By Krysten Brenlla
As March ends, Miami gears up for one of the biggest and busiest months of the year – Miami Tech Month, a time to celebrate tech innovation in South Florida. And, what better way to celebrate innovation and opportunity than at the biggest tech job fair and tech summit in Miami?
Taking place next Thursday, April 4, from 4 – 7 p.m. at Miami Dade College’s Chapman Conference Center, the Venture Miami Tech Hiring Fair focuses on connecting talented individuals with leading companies in the tech industry. Additionally, to prepare for the fair, Miami Tech Works has organized this year’s Tech Talent Summit, taking place right before the fair on Tuesday, April 2, from 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., featuring professional development workshops from local and national organizations, networking opportunities, and more.
Refresh Miami spoke with the executive director of Venture Miami, Erick Gavin, and the director of Miami Tech Works, Terri-Ann Brown, to get a sneak peek on what both job seekers and employers can expect during Miami Tech Month this year:
Q: It has been a few years now that the Venture Miami Tech Hiring Fair has been happening. What are some changes job seekers and employers can expect this year?
Gavin: I think the biggest thing that we have changed this year is how we are preparing talent and job seekers for the fairs. We have organized a few events leading up to the fair, such as a virtual summit with LinkedIn and the Tech Talent Summit with Miami Tech Works.
We’re also working with the team and companies at the fair to collect some data on who our job seekers are, so we can create a better profile of them for the future. In the past years, we’ve seen a healthy mix of every level of job seeker. However, we’re seeing a lot more mid-level folks and folks in a career transition. Through conversations with different companies, we’re seeing that companies want the mid-to-senior level talent, so we want to make sure we’re working to prepare our talent in Miami for the opportunities available.
Q: What can participants expect from Miami Tech Work’s Tech Talent Summit?
Brown: At the Tech Talent Summit, participants can expect to receive great advice from people who are there to support them. We have wonderful organizations and speakers who are ready to help, so participants should come ready to implement changes to their resumes, ready for a professional headshot in business attire, and open to learn.
Q: What are some exciting things that job seekers and employers can look forward to this year at the Tech Hiring Fair?
Gavin: We are doing two big things this year. First, we have done a little bit of tweaking in how people are actually getting into the fair, and where they will be positioned, so folks can move around easier. I know that may not seem like a big thing, but we are expecting more than 1,000 people this year, so we want to make sure everyone is comfortable.
Second, we are bringing more variety with the types of companies that will be at the fair. Of course, we will have the big corporate tech companies displaying this year, but we are also bringing in other South Florida organizations that are in need of tech talent within their information technology departments, like the City of Miami, the City of Coral Gables, and Miami-Dade County. This is one twist we’ve made to continue making the job fair more inclusive to Miami’s market.
Q: What are some workshops that will be at the Tech Summit? What main topics will the summit be focusing on?
Brown: I’m excited about a few workshops that we will have at the Tech Summit. First, we will have a public speaking and coaching company, PitchIt, presenting at the Tech Summit, and their focus is to help tech talent highlight what they will bring to the table through an elevator pitch. If you only had 20 seconds in an elevator with a key decision maker who could change your career path, how would you explain your value or skills? That’s what PitchIt will provide.
The other cool workshop that I’m excited about will feature 4Geeks Academy and CareerSource Florida. This workshop is geared toward participants who are career transitioners looking to break into the tech industry – think of participants who already have some experience working, in their mid-to-late 20’s and early 30’s, and are looking for ways to get their feet wet in the industry.
The last workshop that I will mention that I think is crucial for the South Florida market will feature Upwardly Global, who will present on opportunities for immigrants in South Florida to launch their tech careers in the United States. We have so much diversity in South Florida with a tech background from their home countries, but when they come to the United States, they’re told they need more tech training. I had a similar experience with my Jamaican father who earned an engineering degree, but couldn’t transfer his degree when he came to the United States, especially being married with kids. Upwardly Global aims to provide insights on how these individuals can transition into the U.S. with their background.
Q: How do you think the Miami market is changing with the types of jobs you are seeing?
Gavin: I have seen a couple of things, and I can tell you that Miami is definitely a place that is asking for deeper and deeper levels of technical talent as we continue moving forward. The national job market is asking for more from our entry-level aspirates that are coming into these different roles. Because of this, it is incumbent upon us to give our talent everything possible to prepare them and show them that Miami has the capacity for those mid-to-senior level roles.
Our South Florida universities are doing an amazing job of building up our talent pool’s technical abilities – that speaks volumes to how fast we are adapting to the needs of the respective companies that are coming to Miami. They are asking for more, but we’re stepping up to the challenge.
Q: How do you think a summit like this will prepare job seekers for the fair and for future job opportunities?
Brown: I think it’s really important to connect the classroom to the career, so students and participants can begin to see the opportunities that are available to them. It’s one thing to study the book, but it becomes very real when you talk to people who are in the industry. The more we create these opportunities, the more students can see the finish line, and we’ll have a lot better outcomes in the community where people will want to stay here and grow.
I also want to emphasize that this is all powered by the Good Jobs Challenge grant, a $10 million grant that South Florida received from the economic development administration. Because of this grant, we’re able to put together interview prep workshops for students; technical assistance workshops for small businesses; and programs at Miami Dade College, Florida International University, and more.
THE DETAILS
The Venture Miami Tech Hiring Fair is taking place next Thursday, April 4, from 4 – 7 p.m. at Miami Dade College’s Chapman Conference Center (254 NE 4th St., bldg. 3, Miami, FL. 33132). Tickets for job seekers are free. Parking is free in Bldg. 7 on N.E. Second Ave., between 5th and 7th streets. Organizers are also offering Uber vouchers.
Some employers attending the Venture Miami Tech Hiring Fair include Kaseya, Arkhaus, JPMorgan, Factorial, OppZo, and more. For more information on the Venture Miami Tech Hiring Fair and to redeem your free ticket, visit their Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-venture-miami-tech-hiring-fair-tickets-848726974227.
The Tech Talent Summit is taking place next Tuesday, April 2, from 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at The Idea Center (315 Northeast 2nd Avenue Building 8, 5th Floor, Miami, FL 33132). Registration is free. Parking is available in Building 7 Garage. For the full Tech Talent Summit agenda, registration, and details, visit their website at https://lu.ma/TalentSummit.
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