[Gamasutra presents here an article on maximizing your job hunt at Game Developers Conference, the annual trade show run by CMP Media (as is Gamasutra.) Penned by Digital Artist Management's senior partner T.J. Summers, it offers helpful tips on maximizing your exposure.]

If you're on a mission to make your next career move, good news: the Game Developers Conference is right around the corner! GDC is the best opportunity for game industry job seekers to start forging the relationships that make a significant impact on your professional success.

Many job seekers will attend GDC just waiting for an employer to pull them out of a crowd of thousands and offer them a high paying job that requires little to no effort. Since we all know this is completely unrealistic, I offer practical guidance to take control of the process to maximize your job search and enhance your overall experience at the show.

Be a Forward Thinker

Create a list of the companies that you want to meet before the show. It is critical that you invest the time to become intimately familiar with the companies that interest you most. What projects does the company develop? Where is the company located? What skills do you bring to the table that makes you marketable for each company? Nothing will turn a hiring manager off faster than asking, "What games does your studio create?"

Create a list of the people you want to meet. Try to schedule times in advance with key contacts at the show. Schedule specific meeting locations, specific times and always have your contact's cell phone number handy, to call and confirm the meeting. Scheduling important meetings during meals will offer incentive for the person to attend and guarantee a captive audience.

Avoid the Rush. Don't waste valuable time waiting in line to meet with companies in the job fair section. The job fair is typically the busiest on Wednesday and the crowds tend to reduce by Thursday afternoon. The crowds usually thin out by Friday, which presents opportunity to have a more meaningful conversation with potential employers.