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Day one of Transform 2024 has wrapped up, and our Director of Business Development, Matthew Braccio, was in attendance, diving into the latest innovations and discussions shaping the future of work, and representing us as official sponsors! This recap will cover the insights and takeaways from the day’s sessions and the celebration of the Transform Awards, highlighting those at the helm of transformation in recruitment and talent acquisition.
Growth Via Authenticity: Leveraging Social Media for Rapid Community Engagement
Session by Joel Lalgee, The Realest Recruiter
Joel Lalgee shared strategies for rapid growth on social media during his Transform 2024 session, focusing on how authentic engagement and targeted content can build a community quickly. His approach centers on using expertise in short-form video content to capture attention and drive user interaction on platforms like Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
Relevant Stats:
- 44% of people prefer to learn about a new product or service via short video content.
- 87% of marketers report that video marketing has directly increased sales.
- Short-form videos offer the highest ROI for social media marketing, with those lasting 30-60 seconds being most successful.
- Video advertising spend in the US is projected to grow from $76.97 billion in 2023 to $84.61 billion in 2024.
- Video content is evolving to become a staple across all marketing strategies, with the most success seen from content that entertains or amuses.
Joel highlighted the importance of SEO and creating content that hooks the viewer. His session provided tips on how to utilize your expertise to generate engaging content that resonates with and grows a digital audience.
Check out this clip from our recent interview with Joel, where we discuss the importance of authenticity in personal branding.
The Impact of AI and ChatGPT on Recruiting and Candidate Experience
Panel Speakers:
- Maisha Gray-Diggs, PhD., Vice President, Global Talent, Inclusion and Experience at Eventbrite
- Kevin W. Grossman, VP of Research at ERE Media
- Lynda Whittemore, Director of Talent Acquisition at Room & Board
- Amanda Jordan, Head of HR Technology-Global Talent Acquisition & Onboarding at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Benjamin Encz, CEO & Co-Founder at Ashby
From improving efficiency to personalizing the candidate journey, the panelists shared their excitement and concerns about the integration of AI in talent acquisition.
Maisha Gray-Diggs conveyed her enthusiasm about AI’s ability to “extend our resources,” allowing teams to accomplish more without replacing human input. Lynda Whittemore echoed this sentiment, highlighting AI’s capability to engage with candidates in a more “personalized way along the candidate journey.”
Amanda Jordan noted the practical benefits, stating that AI tools help to “enhance my skill set,” such as consolidating ideas into coherent communications. She also mentioned that using a chatbot led to a 60% increase in the application click rate, demonstrating tangible benefits.
The panelists shared concerns about AI’s rapid development and the challenge of keeping pace. Lynda mentioned that AI helps in crafting better job descriptions and other written materials, contributing to a more effective recruitment process. The term “lazy apply” was discussed as a phenomenon where candidates apply to numerous jobs simultaneously, which could lead to a flood of unqualified applicants.
Offering recommendations, Benjamin Encz advised us to “understand the strengths and weaknesses of each tool in your tech stack,” while Lynda suggested getting “comfortable with it and realizing where it is right to use.”
Quotes from the Panel
- “I’m not replacing anyone, but getting more done.” — Maisha Gray-Diggs
- “Artificial intelligence engaging more in a personalized way along the candidate journey.” — Lynda Whittemore
- “Texting candidates with AI tools improves candidate experience.” — Amanda Jordan
- “Try to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each tool in your tech stack.” — Benjamin Encz
Transforming Your Talent Tech Stack
Panel Speakers:
- Omar Khateeb, Founder & CEO at JobPixel
- Kerry Karle, VP of Talent Acquisition at DISH Network
- Brett Coin, Chief Transformation Officer at Findem.ai
- Linda Lee, Talent Partner at AI Fund
The speakers shared their insights on adapting to the fast-paced changes in talent acquisition technology. Kerry Karle emphasized the need to “identify what your business challenges are first and then identify the technology that will solve them.” She advised on finding where you are and where you want to go before looking for new technology.
Omar Khateeb discussed the importance of using content to “build a relationship with a candidate earlier in the process,” highlighting the role of storytelling in differentiating companies in a competitive job market.
Brett Coin brought attention to the practical side of technology adoption, urging the audience to “make sure the vendor is being realistic and get timelines upfront for integrations,” emphasizing the need for transparency and realistic expectations during technology integration.
The panel agreed that while technology can be overwhelming, the key is to approach it strategically. Companies should focus on aligning new technologies with their business strategy and ensure they understand the vendor’s roadmap and capabilities before committing. The goal should always be to enhance the recruitment process and candidate experience while maintaining a human-centered approach.
Quotes from the Panel
- “Use content to build a relationship with a candidate earlier in the process.” — Omar Khateeb
- “Identify what your business challenges are first and then identify the technology that will solve them.” — Kerry Karle
- “Make sure the vendor is being realistic and get timelines upfront for integrations.” — Brett Coin
The emphasis was on strategic alignment, careful vendor selection and creating a positive impact on the recruitment process and candidate experience.
Transform Awards Community Celebration
Hosted by:
- Queen Cora Coleman, Founder & CEO at The VIVO Club
- AJ Thomas, Chaos Pilot, Global Head of Talent Experience at X
The Transform Awards Community Celebration recognized the exceptional achievements of individuals and organizations driving innovation and excellence in recruitment and talent acquisition. The ceremony was a highlight of the conference that recognized those making significant contributions to the future of work.
Award Winners
- Data Master: Merck & Co. was honored with the People Reporting & Insights of the Year Award for their excellence in utilizing data to drive talent strategy.
- Difference Maker: The Social Impact Initiative of the Year Award was presented to Georgia United Credit Union Foundation for their outstanding community service efforts.
- Wellness Advocate: Datadog received the Wellbeing Program of the Year Award, acknowledging their commitment to employee health and wellness.
- Inclusion Champion: Guild was celebrated with the DEI Initiative of the Year Award for their dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Industry Mobilizer: The Inspiring Resources of the Year Award was given to “I Hate it Here” for their influential contributions to industry practices.
- Mission Messenger: Duolingo took home the Employer Brand of the Year Award for effectively communicating their company values and culture.
- People Accelerator: The L&D Program of the Year Award was awarded to Guild for their innovative approaches to learning and development.
- People Activator: Mixbook was recognized with the Employee Experience of the Year Award for their exceptional focus on employee engagement.
- Power Pair: The Executive Partnership of the Year Award went to Reformation for showcasing the power of collaborative leadership.
- Rewards Trailblazer: Compt was given the Total Rewards Strategy of the Year Award for their forward-thinking approach to employee benefits.
- Space Pioneer: Seismic received the Workspace Design of the Year Award, celebrating their creative and functional office environment.
- Team Builder: Mixbook also earned the Connected Culture of the Year Award, highlighting their success in building a cohesive and supportive team environment.
- Team Magnet: The Talent Strategy of the Year Award was bestowed upon Progress Residential for their strategic and effective talent acquisition initiatives.
- The Innovators: ShiftMed was recognized with the Transformative Tech of the Year Award for their impactful technological advancements in the industry.
We soaked in the wisdom of industry leaders, applauded the innovators at the Transform Awards and shared in the collective ambition for a more connected talent acquisition community. Keep an eye out for our continued coverage of Day 2 and come find Matt at the final day of Transform 2024!
