Just a few notes from the OnRec Expo 2009 and Kennedy Information’s Recruiting 2009 Conference and Expo …

RD Whitney, CEO of OnRec, said about 500 registered for the conference, and most have arrived. Several vendors on the exhibition floor said they were surprised and pleased to see the attendance. Perhaps it’s another positive sign …

As you might imagine, social media is a big topic in the speaker sessions, even if social media isn’t the primary topic, most speakers are mentioning it as something that recruiters just have to use.

Dr. Michael Kannisto, head of staffing, university relations and employment branding for BASF, delivered the keynote and talked about how the recruiting industry has changed forever. No. 1: Social networking has become a standard sourcing tool. He also sees job requirements becoming more specific; companies moving to alternate sources for candidates such as diversity sites, Tier 2 colleges and universities and not-for-profit organizations; and the traditional interview with “finally” change.

Wendy Forsythe, vice president of broker services and product development for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, talked about how she’s building a team for the future, despite the horrible real estate market. Her efforts have at talent acquisition (the use of word “recruiting” is forbidden) had worked, even though in two years, about 30 percent of all real estate agents have quit working in the business.

And John Younger, CEO of Accolo, described what he believes will be the recruitment software platform of the future, in which a recruiters principal constituents — job candidates and hiring managers — will get the respect and information they deserve.