RecruitFest is not like other conferences and please, don’t come expecting an expo, because you’ll be disappointed. The agenda (whatever it is) is designed to create, stimulate, engage and encourage all participants to act as though they are there to lead a track. And while every RecruitFest is a little different, we figured an overview of the structure of one might be handy to have.
Pre-RecruitFest!- We recommend flying in the day before. Most people do and there will likely be a dinner or a tweetup or a place where you can all go and hang out to talk. It’s helpful to know the participants before sitting in a room with them for hours on end. Plus it’s good to get to know the city, lobby for last minute sessions, enjoy the local libations with your new colleagues and in general, get settled. We recommend you follow the #recruitfest on twitter or facebook to find out the latest and greatest, but we’ll try to announce it.
Day 1 (day)- This is the nuts and bolts day of RecruitFest! But before the nuts, before the bolts, comes the…drum circle. Well, it might not ALWAYS be a drum circle but you get the idea. You’re going to be subjected to something that pulls you out of your comfort zone. This might seem like a good step to be late for but don’t. The beginning of day 1 is what wakes people up, gets them talking, laughing and ready to learn. Once we’re done being “uncomfortable” we’ll hear from the emcee, pick your tracks (or make up a new one on the fly) and start learning. As the day moves along, you’ll have a chance to visit most of the tracks, but not all, which is the point. Choose what you have time for. Figure out beforehand what YOU want to learn. Each RecruitFest! will have a “People” page where you get to see all the bios and accomplishments of your track leaders and a “Sessions” page so you have a chance to peek (and learn) before hand.
Day 1 (night)- It’s the reason everyone loves RecruitFest! The legendary party at Slouch Central (wherever that may be). The party is where your colleagues and acquaintances become your friends. Great food, great conversation, plenty of space and something to drink for all (maybe a little dancing), RecruitFest! welcomes all track leaders, participants and supporters of RecruitFest! to join in the fun.
Day 2- The second day of RecruitFest! can be much like the first, but it’s not. Deliberately styled to be a little less intense, a little more intimate and much more casual; it may take the form of a collouium in the park, user-generated sessions or just processing what you learned on Day 1. Day 2 is about continuing the learning and processing part of RecruitFest! and identifying the intangibles you’re taking from your track leaders and other participants.
