A few weeks ago the Northeast Ohio Human Resources Conference took place at the IX Center in Cleveland. HR pros from near and far gathered ‘round to attend informational sessions and learn more about their industry. In the meantime, Alliance had been scheming up ways to make this conference FUN between sessions!
At Alliance, fun is one of five main pillars that define our company culture. CEO Aaron Grossman wrote an entire article detailing how Fun became a company pillar, and why it’s so important. But we always want to walk the walk, and not just talk the talk. When we go to conferences, we want to be the “fun booth.” Conference attendees frequently line up right after their sessions to engage with us and talk to our recruiters.
People don’t typically line up to talk to recruiters, but it happens for us.
It is because we strive to bring the fun with us wherever we go, in and out of the office. We don’t have to be selling something to connect with an HR pro – we just want to leave a lasting impression that makes people think of us in the future, and even visit us again next year. We bring the fun to build relationships.
This year NOHRC celebrated 5 decades of excellence, so we decided to celebrate like it was the First Annual NOHRC, all the way back in 1966. With tie-dye backdrops, bell bottom jeans and “groovy giveaways” at our prize wheel, we channeled our inner 60’s.
Between informational sessions, attendees dropped by our booth and spun the wheel, taking with them hacky sacks, lava lamps, Woodstock signs or other 60’s themed prizes. While waiting in line they were able to have tie-dye tattoos applied on them and talk with our representatives about our casino-themed after party, which everyone is welcome to attend.
At the end of the day, NOHRC attendees may not go home with an Alliance sales sheet, and maybe they were too tired to head to our after party, but we hope the time they spent in our booth was fun and memorable. We want everyone we interact with to be able to experience our culture and values, and to see who we really are as a company outside of our building walls.
Is your company headed to a conference soon? Bring the fun by ditching situational norms and making your own party in your space. Go all out with costumes, promo items and decorations. If you are having fun with it, others will be drawn to your space and they will want in on your fun, too. Happy planning!