Trying to decide what to choose from a buffet table groaning under the weight of dish after dish of wonderful food options can be overwhelming. Everything looks sooo good! What to choose? Where to start?
Planning your SHRM22 itinerary presents the same sort of challenge, with more than 200 sessions and 12 wide-ranging content tracks that include compensation, benefits and well-being; nonprofit HR; global HR; HR department of one; recruitment; leadership and personal growth.
Jamie Bosley, vice president of event strategy and experience for the Society for Human Resource Management, weighed in with some advice for first-time attendees: 
SHRM Online: What's the difference between a concurrent session and a mega session?
Bosley: Concurrent sessions are packed with original content and tactical advice. Presentations from solo presenters or co-presenters will feature best practices, forward-looking strategies and resources you need to advance your work now and in the future.
A mega session is a concurrent session open to a larger number of people.
SHRM Online: Do the concurrent and other sessions shut down during the general sessions?
Bosley: General sessions are when all of our attendees gather at once to hear from innovative main stage speakers. Concurrent sessions, smart stage and other sessions take place between general sessions.
SHRM Online: Is it best to go to sessions that are only from one track?
Bosley: While we offer 12 content tracks, attendees have the opportunity to choose their own adventure. This means they can select one content track or mix and match.
SHRM Online: For someone working in an HR department of one who wears many different hats at their organization, how do you decide what sessions or tracks to choose from?
Bosley: We recommend selecting sessions where you or your organization needs the most improvement. Perhaps that is one content track or several.
SHRM Online: How do I find sessions that fit my HR experience level, such as early career or midcareer?
Bosley: On the "full schedule page," you can filter by the type of pass or by event type such as concurrent sessions, content track and competency.
SHRM Online: What are some things first-time attendees should keep in mind when planning their SHRM22 itinerary, including some practical considerations for traversing the conference area?
Bosley: While we have the full schedule on the website and have a general schedule-at-a-glance to give an initial idea of the sessions being offered, we highly recommend attendees download the conference app. The app will become available as we get closer to the conference opening.
Within the app, you will be able to select and save your favorite sessions, preview maps of the convention center, network with other attendees, and more!
We also have a special Conference Orientation session that is great for first-time attendees to attend that will take place on Sunday, June 12.
SHRM Online: Should I record the sessions I attend or will SHRM offer recordings to registrants post-conference?
Bosley: You can purchase SHRM On Demand to watch select sessions for one year. The new Virtual Combo Pass is for in-person attendees to add to their registration so they can attend in person and virtually. With that add-on, you can go back and watch select sessions you missed up to 60 days after the conference concludes.
Access to the virtual platform opens to virtual attendees on June 6.
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