Conference Insider - What to Expect

Amy R. Dillman
Your ILSHRM Communications Director
and ILSHRM16 attendee

Here we are in the last month of August! Can you believe it? The summer vacations are coming to an end, schools are back in session and Christmas advertising is starting to pop up. Ok, maybe that last one is a stretch, but it will be coming soon enough.

I love Fall. It is my favorite season and this year it just might be the best yet as ILSHRM16 is on the calendar in September! Have you registered? Still thinking of registering? Here are a few insider details for what you can expect.

1. Learning Opportunities. The conference is jam packed with sessions that are broken down into tracks. You can sharpen your skills by staying in a particular track or you can broaden your knowledge base by attending a session in each.  The tracks are.Business Acumen & HR Strategy, Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning, Personal and Leadership Development, Total Rewards (Compensation & Benefits, Employee & Labor Relations and Compliance. More information can be found at track descriptions.

2. Networking. You hear it all the time. This event or that offers networking opportunities, but at ILSHRM16 it can really happen! That said, networking says 'work' and it takes a little work to network. We provide the platform, but it's up to you to say hi, introduce yourself, sit next to someone in a session or at lunch that you don't know. If you don't know where to start, seek out and say hello to an ILSHRM board member. We love to talk and would gladly help you meet other HR professionals.

3. Location, Location, Location. ILSHRM16 is back at Drury Lane in Oakbrook, Illinois. If you haven't been, access is easy, parking is easy, and here are no buses or mile-long hikes from your room. All the sessions are under one roof which makes #1 and #2 of this list easy! Breakfast and lunch are included Monday and Tuesday as well as the Monday night after hours event, but there are plenty of restaurants nearby to catch a bite or a beverage with those new colleagues you met while networking. While networking, did you find other shopaholics? Oakbrook Mall is practically next door - just shop 'til you drop after conference hours.

Got a question? Need some more advice? Hashtag #ILSHRM16 on Twitter or post a comment on our Facebook page.  We hope to see you there!

You can still register at ILSHRM16.