Quick-to-read HR news & insights
From recruiting and retention to company culture and the latest in HR tech, HR Brew delivers up-to-date industry news and tips to help HR pros stay nimble in today’s fast-changing business environment.
HR Transform 2022 in Las Vegas was my first slide back into in-person work events since the start of the pandemic, and wow, have things changed.
First, swipe right? I’m not talking about a Bumble-esque meetup (although it was in Vegas, so you never know). The app for HR Transform was particularly interesting to me, because it allowed you to connect with other attendees by swiping right or left, just like Hinge, Tinder, etc. The app even provides recommended connections based on similar interests or people that are of mutual interest to you and others you’ve “liked.”
Receiving a notification of a new match is akin to a quick dopamine hit, but it is also rather practical. Users have the option to send the person a virtual handshake and take the conversation from there, whether through in-app messages or a coffee meetup.
As cool as it seems, it raises the question: how many people actually use apps like this for their intended networking purposes? It left me wondering how many conference-goers actively seek out new people or if they stick to spending time with established connections and coworkers.
Closing in. Let’s say attendees took those first few steps of finding someone interesting through the app and meeting in-person—exciting! But how do scheduled meetings expand beyond that 15-minute chat?
I noticed that business cards have quickly gone the way of MySpace—hardly ever used and feeling pretty outdated. Fear not; badges at HR Transform were equipped with a QR code, so I could scan with my phone and be connected that way, too. This part was nothing new, but still felt unnatural.
Badge bumping. The more uncomfortable aspect for this reporter? An electronic square on the back of the badge. It made a noise as I pressed the square against another attendee’s badge, automatically connecting us digitally via an email notification. This step meant we had to get within a foot of each other, which felt oddly unnatural after three years of maintaining at least 6 feet of distance.
Yes, YOU, there, in the back: I’m still undecided on this new way of networking. How do you feel about swiping right or left in a professional setting? Are you noticing a change in your conference networking style? Join the discussion here on HR Brew’s LinkedIn page, or reply to this email with your thoughts.—KP
Do you work in HR or have information about your HR department we should know? Email [email protected] or DM @Kris10Parisi on Twitter. For completely confidential conversations, ask Kristen for her number on Signal.