Second IT job fair in the works

The federal government's first online "virtual" job fair was such a success that a second one may be held as early as September — this time for positions through GS-15 — according to sources close to the CIO Council.

The first event, held April 22-26, attracted more than 19,300 job seekers for 270 information technology positions and generated such a buzz among managers governmentwide that agencies that did not participate are expressing interest in listing positions at a subsequent event, according to members of the council who asked not to be identified.

Although the first online job fair was limited to GS-2210 IT specialists in varying specialty areas at grade levels GS-7 through GS-13, the next such event would be expanded to the two highest grade levels, the sources said. The Office of Personnel Management, which co-hosted the first job fair with the CIO Council, confirmed that it is considering expanding future online job fairs to include job classifications other than IT.

"We were quite pleased with the interest and the results of our first-ever virtual job fair, and we are exploring the future use of job fairs for people interested in the IT profession, as well as other professions," OPM spokesman Mike Orenstein said.

A subsequent job fair would likely be held in late September or early October, just before the close of fiscal 2002, the sources said.

OPM declined to confirm that report. "Information will be forthcoming," Orenstein said.

The first job fair posted positions open at 21 federal agencies, such as the Defense Security Service, Federal Trade Commission, Railroad Retirement Board and National Gallery of Art.