8 Must-Attend Conferences for HR and Talent Acquisition

With more and more conferences popping up for HR and talent acquisition folks, it’s hard to choose. Hung Lee, creator of Recruiting Brainfood, has already listed over 230 conferences this year - and it’s only growing. Since attending a couple hundred conferences in 12 months isn’t completely realistic, I’ve helped narrow it down to the must-attend events you don’t want to miss. What follows: 8 of my favorite conferences based on personal experience, as well as feedback from others in the industry.

1. Unleash London (March 19-20), Unleash Las Vegas (May 14-15), Unleash Paris (October 22-23)
   
   The Unleash events are some of the best if you're looking for something a little different than most other HR conferences. Their biggest event takes place in Europe, drawing the largest crowd and best speakers. While you’ll still see staples like Josh Bersin, you’ll also find speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk and Arianna Huffington. Plus, the planners at Unleash are selective with the guest list, so the networking is top-notch. There typically aren’t more sponsors than attendees, and most attendees work at well-known companies. Another great perk? The food is always excellent — something many other events try to cut back on. Learn more
   
2. IAMPHENOM (Philadelphia) April 23-25
   
   Though I may be a little biased here since my team runs this event, I’ve been told it’s one of the best HR/Talent acquisition conferences, based on the speakers and content covered. This year there will be over 30 speakers comprised of HR and talent acquisition leaders, along with TED Talk speakers and bestselling authors. If you want to learn, hear from great speakers, network with great people, and eat great Philly food, this event is for you. Learn more
   
3. EBrandCon (San Diego) May 7-9
   
   If you’re in employer branding or interested in the topic, this is the conference for you. Though some conferences might offer sessions on employer branding, not many are completely focused on it. The event will be held in San Diego this year, which is a lively hub full of great restaurants and things to do (needless to say, you should plan to stay for an extra couple of days). Learn more
   
4. HCI Strategic Talent Acquisition Conference (Denver) June 10-12
   
   This is a smaller event with around 500 attendees, but one of the largest that's focused on talent acquisition. Most of the speakers are HR and talent acquisition leaders, which means you’re guaranteed to leave with incredible takeaways and industry insights. Denver doesn’t get much love from HR conferences, so even better if you’re nearby. Learn more
   
5. SHRM19 (Las Vegas) June 23-26
   
   Coming from HR? This conference has over 200 sessions, covering just about every HR topic you can imagine. Their massive expo hall is also something you have to see for yourself — especially if you’re looking for vendors or on the hunt for cool swag. Learn more
   
6. LinkedIn Talent Connect (Dallas) September 25-27
   
   Unless you’re new to the industry, you’ve probably heard of this conference. If you haven’t attended it yet, I definitely recommend adding it to your list this year. You’ll meet great people in your field and come back with actionable ideas. Learn more
   
7. HR Tech (Las Vegas) October 1-4
   
   HRTech is one of the largest HR technology conferences. If you want to talk to a bunch of HR technology vendors in person, they will all be at this event. The expo hall can get overwhelming as a result, so I recommend looking at an exhibitor list to plan out your visit. Learn more
   
8. Workday Rising US (Orlando) October 14-17
   
   Workday Rising is the only conference that isn’t just for HR; Workday Rising is for those who use (or are considering using) Workday. As a result, attendees typically come from a variety of backgrounds including finance, planning, and HR. The event always has great keynote speakers, and there are tons of networking parties. Workday’s event in particular is known for bringing in incredible performers. In 2018, Imagine Dragons played a live show at the T-Mobile Arena. Learn more