Best of SHRM 2009

Another year…another SHRM conference.  This year’s show has been exciting, rewarding and did I mention exhausting! It’s hard to sum up everything from the last few days, but I thought it would only be appropriate to follow up on my list of the Top 10 Reasons to Attend SHRM 2009 with a list of the Top 10 Best observations at the show. 

1. Best Giveaway: SHRMWow by Benefit Focus.  When someone comes up with a creative idea like this, I have to give them kudos.  From the name to the actual give away, it is safe to say this was by far the giveaway that SHRM attendees went crazy for this year. 
2. Best Crowd Pleaser: Ultimate Software.  As the booth right next to Ultimate Software, we witnessed first hand just how excited the SHRM attendees were to participate in their demos to receive a chance to win one of 100 premium gifts. 
3. Best Kid-Friendly Giveaway: A stuffed monster from Monster.com.  Kids may be afraid of monsters under their bed, but this is one “monster” that I’m sure any kid would love.
4. Best Dressed: Black-tie attire at Beyond.com. As a company that offers “First-Class” recruitment, we thought it was only natural to dress the part in formal attire at the opening reception!
5. Best Booth: The Ladders.  Wow, it is truly impressive what The Ladders was able to do with their booth space.  They completely transformed an empty box into a beautiful and intricate street block, complete with foliage, a sidewalk through the middle, and excellent branding on screens throughout the space.
6. Best Presentation: OC Tanner. If you didn’t have a chance to sit down to watch the presentation by OC Tanner, then you really missed out!  Not only did participants have the opportunity to learn more about the company, but you could almost mistake OC Tanner employees for real life actors. Bravo!
7. Best Service: Snagajob.com.  Everyone knows that SHRM is exhausting, so what better way to relax and unwind than by stopping by the Snagajob booth to get a manicure and learn more about their company.
8. Best Branding: The Right Thing. From the enormous booth space to the branded lunch boxes, you couldn’t miss The Right Thing at SHRM this year. And the environmentally-friendly Smart Car giveaway made them stand out that much more.
9. Best Local Flavor: CareerBuilder.com. Everything that CareerBuilder did at their booth this year truly reflected the New Orleans flavor. Way to represent the city who hosted SHRM this year!
10. Best SHRM Party: Yahoo! HotJobs.  As always, Yahoo! HotJobs impressed us all with a fantastic party on Bourbon Street.  There was great food, lively music, fun dancing, and even some bead throwing off the largest balcony on Bourbon Street.