By Joseph DeSetto
Feature Author

The Internet is a powerful tool for IT professionals eager to expand their job searches and get their resumes promptly to hiring managers.  In some cases, those with the proper skill set and experience can quickly find a new position with a few mouse clicks.  

Thanks to the Internet's tremendous reach and flexibility, fewer employers are using job fairs to look for technical recruits.  So, can you still enhance your search for a new position at a job fair or trade show, or should you concentrate your efforts online?
 
If you decide to try the job fair route, first consider your own skill set and the type of position you're seeking.  

Just Starting Out

If you are new to the industry and simply looking to get your foot in the door, a job fair might be worth your time.  You'll gain familiarity with the IT recruiting process and the way companies filter candidates.  When you go, remember to:

• Locate the experienced hiring managers
• Get them to quickly browse your resume
• Ask for feedback, even if you get cryptic answers

Recruiters will greet and assess you at job fairs similarly to the way they work inside the office, sorting hundreds of resumes and having only 30 seconds to get a handle on your credentials.  Therefore, if you use a job fair to gauge areas of your resume and experience that get immediate reaction from recruiters, both positive and negative, you'll know what changes to make for your next revision.  This can be especially valuable while attending college and getting your resume ready for the real world.

With a Little More Know-How ...

More experienced professionals may not benefit as much from a job fair.  Once you've developed a specialty, the chances of finding employers looking for your skills are reduced.  Company representatives might not have the technical expertise to answer your in-depth questions.  Although you can get the same information from trade magazines, it can be useful to attend a show from time to time just to see the positions that are highly recruited and the current demand for your skill set. 

Trade Shows

Human resources professionals typically staff job fairs, but industry trade shows draw peers and management.  As such, they often provide a better setting for finding a new position.  If you attend a trade show:   

• Don't be shy about talking to attendees while browsing the floor or during breakout sessions. 
• Keep in mind that almost everyone at the show has been offered bonuses to find qualified candidates.  
• Network with people in your specialty area. 
• Trade plenty of business cards.

Keep an Open Mind

While you may find show representatives possess less technical knowledge than you do or are not fully aware of the available jobs, don't discount their ability to open doors for you.  Who better to sell your skills than a marketing person?  Smaller companies, in particular, are more likely to send senior people to a show, so talking to their representatives can be quite valuable.

If you are new to the industry, a trade show can provide direction and give you a good sense of where things are going.  You will also be encouraged by how many people in IT are transplants from unrelated disciplines and how quickly they were able to gain employable skills.

Don't Forget Your Business Cards

Unlike at a job fair, you won't appear desperate to find a new position if you ask for leads at a trade show.  Use this to your advantage and be sure you don't act as though you are trying to leave a bad situation.  In addition to providing a resume, jot down a few key skills on the backs of your business cards so new contacts will know why they talked to you.  Trade shows are notorious for inundating their attendees with marketing materials, so even if your resume gets lost in the shuffle, your business card with a simple "UNIX/C+++/Java" for example, can still ensure a follow-up.

Don't Limit Yourself

If you are serious about finding a new position, it is not in your best interest to limit yourself to the job postings companies place on their Web sites.  Keep in mind that a high number of open positions are never externally advertised.  You can increase your odds of accessing these opportunities by learning to sell yourself at a trade show or job fair.

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