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SHRM 2010 Recap

Now that we’ve been back from SHRM for 12 hours, we’ve decided to recap our SHRM 2010 experience.  First off thanks to everyone that stopped by the Beyond.com booth, wore a badge, and more importantly wore one of our shirts.  In fact we had so many attendees in our shirts that we went through our three-day supply in the first hour of the expo on Sunday night that we had to order more shirts for the next two days. It was crazy! 

The Shirts: So what was the deal with the shirts?  If you were spotted wearing our shirt on the expo floor you had the opportunity to win $500 on the spot—all for wearing the shirt!  How awesome is that?  So let us formally congratulate our three lucky winners:

• Day One Winner: Adam Winter
• Day Two Winner: Amy Kastberg
• Day Three Winner: Shannon Scherer

As a SHRM attendee it’s always fun to see what is out there, who has the best booth, who has the best swag (giveaways), who has the best presentation, etc… so let’s recap, shall we?

Best Swag: While SHRM 2009 brought us the SHRMWow from Benefit Focus, SHRM 2010 brought us…a lot of iPads.  While we’re not saying that no one stood out at the show, there was no one real memorable giveaway, that is unless you count everyone who was walking the floor in a Beyond.com Monopoly shirt. 

Best Booth: There were many impressive booths this year so here are the booths we were most impressed with (besides our own...haha):

• Snagajob.com: Had the ski lodge-feel complete with faux fire, grab for cash machine, and yeti (who only made an appearance on Sunday night and then apparently returned home).
• Monster.com: Had a great match game complete with a compelling presentation.  Also, I couldn’t even count the number of flat screen TVs that donned the booth.
• HealthHub: If you didn’t see the HealthHub robot you missed out.  Not only did the robot speak and interact with the crowd thanks to the man behind the curtain or should I say in the isle, but also the robot was also quite the dancer.
  
• OC Tanner: Once again OC Tanner impressed the crowds with their large booth presence and fine presentation skills. 

We also asked SHRM attendees what their favorite booths and giveaways were and here’s what they said:

For more SHRM favorite videos compliments of Beyond.com or to watch the reactions of Beyond.com’s three $500 winners visit our YouTube Channel.

 

 

 

 

What’s Your Favorite Past SHRM Location?

We’ve been prepping for the show and getting excited to head out to San Diego.  As we’ve been packing up we’ve been reminiscing about past SHRM conference locations and how much fun we had (see video below).  Let us know what your favorite past SHRM location is and don’t forget to stop by the Beyond.com Booth (#3431) in San Diego--you could have the opportunity to win a free vacation package!

“Must-Have” Items to Survive SHRM 2010

With only five days until SHRM 2010 is in full swing we have been busy getting ready to head out to San Diego for this year’s conference.  As we are all excited to see the usual suspects as well as make new connections, we are also thinking about what we need in order to have a successful show.  Here are our team’s “must-have” items to survive SHRM.  Let us know if we missed anything essential and don’t forget to stop by Booth 3431 to say, “Hi!” to the Beyond.com team! 

Top Sites to See In San Diego at SHRM 2010

 

In less than two weeks, we will all reunite at one of my favorite events—SHRM!  This year, I’m not only looking forward to the sessions, the expo and the networking, but also to spending time in the beautiful city of San Diego!  So in anticipation of SHRM 2010 I thought it’d be fun to put together my top ten list (in no particular order) of must do’s in sunny San Diego, which by the way is named after Saint Didacus and not whatever Ron Burgundy thought it meant.  So if you’re ready, here we go…

1. Unleash your inner animal at the San Diego Zoo. When you think of San Diego, the first thing that pops into most people’s minds is the zoo, and for good reason.  The zoo in Balboa Park is one of the largest (107 acres) and most progressive zoos in the world.  Dedicated to conservation, the San Diego Zoo offers you the opportunity to see some amazing species in their own habitats such as the Koala, Komodo Dragon, and the Giant Panda. If you do head over to the zoo make sure you have comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, and most definitely a camera. Also while you’re in town—check out Nighttime at the Zoo.  *Kid Friendly  
   
   
2. Imagine old Hollywood on Coronado Island.  An easy drive from the zoo, head over the San Diego-Coronado Bridge and prepare to go vintage as you experience the charm of the city of Coronado.  Home to the fifth best beach in America according to the Travel Channel and the famous Hotel del Coronado (aka The Del) a former getaway for old Hollywood and US Presidents, this resort style hotel is just as breathtaking as it was when it first opened in 1888.  The Del is a National Historic Landmark that should not be missed.  For you film buffs, let us know if you recognize this famed hotel from the classic Billy Wilder comedy, Some Like It Hot.  For you non-beach bums—rent a bicycle and tour around the island.  Be sure to stop in the quant shops for a great taste of small town America.  *Kid Friendly 
   
    
3. Party on the Pacific Beach Strip. This popular beach strip is known for having a low-key surfing scene by day and a bustling bar scene by night. During the day, you can experience the true beach bum lifestyle by lying on the beach, swimming in the ocean or strolling along the ocean front boardwalk. As soon as the sun goes down, get ready for some fun because Pacific Beach “PB” is home to countless dive bars, live music venues and dance clubs.
   
   
4. Experience first class shopping in La Jolla. Located 15 minutes from downtown San Diego, La Jolla is an exquisite combination of a southern European resort atmosphere and Southern California fun. In addition to the beautiful scenery, sandy beaches, adorable harbor seals and fine dining, La Jolla is also home to an array of high end shopping retailers! True paradise if you ask me!
   
   
5. See a show at Sea World.  Best known for Shamu, Sea World is a great way to get up close and personal (ladies, if you do plan to get close be sure your hair is in a bun) with marine life such as Dolphins, Orcas, Pacific Walruses, Penguins, Sharks, and of course Whales.  For those of you not so interested in the marine life there are also attractions and rides such as Journey to Atlantis, Wild Arctic, Bayside Skyride, Shipwreck Rapids, and more.  Stick around for the fireworks display that goes off each night at 9:50 p.m.  *Kid Friendly   
   
   
6. Experience the Gaslamp District Nightlife. Often referred as San Diego’s “party central,” the restaurants, bars and nightclubs come together to form a nightlife that rivals any city in the country.  A few of my personal favorites hot spots are:

•  Altitude Sky Lounge, an upscale lounge which allows you to surround yourself with San Diego’s glittering skyline twenty-two stories in the air.  Take in the unforgettable views and gaze down onto home plate in Petco Stadium. 
  
   
•  Stingeree, a nightclub and dining venue that sets the standard for San Diego nightlife. Rated one of the top ten new bars in the country by MSN, this three story nightclub offers the ultimate blend of high style and excellent service, and features a floor-to-ceiling waterfall, rooftop cabanas, fire pit and VIP lounge.
  
  
•  On Broadway, a high-energy night club that boasts over 30,000 square feet of ultra luxurious and modern décor complete with 9 different spaces, a computer light show and a 90,000 watt sound system.
  
  7. Witness cougars on the prowl in Del Mar. This exclusive area boasts pristine beaches, gourmet dining and unique shopping, but is most recognized for being a haven for “cougars” on the prowl (cougar = urban slang for a woman who looks young, dresses young and dates young).
  
  8. Hike Torrey Pines State Park. Take in all the beauty that Torrey Pines State Park has to offer.  Explore over 2,000 acres of preserved land that includes the rare and elegant Torrey pine tries, miles of unspoiled beaches, a beautiful lagoon and stunning overlooks. If you choose to take a trail leading to Black’s Beach, just beware that once you get past Flatrock, clothing is optional!
  
  9. Take in a baseball game at Petco Stadium. This ballpark is truly spectacular in every way, combining the timeless traditions of baseball with state-of-the-art fan amenities and breathtaking views of San Diego. And with a winning record this year, this is an exciting time to see a Padres game!
  
  10. Recreate the famous scene from Top Gun at Kansas City BBQ. A landmark restaurant known for its role in the 1986 Tom Cruise film, Top Gun, where Goose and Maverick belt out “Great Balls of Fire” is a must-see attraction in San Diego.

It’s Not All Doom and Gloom for This Year’s Grads

It appears as though the job market for new graduates seeking entry-level employment is begining to brighten.  Beyond.com reported that entry-level jobs increased by 80 percent in Q1 2010.  In addition to experiencing year over year growth, entry-level jobs in Q1 2010 were up an additional 19 percent from pre-recession job numbers in Q1 2008.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 2.4 million students will graduate with bachelors and associates degree this year, accumulating even more applicants into the job pool and suggesting a daunting job search ahead for entry-level job seekers. 

Faced with challenges to find jobs in their desired careers, many college graduates have turned to part-time or temporary work to gain experience until the job market picks up again.  Although competition for full-time employment remains tight, the Beyond.com First Quarter 2010 Career Trend Analysis Report indicates that more than 60 percent of employers that posted jobs are looking for permanent full-time employees, which is another positive sign that the job market is stabilizing.

The report also highlights that more than 61 percent of industries experienced a quarterly percentage gain in online job postings in Q1 2010.  Three industries that demonstrated overall stability and growth for entry-level jobs in Q1 2010 were Engineering, Healthcare and Information Technology, with quarterly increases of 41.6 percent, 16.4 percent and 9.9 percent, respectively.

“There is good news.  The job market is opening up for entry-level positions,” said Rich Milgram, CEO of Beyond.com. “While there are more positions available, recent grads need to remain mindful that they will also be challenged by 2009 graduates who are still on the hunt for a permanent position.  Plain and simple, it is important to be proactive in their job search and consider all opportunities to gain experience, even if that means taking a temporary or contracted position to get their foot in the door.”

To view the complete Career Trend Analysis Report and Industry Outlook Reports, please visit http://www.beyond.com/Media/QuarterlyReports.asp.

Is the Traditional Full-Time Job Doomed?

Back in February I wrote a blog called Why Hiring a Contractor is Beneficial to Employers.  While it’s beneficial to employers to hire a contractor vs. a full-time employee how does this affect those potential employees out there looking for full-time work?
 
First let’s quickly recap why employers are turning toward temporary and contract workers in the first place.  The main reason for putting the kibosh on full-time positions—a hike in unemployment insurance taxes for employers, so in order to save some dough, employers are hiring temporary or contractors so they don’t have to pay for benefits.

While this is good for businesses trying to cut costs, this isn’t necessarily what US workers want to hear.  Even more upsetting—according to WorldatWork full-time employees could become the minority of the nation’s workforce within 20 to 30 years.  If that’s the case in 30 years employees may be without health insurance, paid vacations, and retirement plans. 

With an unemployment rate reported at around 10%, employers have their pick of employees and several potential employees feel like they’re being taken advantage of given the current economic circumstances.  But the fact of it all is that employees will go where the work is and if the work is temporary or contract work that’s what they’ll take. 

Unfortunately, the job market, according to the W.E. Upjohn Institute, may remain in favor of employers for the next decade or so due to the massive job loss and the weak economy, but you never know—new legislation may pass that could turn the tables.  Until then, employers will find the loopholes and do what they can to cut costs too, after all they like us individuals are not unscathed by the economy.