The next Tech2 Virtual Job Fair (www.nmvirtualjobfair.com) has been scheduled for May 2-6, 2011, and you will want to participate.  This fair is provided as a free service to technology companies in New Mexico, and features some of our best and brightest in the tech industry.  It is sponsored by Technology Ventures Corporation and the NM WIRED Project.  There are quality opportunities both in tech and administrative areas, and they are real jobs! 
The winter Tech2 fair hosted 17 technology-based employers and listed over 60 job opportunities.  Employers were well pleased with the quality of the applicants.
One of the benefits of this fair is that candidates get focused attention from the recruiters and no one has to stand in line (or sit in a booth) for hours.  We get the word out throughout the community and region to give all interested parties a chance to participate.  The website and process are very straightforward and give a great overview of what’s happening in the New Mexico tech industry.
Be sure to participate.  Employers can sign up now by visiting the job fair site and clicking on “contact”.  Candidates will be able to participate during the fair.  See you there!

Tags: job fair, technical jobs

Don’t miss it – this is a unique event.  It’s easy and free to all.  Our site, www.nmvirtualjobfair.com, will host a winter virtual job fair January 24-28 for tech companies in New Mexico. 
This concept was developed to meet the needs of busy HR & recruiting personnel who spent a lot of time standing in booths at job fairs.  It also helps out the job seekers, saving them from having to stand in line to meet with recruiters.  The fair provides a way for companies to feature current jobs and draw attention to their opportunities, and for job seekers to get relevant feedback.    
Hiring in our state has seen small increases recently in the private sector, and our hope is that this year will see more growth in the tech sector.  People currently looking for new opportunities have their work cut out for them, though, as companies manage tight budgets and look for new ways to be more efficient.  Candidates with broad experience and multiple talents can add value in small organizations needing to grow. 
The 2011 Manpower Outlook Survey found mixed news for US job seekers according Jeffrey Joerres, CEO of Manpower Inc.  He says:
 “Seasonally adjusted data for the United States indicates the most optimistic first-quarter hiring sentiment in three years, yet 73 percent of employers indicate they will keep staff levels unchanged.  So while we’re seeing positive signals in the data, only time will tell if we’ve reached the inflection point in the U.S. labor market recovery.”

Everyone keep at it and let’s make 2011 a good year for the tech industry.

Tags: candidates, Hiring Trends, job fair, recruiters, recruiting, technical jobs

The ultimate goal of job hunting – getting hired!  There are a lot of people working hard at the hunt, so I thought maybe it was a good time to talk about success stories.
First there is the gentleman who attended the recent Kirtland Air Force/Hispano Chamber of Commerce job fair in Albuquerque.  He came prepared and was able to visit with a company representative about his skills and interests.  From that meeting he was invited for a formal interview, and was hired for a $50K a year job.
Then there was the person who was laid off from an out-of-state technology company and was networking in New Mexico.  He contacted the Technology Ventures Corporation recruiting service and shared his resume both on the free job site, nmtechjobs.org and with me.  I noticed that his skills and experience seemed a great fit for a local tech company.  They didn’t have any posted openings, but when I forwarded the resume they recognized his talent and added him to their team. 
One more example is the woman who was laid off from a local technology business and decided to strike out on her own.  Using the contacts and experience she had gained in her former position, she joined local professional organizations and contacted colleagues she knew in her field.  The result of her hard work was a successful consulting business.
So – keep looking, and be creative (an overused term but appropriate).  First and foremost always be prepared for an opportunity by having business cards and resumes at hand.  Dress professionally for any occasion where there might be an opportunity to make a contact to start you on the road to a new career, and keep your schedule flexible so you can take advantage of these opportunities.
Good hunting!

Tags: candidates, hiring process, hiring talent, job application, job fair, job seeker, job seeker attitudes

The third virtual online job fair had a great list of New Mexico technology companies and over 80 high tech jobs.  Tech2, held from September 20-24 allowed companies to bring attention to their opportunities in a unique way.  Many of these companies are small and haven’t enough staff to host booths at multiple job fairs, but they do have time to review the resumes they get through our job fair site, www.nmvritualjobfair.com. 

This venue also gave job seekers access to the most current opportunities in the tech industry, without having to stand in line to reach the recruiters.  They could review company profiles and job descriptions at their leisure, and submit their information to hiring entities they were interested in.  It was a good opportunity for both employers and job seekers to reach new audiences and tell about themselves and their talents.

The event  was sponsored by Technology Ventures Corporation and the New Mexico Wired Project as part of their effort to support technology career development in the state.  The job site, www.nmtechjobs.org, is also sponsored by this group, and many of the same companies that were in the job fair post jobs on this site.Be sure to watch for our next event in November.

Tags: applications, Executive jobs, hiring talent, job fair, job seeker

A recent job fair in Albuquerque ( Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber, TVC)  boasted over 800 job seekers, but the good news…there were real jobs available. Overall there were 34 different companies or government entities present, and over 500 jobs among these.

For the attendees it was a lesson in “just show up”. There were 4 people hired on the spot and many more invited for further interviews. Recruiters in the booths were helpful in guiding the job seekers to appropriate opportunities and making suggestions. Even if attendees didn’t find something that was a fit for them, the information about careers and companies as well as networking with other job seekers was a valuable experience.

There are more opportunities in the future; a career fair at UNM on September 15 & 16, and a TVC-sponsored virtual job fair September 20-24. The virtual fair allows companies to highlight current openings and collect appropriate resumes online, and the job seeker has direct access to the company recruiters without leaving home! The website, www.nmvirtualjobfair.com has information on the upcoming event.

Tags: hiring process, hiring talent, job, job fair, job seeker