In today’s economic climate, no one wants to be job-hunting. But soon-to-graduate students have little choice, and they are doing everything they can to interact with employers. So it was no surprise that this year’s TechConnect, an evening career and networking event for Duke’s computer science and engineering departments, was packed with well-dressed and inquisitive students. On September 15th, close to 300 students filed into the Fitzpatrick Center to meet representatives from thirty-three companies, including Boeing, Google, Microsoft, and more.

Six employers representing a range of industries, from financial services to defense contracting, began the evening with a panel discussion, offering tips and tricks on how to land a job. Then the students had their chance to ask questions. With the pressure of this year’s job market, “they weren’t shy,” says Richard Lucic, co-Director of the inDuke program and co-organizer of the event.

After the panel, students fanned out among company recruiters to interact in a relaxed setting. This year, new industry attendees included banking and financial companies seeking to build up their IT infrastructure during the economic downturn, says Lucic. Deutsche Bank and Northrop Grumman Corporation were two of the fresh faces at this year’s event, which has run for the last eight years. TechConnect is co-organized by the Department of Computer Science, the Pratt School of Engineering, and the Duke Career Center.

The event has led to jobs for many students, says Lucic, and he hopes to next year draw a greater population of younger undergraduates who can most benefit from the advice given. “I did see a freshman there this year,” he adds happily. “It’s been quite a successful event.”