Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2011 about Careers on Tuesday 15th March

LEVEL: Intermediate

In the wake of one of the worst economic disasters in our lifetimes, recruiters/headhunters can hold the golden ticket to finding a dream job. Mega corporations are moving to vendor managed processes that silence the average job seeker and all but force them into the waiting arms of a headhunter. Job seekers new to town and new to a job market rely heavily on the knowledge of recruiters to shine a light on who's hiring. What's not mentioned are the massive turnover numbers inside the "search industry". 70% quit within the first year and then those that stay wonder why job seekers despise working with them.

This panel will feature both sides of the coin. (1) Recruiters (technical) that have proven successful in their respective industries but had to battle to achieve independence among the masses of greasy sales folk. (2) Job seekers (software developers) that have gone through horrible processes and are not only unafraid to share the horrors but can speak intelligently about what the loved and hated.

A no holds barred session of what works and what doesn't and more importantly why and why not. In the spirit of SXSW, ample time will be given to dauntless dialogue from those in attendance. The veil of secrecy will be dropped.

LEVEL: Advanced

Finding a new job or making a career change can be daunting and is becoming more competitive with the current economic climate. Using the web to market yourself through personal branding is well-known idea, but how do you rise above the rest and get an edge on the job market? This panel will discuss trends, tried and true methods, and provide expert opinion on making the most of your job search. Job seekers have to examine the online and offline, conventional and unconventional means of promoting oneself. Online personal branding means more than just having a Twitter account with a few followers. You have to think outside the box when it comes to making a big impression on web. These steps include making effective social media profiles that get you noticed, commenting on blogs of companies you are interested in working for, having your blog and site stand out, and using Google and Facebook Ads to target potential employers. Offline impressions are just as important. Know what a creative resume and portfolios specific to your industry looks like, use unconventional tools to promote yourself, learn how to make the great elevator pitch, and get tips on networking etiquette.

LEVEL: Beginner

If you're a freelancer, you know that your existence comes down to chasing after lots of client engagements, projects, gigs, whatever you want to call them. If you stop working for any reason (illness, travel, you just want or need a break) then the income stops.

Adding products to the mix can be a really great way to add small (but potentially large!) streams of income that you can count on month after month. I'll talk about using your talents and strengths to create products (ebooks, themes/templates, photography/artwork, plugins/apps, membership sites) that will appeal to an audience and generate sales.

Remember, even if you only create a $100/week product, it only takes 5 or 6 of those to really start making a big difference in the way you work and live. This isn't about creating a "four hour workweek" or some other hyped BS, this is about creating repeatable, realistic income streams.

LEVEL: Beginner

As the SXSW Interactive Festival continues to grow, it often becomes harder to discover /network with the specific type of people you want to network with. Hence a full slate of daytime Meet Ups are scheduled for the 2011 event. These Meet Ups are definitely not a panel session -- nor do they offer any kind of formal presentation or AV setup. On the contrary, these sessions are a room where many different conversations and (and will) go on at once. Cash bar onsite.

"I can work 'til I'm dead," is the unfortunate battle cry of digital workers from Millennials to Gen Xers. These days, we can expect to hold at least 10 jobs, have 3 career changes and get laid off twice before we retire. That's a whole lot of career change coming our way—and after the worst recession since the Depression, expect it to get worse before it gets better.

How do you sustain? That's what career expert, Allison Hemming will deliver in her presentation, "Career Longevity: Build Your Brand the Rockstar Way"—so you don't burn out or fade away.

From "Remembering your Fans (and Personal Brand)" to "Always be Producing," Hemming will take you through the roadmap to manage your career for the long-haul. And through the lens of rock legends from Bruce Springsteen and Bono to Thom York and David Byrne, motivate you to be intentional, adaptable and accountable so that your career is sustainable.

Powered by a DJ spinning rock classics, Allison Hemming will deliver a fresh, irreverent, and informative presentation that will put you on track to have the rockstar career you deserve that's guaranteed to last decades into the future.

LEVEL: Intermediate