In Town This Weekend? Head to Vermont 3.0 Tech Jam!
The work is tough and our stamina is waning. With each passing night, my hammock and Otter Creek pumpkin ale growler cry to me louder from the closet. But never fear, my baby birds, fall break is almost upon us!
For the loiterers around town this weekend: consider heading over to the Vermont 3.0 Tech Jam, a free (ooh!) tech and job expo this Friday and Saturday at the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington. Over 60 local creative, tech, green, and bioscience companies will be showcasing their work, and promoting job and internship opportunities for young people interested in media and technology.
Hiba Fakhoury ’09 of Ask Hiba fame in fact received a job offer at this event in 2008, levying a connection with a Midd alum to secure a position as software engineer at Pragmatic Technologies, Inc. She returned to Tech Jam the following year to recruit for the company.
Over e-mail, Hiba provided the following advice:
…do some research on the companies that are present, what positions they are hiring for (if any), and what technologies they are working on. I say that because it can be a little overwhelming when you’re there to figure out who to talk to. Plus you can make more of an impression on an employer at the event if you know something about their company (as opposed to saying “tell me about your company”).
I’d definitely recommend to take multiple copies of your resume, and to dress as you would for an interview. I have gotten emails from companies I met at the event a year or so later when they were looking to hire. I would also make sure to keep everyone’s contact information and to try and contact them after the event.
Wise words! If you’re interested in the concept of working for money, or — for the more noble among us — for the experience, it’s definitely an event worth checking out. For more information, see the website here.
A video from the 2008 event:
(via Seven Days)
I went to this event last year, and I found it fun but not particularly useful to me. While I certainly made the rounds of corporate booths, I’m not sure that liberal arts kids were the most sought after here (or anywhere?). That said, some of the seminars were useful and great networking opportunity if you want to stay in Vermont.
Ryan! I was so sad that I didn’t see you last year.
We have a lot more tech companies participating this year, and a lot more of them are hiring. Last year was kinda rough because of the recession. We actually sold out of exhibitor space this year.
And there are a few marketing jobs people are hiring for… maybe applicable to liberal arts grads!
Good to hear, Cathy!