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A Great Job Fair Opportunity

Ingrid Baker — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:33:53 +0000

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!

The Winter Tech2 Online Job Fair

Ingrid Baker — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:01:13 +0000

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.

Successful Job Hunts

Ingrid Baker — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:56:53 +0000

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!

Virtual Online Job Fair Featured 19 Companies

Ingrid Baker — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:20:34 +0000

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.

Job Fairs Can Be Fun!

Ingrid Baker — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:53:27 +0000

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.

How Do Companies Hire?

Ingrid Baker — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:33:02 +0000

There is a major focus on jobs in the current economy – who is adding, why some are still laying off folks, and what is coming in the future. There is a large pool of job seekers, some who have been looking for jobs for quite awhile.

The old standby methods are still used; ads, job fairs, and listings on job sites. There are some new twists, however. Many companies, because of a flood of applicants, have set up online screening processes to find the candidates that most closely meet their needs. This method does add time to the equation, as these systems can take awhile to sort through the information. Companies may also set up their own private job fairs, looking for specific talent to meet a current need. Some companies also participate in job fairs for the exposure and to “test the waters” to see who is looking for jobs and if they might meet a future need. Many, when they are trying to find a specific person to fit an important position, use recruiters, or network through professional groups.

All this means that job seekers need to be more flexible and agile in their searching. There are a few important things to be aware of, some of which I’ve mentioned before but bear repeating!

Showing up takes energy and effort you don’t always have, but it can pay off. A recent job fair in Albuquerque paid off in some immediate job offers, and in other cases scheduling of follow up interviews at the company. Note: don’t show up in sweats or shorts! You still need to appear professional, no matter what your occupation. Business casual is most appropriate for these events. Also it is good to have a polished resume with you – and have an email address they can access for followup. Some applicants have put online resumes on Linked In or Facebook. Do make sure these sites are done carefully and look professional.

For companies that require an online application, be patient – it may take awhile for them to get to your resume. It never hurts to have a name to follow up with, just an email which lets them know you’ve applied and would appreciate their attention. This may require some networking on your part.

Finally, don’t apply unless you fit the requirements! This just wastes everyone’s time, including yours. In the case where you are trying to make a career change, as I once did, you somehow need to present the resume as having experience and skills appropriate to the new field even though they were learned in a different industry. Your cover letter should explain why you are making the change and how you have prepared yourself for the new career.

Good luck to both companies and job seekers. Patience is the key.

Albuquerque Hispano Chamber/Kirtland AFB Job Fair

Ingrid Baker — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:54:51 +0000

The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and Kirtland Air Force Base are hosting their second annual job fair at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque on August 4 from 9AM to 2 PM. Technology Ventures Corporation is also a major sponsor.
This year in addition to the government sector jobs available through KAFB and their partners, nmtechjobs.org and NM WIRED Project are expanding the employer list to include private sector technology job opportunities as well as administrative positions in the area.
Opportunities in the government sector include: Federal Protective Service project managers and criminal investigators; Air Force Research Lab in physics, space sciences, geophysics, chemistry, computer sciences, all engineering field, and management positions; US Fish and Wildlife Service openings, and many more.
In the private sector: Mechtronic Solutions software engineers, controls engineers, technical writer and others; Analytical Solutions software programmers; Wells Fargo bank tellers, and others to come.

As part of this event there will be subject matter experts at the KAFB booths, as well as work stations to help job seekers navigate the USAJobs site to apply for government positions. This is a great opportunity to learn about the jobs available with some of our largest technology employers. Check out the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber website for updates: ahcnm.org.

Getting The Most From A Job Fair

Ingrid Baker — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:05:13 +0000

These are interesting times for job seekers and employers. Because of the economic environment, the same old tools aren’t as effective as they used to be. For one thing, there are many more job seekers than jobs, and that has been the case for awhile.
Even so, groups are hosting job fairs on a regular basis. Their reasons vary, but for the one thing it is a visible way to try to help the community and the candidates looking for opportunity. Also, for the educational institutions it is a way to highlight a new group of graduates and bring alums back to the alma mater. Events like these provide networking opportunities for both companies and candidates, and can give a good overview of the economic activity in the community. The question is, then, how does someone looking for work get the most out of an event where there may be 1000 people in line with them?
A recent article in the Albuquerque Journal talked about the frustration some job seekers felt after attending a job fair at Expo New Mexico where there were approximately 5000 attendees and few opportunities. Many companies were sending people to their online websites to apply, and there were few onsite interview opportunities. Many employers participated as a show of support, but because of internal hiring policies weren’t able to actively interview at the booths. Their online applications may include a prescreening process to determine if the candidate fits their needs. Also some employers may be anticipating a new contract and are collecting resumes in advance to test the waters.
So for the job seekers: the best policy is to plan ahead. Find out what companies are in attendance and check out their websites before you go. Target the booths that have jobs to meet your talents. Also it’s a pretty good bet that if there are no jobs listed on the company site that they are collecting, or just being a good citizen!
Here’s a news flash – papering the booths with your resume without checking to see if you have the skills they need doesn’t get you points or even an interview. It is also not a good practice to say “I’ll take anything you have” whether you are qualified or not. There are still jobs available, and more coming. Keep looking and do your research. In the meantime, these fairs are a good way to learn about what is happening in your area, and maybe learn new techniques for your search.
Good luck!

NM Virtual Job Fair Had the Jobs!

Ingrid Baker — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:12:13 +0000

The March online job fair provided an excellent opportunity for job seekers to access some great jobs. It also had an impressive list of company participants, including Ball Aerospace, Sandia and Los Alamos laboratories, ZTEC, TEAM, Emcore and many more (see “New Mexico Virtual Job Fair Highlights Technology Jobs” 3/15/2010).

We hope you all had a chance to visit our fair and get the latest information on job opportunities in the technology sector in New Mexico. This venue is a fairly new concept, but one that provides a much more intimate setting and interaction between the job seeker and the employer. It is easy to get lost on the “big boards” and stressful to stand in long lines to be able to meet the company representatives. We set out to provide a similar venue without a physical site, and it has worked well so far.

We’ll be doing more of these in the future, and will keep you posted. In the meantime, please visit our free high tech job site, www.nmtechjobs.org, and see what is out there!

New Mexico Virtual Job Fair Highlights Technology Jobs

Ingrid Baker — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:25:05 +0000

There’s an easy way to make a connection with technology employers that have good opportunities available. Check out the online job fair sponsored by Technology Ventures Corporation and the NM WIRED Project. The site is www.nmvirtualjobfair.com and the fair runs from March 15 through the 19th.
The companies listed are looking for talent to help them in their growth and success. They range from national laboratories to aerospace equipment development to robotic testing technologies.These companies are a very special part of the New Mexico economy, as they list quality jobs with great opportunities.
The companies participating are:
Air Force Research Lab, Applied Research Associates, Ball Aerospace, Emcore, Hach Company, Introbotics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Mechtronic Solutions, nanoMR, Polyflow Engineering, Sandia National Laboratories, Senspex, Star Cryoelectronics, TEAM Technologies, TMC Group, Xynergy and Ztec.
Why a virtual fair? Right now time is money and many of these companies are busy creating, developing and selling the product. They need the help, but don’t have a lot of time to spend at a job fair. Also, the job applicants have a choice of many job fairs each month and it takes a lot of energy just to show up, much less stand in line to get a chance to share their resumes. In our venue the employers are very aware that they will be getting resumes from the event and will be watching for them. Candidates can view the jobs and review each company’s information without leaving home.
Technology Ventures Corporation and NM WIRED both have a goal of helping high tech companies grow and helping develop a pool of technology-oriented job seekers to get these companies to the next level. Check out the opportunities and information at the TVC website, www.techventures.org and www.dws.state.nm.us/NMWIRED.html.