Building Professional Connections: A Day in the Life Sunday

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My down time (which has been in very short supply these past few months) is very important to me. I don't give it up easy.

My Sundays are very predictable - lazy mornings at home with the family - and I like it that way. Knowing that,  it may surprise you that that I am not at home with the family today. I am . . .  of all the places in the world I can be . . .  building professional connections at an HR conference in Chicago.

Actually, it's not that crazy at all. 

HRevolution is an event to allow HR professionals, recruiters, and business leaders to come together and discuss issues that affect businesses today.

I love this conference. I find so much value in taking an issue and hashing it out with a small group of people, especially when one idea leads to another and we end up somewhere unexpected. I don't always love it when someone has an idea I hadn't thought of or when their idea rocks a "truth," or something close to it, for me. But this is when I start to think - and grow.

I love the people. From this year's planning committee and participants to prior planning committee members and participants . . . we have some of the best HR professionals in the room today.

That bit I threw out to you in the beginning about "building professional connections?" Who am I trying to kid?! It's about me reconnecting with friends, colleagues and a room full of 150 forward-thinking, mess-with-the-status-quo people who just happen to work in and around the HR space.

Thanks to Trish McFarlane, Ben Eubanks, Steve Boese, and Matt Stollak for bringing it to us one more time.

Here are a few HRevolution flashbacks posts for your reading pleasure

Have a wonderful Sunday and go out and learn something today. It can be how to pick the best apple, how to use a Blackberry (@mikekrupa), how change a profession or anything at all in between - it's your choice.

Enjoy!

Keys to Success for Entry Level HR Pros

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If you were asked to offer a piece of advice to entry-level HR professionals, what would you say?

Would you talk about saying "yes" to anything that comes your way? Would you tell them to actively listen, ask questions like crazy and understand why before recommending a change? How about learning the business of the business? Would joining a local SHRM chapter and networking like mad make your list?

Well, I was asked this very question by Ben Eubanks, Mr. Upstart HR. He is developing the "ultimate guide" for entry level HR professionals as a resource to help those who are just stepping into (or thinking about stepping into) our profession and was seeking tidbits of advice.

My tidbit is this:

Don't be lulled into believing your education ends with your degree. Your education is just beginning. No one HR gig will expose you to the full realm of HR so study for your Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) as soon as you are eligible to understand the full context within which you are operating. In HR From the Outside In, the authors note, "The domain in which HR tends to be the weakest is in understanding and applying technology to build HR efficiency, to leverage social networking, and to manage the flow of strategic information." Dig into HR technology and be the advocate and educator for your organization.

Wondering what others had to say? Well, wonder no more. Check out the Entry Level HR Jobs Ultimate Guide for info on places to find jobs, job descriptions, salary Ranges,career resources and more tips from the pros. Enjoy!

What piece of advice would you add?

Photo credit iStockphoto