If you haven’t been to a national SHRM conference, you should make an effort to go. I’ve been to many and have seen the quality of speakers and number of attendees increase dramatically during my career.  Bring lots of business cards and don’t plan to catch up on your sleep while you’re away.

Having said that, if you haven’t been to a State or Regional HR conference, I believe it’s an even better alternative.  Just like the larger (and more expensive) national conference, you’ll want to take lots of business cards and plan to catch up on your sleep when you get back.  The HR Florida State Conference is an excellent example of a state conference that provides great speakers, outstanding breakout sessions, and all the hoopla of a national conference.

State conferences have been my preference for years since the contacts I make at a state conference are much more likely to fall under similar economic, legal, and practical areas.  It’s easier to identify with folks who have the same concerns with minimum wage, unionization, or the latest from the state legislature. And, comparing costs of a national conference to a local, state, or regional conference helps makes the decision pretty easy.

Go to a national conference and appreciate the profession’s best. Go to a state conference to really network, find some great resources, and save a few bucks while doing it!