文章基本信息

标题：HR Technology used to track SHRM volunteers; online system a 'job board' for members
作者：Beth McConnell
期刊名称：HR Magazine
印刷版ISSN：1047-3149
出版年度：2004
卷号：Oct 2004
出版社：Society for Human Resource Management

HR Technology used to track SHRM volunteers; online system a 'job board' for members

Beth McConnell

HR professionals are used to working with online job boards and their companies' applicant tracking systems. Soon they'll be on the other side of the keyboard, as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) unveils its own applicant tracking system--for volunteers.

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SHRM will implement the new volunteer recruitment and selection process to match qualified members with volunteer opportunities and expand the pool of volunteers, said Anne-Margaret Olsson, director of member special programs for SHRM. To make the best use of technology, SHRM is modifying an applicant tracking system. But instead of tracking job applicants, SHRM will track volunteers.

SHRM will post volunteer positions online so that members can see which positions are available, the time commitment required and the skills needed to fill the position. Potential volunteers can post their interests, resumes and experience. SHRM staff can then query the system to locate qualified members interested in specific positions. Members will be able to maintain and update their own records.

The SHRM Board of Directors approved the volunteer recruitment and selection process at its August meeting, and SHRM plans to unveil the system to volunteer leaders at the Nov. 18-20, 2004, Leadership Conference in Arlington, Va. Olsson said SHRM plans to have a kiosk set up for conference attendees to try out the new volunteer system. (See page 138 for more information about the conference.)

A wide variety of information can be stored and accessed on the database, which will allow SHRM staff to see compatibility among volunteers and open positions. Regional staff will have access to the database to fill state council openings. Members will be able to refer someone to a volunteer position--they will input the colleague's e-mail address, and SHRM will e-mail the colleague, inviting him or her to be an SHRM volunteer. Senior HR professionals may nominate themselves or a colleague for one of the special expertise panels.

Also, potential volunteers will notice that many of the volunteer positions are not geographically limited, nor do they call for a lengthy time commitment. For example, SHRM needs members to be available for media interviews and provide an HR practitioner's viewpoint to reporters. If the Wall Street Journal calls the SHRM Media Affairs Department in search of information on implementing an HR information system, SHRM wants to be able to connect the reporter to an actual HR practitioner.

This new technology puts SHRM on the leading edge of volunteer recruiting and selection in associations, SHRM staff told the Board of Directors in August.

"In the past," Olsson said, "SHRM leaders relied more on word-of-mouth to fill volunteer slots. This is a way to get more members involved in SHRM opportunities."

If you are interested in volunteering for SHRM, contact volunteer@shrm.org.

Leadership Conference Plans Changes

SHRM is beginning to reformat the Leadership Conference from a chapter-management focus to a leadership-development focus, said Susan Post, SPHR, Northeast regional director, who is coordinating the conference.

"Instead of just sessions on how to manage chapters or recruit members--though those sessions will always have a place at the conference--our hope is to transition to a true leadership development conference," Post said.

For example, Post said, SHRM staff plans to hold a state council session on competencies needed to be effective leaders, based on the HR Competency Toolkit from SHRM and the University of Michigan Business School Executive Education Center and professors Wayne Brockbank and Dave Ulrich.

SHRM has designated the following as core leadership areas: certification, college relations, diversity, legislative action, SHRM Foundation and workforce readiness. SHRM staff plans special sessions on these topics to introduce conference attendees to resources provided at SHRM that focus on these core areas.

"The volunteer leaders also will see SHRM's goals for six areas so that they can set goals and support them at the chapter level," Post said.

The conference is for SHRM chapter presidents and presidents-elect; state council directors, directors-elect and district directors; special expertise panel members; and state council representatives for SHRM's core leadership areas. SHRM staff is making time to thank and celebrate these volunteers, Post said, as well as to educate them.

Said Post: "This has been a real transition year," which has included changes in how chapters are formed and the volunteer leader structure. "We want to celebrate volunteer leaders and trace SHRM's success back to their efforts and hard work."

The Latest News

See the latest news about SHRM members, programs and services at www.shrm.org/hrnews/insideshrm.