Last year, more than 500 attendees found their common ground with hiring companies at NET/WORK Philly — and this year’s event, happening Tuesday, Feb. 26, promises a repeat performance.

With 47 companies ready to hire, you’ll be able to come face-to-face with potential employers, brush up your resume with hiring pros and snag a fresh headshot for your LinkedIn page.

If you think finding your dream job is elusive, trying to find a perfect candidate can be just as complicated for companies. Sure, there are dozens of open positions and dozens of jobseekers, but how can you connect to the right one?

We went straight to a few hiring managers joining us Tuesday to see what makes the perfect candidate shine.

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Don’t take yourself too seriously.

There is a reason every interview has the dreaded “tell me a little more about yourself” question. While it’s important to study the companies you want to be a part of, it’s also important to open up about yourself to them, said Greg Kristofor of fast-growing AI company Guru.

“Check out our core values and make sure they align with how you believe a team should work together,” noted Kristofor. “Our core values bind us together, influence how we work, and definitely lead to many, many high-fives each day. We work hard but we also don’t take ourselves too seriously — we just want people to be their genuine selves.”

Share why you work.

It’s no secret that a lot of jobseekers in tech are also career changers. Usually, that change came from a curiosity and desire to do more than what’s in front of them.

“A potential employee has passion and the desire to do more than what’s in front of them. They have a natural curiosity and a love for what they do,” said cloud hosting company Linode’s Keith Wilson and Matthew Plasha in an email. “We offer an opportunity to work on products that impact the development and technical community on a global scale.”

Follow up is everything.

Even the best-laid plans can have hiccups.

“I think one thing that comes to mind is even if you don’t get an opportunity to meet everyone, you can still follow up with an email,” said Gina Rappaport of Chariot Solutions. “Even if you’re standing in line and you barely get a few words in, if it’s a company you really align with, it’s always a good idea to reach out to them.”

“In today’s job hunt, with AI reviewing your resume before a hiring manager even has a chance to see it, it’s the little things — like follow up — that will set you apart,” she said.

For more resume guidance, Rapport and Sujan Kapadia of Chariot will be hosting a workshop at NET/WORK, “Insider Tips from a Tech Hiring Team,” to help you get your resume into the hands of hiring managers.

Reserve your spot, make your plan, find the right fit. Register for NET/WORK on Feb. 26

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