”
@SOCIALSALIMA

26. CRAIG FISHER
“DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE
HURRY. YOU'LL WALK LITERALLY
MILES AT A SHRM CONFERENCE
(ESPECIALLY IN VEGAS). THERE
ARE INTERESTING PEOPLE AND
VENDORS ALL ALONG THE WAY.
ENJOY THE JOURNEY - IT IS THE
DESTINATION.”
@FISHDOGS

27. MARY FAULKER
“HAVE A PLAN, BUT STAY
FLEXIBLE. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
ANY NETWORKING. BE POLITE
TO VENDORS BUT DON'T GET
SUCKED IN. BRING INFO HOME
TO YOUR COMPANY.”
@MFAULKNER43

28. TERRY GREENBERG STARR
“DON’T FORGET TO FACTOR IN
TIME TO BE ACTIVE ON SOCIAL
MEDIA. GET TO SESSIONS EARLY
SO YOU CAN GRAB A SEAT IN
THE FRONT AND CAPTURE THE
ALMIGHTY IMAGE TO TELL A
BETTER STORY ABOUT THE
BRAND.”
@HRSOCIALSTAR

29. JOEL PETERSON
“IF YOU'RE LATE TO A SESSION AND ITS
FULL, DON'T CAUSE A SCENE BY
WALKING DOWN EVERY AISLE LOOKING
FOR A SEAT OR HARASS THE
VOLUNTEER AT THE DOOR. SIT DOWN
QUIETLY ON THE FLOOR AT THE BACK
OF THE ROOM OR JUST GO TO
STARBUCKS AND CHECK YOUR EMAIL -
YOU WERE LATE ANYWAY AND THERE
WON'T BE ANY LINES FOR LATTES.”
@JOELYOH

30. DAVE RYAN
“PUSH YOURSELF OUTSIDE YOUR
COMFORT ZONE, ENGAGE OTHERS IN
CONVERSATION, MAKE NTOES OF WHO
YOU MEET AND WHEN YOU RETURN
HOME, CONECT WITH THE AGAIN
ONLINE OR VIA A SKYPE OR PHONE
CALL. TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES, THESE
WILL BE MEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME.
ENJOY THE SHOW!”
@DAVETHEHRCZAR

31. RACHELLE FALLS
“WHEN STANDING IN LINE OR
WALKING FROM SESSION TO
SESSION, REACH OUT AND SHAKE
HANDS….INTRODUCE
YOURSELF…MAKE NEW CONTACTS
AND SHARE STORIES. YOU NEVER
KNOW WHO YOU’LL MEET AND THE
LIVES YOU’LL IMPACT…JUST FROM
SAYING HI. #SHAREASMILE”
@CORPORATEHRGIRL

32. JESSICA MILLER-MERRELL
“CONNECT WITH
ATTENDEES EITHER ON
TWITTER OR SHRM
CONNECT. THAT WAY
YOU’LL NEVER BE
WITHOUT A FRIEND”
@JMILLERMERRELL

33. BLAKE MCCAMMON
“WORK HARD, BUT
REALIZE YOU’RE IN THE
CITY THAT NEVER
SLEEPS AND PLAY
HARDER!”
@RBLAKE