about this event
Come build something before the conference starts. A hands-on hackathon for RecOps practitioners, the day before RecOpsCon. You'll spend a focused block solving a real problem from your own org, then walk away with something you actually made.
Why this is worth your time: Most RecOps practitioners have a project they've been meaning to build for months. It stays undone not because it's hard, but because it never clears the daily backlog, and because building alone means solving problems someone else in the community already solved. This hackathon gives you four things a conference session can't: A dedicated, protected block to make progress on the thing you've been meaning to build. Peer feedback from operators who've hit the same problems and can cut your build time significantly. Shared mind share: thinking out loud with peers sharpens the problem and the solution. Community formed through working together, not exchanging contact info.
How it works: This is a half-day, structured build session. Not a free-for-all. You come in with a plan. In the first 15 minutes, you'll pitch your problem to your table and get peer feedback before you start building. Then you build.
Pre-work is required. Before the day, you'll complete a short planning exercise covering: What problem are you solving? What does the ideal user experience look like? What data or inputs does your solution need? If you haven't worked through those three things, you're not ready to build. That's the point. The session is for execution, not discovery.
Single-player mode is the default. You can pair with someone if it makes sense, but you don't need a team. With modern AI tools, one person can build a full working thing in a few hours.
Who should apply: This event has a skill floor. You need to have built and deployed something before: an app, a workflow, a Claude skill, a tool, anything. It doesn't need to be big. It just needs to be something you took from idea to working output. If you're still figuring out how to use AI tools for the first time, this isn't the right event. There are no setup sessions, no walkthroughs, and no hand-holding on tooling basics. Come back after you've shipped something. If you've built things and want a focused block to build more with people who work the same way, this is for you.
Logistics: Gated to RecOpsCon attendees. 20 spots, application required. Free to attend. Food ordered in (dietary needs captured post-signup). Bring your laptop and your stack: Cursor, Claude, Lovable, whatever you prefer. Selected projects will demo on the second day of RecOpsCon.
Apply: Applications close after Sept 11 and anyone who is selected will be notified by Sept 18.
About RecOpsCon: RecOpsCon is a community-driven event for recruiting operations leaders, practitioners, and partners shaping the future of hiring. It brings together the people doing the work: building systems, improving processes, testing tools, and driving better recruiting outcomes. The event balances practical content, working sessions, and meaningful connection. It's a space for operators to exchange real insights, build community, and leave with ideas they can actually apply.
when
RecOps Con Hackathon
Half-day structured build session: pitch your problem to your table in the first 15 minutes, get peer feedback, then build. Selected projects demo on the second day of RecOpsCon.
◍ Chicago, ILtickets
| tickets | price | Fee | Status | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hackathon Participation | Free | None | Available | Free to attend. Gated to RecOpsCon attendees; 20 spots available and an application is required. Applications close after Sept 11, and selected applicants are notified by Sept 18. Food is ordered in, with dietary needs captured post-signup. |