GITEX Nigeria’s Lagos programme runs on September 2–3, putting job seekers in the same room as the startups, technology companies and operators they normally only meet through a job post. A lanyard will not get anyone hired. Being easy to remember might.
- The best CV for the room is one page, built around the role you want and a result you can explain.
- A QR code should lead to actual work: a portfolio, product demo, case study, campaign or dashboard that opens on a phone.
- The follow-up note sent after a useful conversation matters more than the number of contacts collected.
By lunchtime at a busy tech event, every stand has heard some version of “I am looking for an opportunity.” The people who stand out are the ones who can quickly show what they have done, who they want to work with and why the conversation is worth continuing.
The CV people can scan
Bring one clean, one-page CV. Not six versions folded inside a backpack.
The first line should make the direction clear. A product candidate should look like a product candidate. A data analyst should not make someone hunt for their tools and projects. A growth or community candidate should lead with a result: users acquired, customers converted, a campaign delivered or a process improved.
The CV does not need every course you have taken. It needs enough evidence for a founder, recruiter or team lead to ask the next question.
Keep a digital copy on your phone as well. A QR code linked to the same CV is useful when the person you meet is moving to the next stand in two minutes.
The work behind the QR code
A CV can make a claim. A working example makes the claim easier to trust.
A designer can show a small case-study page. A developer can open a live demo, GitHub repository or a short product video. A content candidate can show the campaign, the result and the thinking behind it. A data candidate can bring a concise dashboard or project walkthrough.
The important thing is that the page loads quickly and makes sense without a long voice note. What was the problem? What did you do? What changed?
GITEX Nigeria’s current visitor-interest form lets attendees identify interests including AI, cybersecurity, future of finance, digital health, data centres, edtech and gaming. Choose the conversations that fit your work, then make sure the proof you bring belongs in those conversations too.
The names on your list
“I came to network” is not a plan. It is how people spend a day moving through a crowd without having one useful conversation.
Before GITEX, write down 10 to 15 companies, startups, incubators or teams you genuinely want to meet. Give each name a reason. Perhaps you use their product. Perhaps they posted a role that fits. Perhaps you have worked on the customer problem they are trying to solve.
That research changes the question you ask at a stand. “What is your team trying to fix this quarter?” is more useful than “Are you hiring?” It lets the person talk about the work before either of you turns the conversation into an application.
Founders should approach the room with the same discipline. Our guide on what founders should do before GITEX Nigeria opens on August 31 explains how to use the event as a business-development moment. A job seeker’s version is simpler: know why a particular team matters before walking up to them.
The introduction that leaves space
A busy stand is not a pitch competition. Nobody needs your life story in the first 20 seconds.
Say your name, the work you do and one proof point. “I am Ada, a junior product designer. I redesigned a logistics onboarding flow that reduced completion drop-offs in my test group. I am looking to grow with a consumer-tech team.” Then ask a relevant question.
That is enough. The aim is not to sound impressive for the sake of it. The aim is to be clear enough for the right person to remember where you might fit.
The note you send that evening
A phone contact is not yet a connection.
After each useful conversation, write down the person’s name, company, what they said and the next useful move. If they ask for your portfolio, send it that evening. If they mention a role that may open later, follow up within 24 hours with a short message that reminds them where you met and what you can help with.
Avoid sending the same “Hello dear, it was nice meeting you” message to everyone. Mention the product issue, hiring conversation or project they raised. Specificity is what turns a two-minute chat into a professional follow-up.
The organiser’s current visitor page also says a badge scan can share details with exhibitors or sponsors. Decide which conversations deserve your information before you arrive, and make sure the email address and portfolio link you share are ready to work for you.
The official GITEX Nigeria visitor information has the current attendance and eligibility details. Check it before making travel plans, then go to Lagos with work people can see and a reason for every conversation you start.
A GITEX badge is not a job offer. But the right proof, question and follow-up can keep your name in the room after you leave it.
Also read: What founders should do before GITEX Nigeria opens on August 31
Also read: 5 things founders should fix before iDICE closes on August 19
What is the one piece of work you would show a recruiter in 30 seconds? Tell us in the comments.
