Up to 2,000 candidates attended the third Working Worlds Careers Fair in the virtual universe of Second Life, organised by Luxembourg-based GAX Technologies. Recruiter dropped in on the event where candidates and prospective employers rubbed shoulders in the guise of their computer-generated avatars in a space-age environment specially created for the event.

A new feature at this fair was a virtual jazz concert which closed proceedings and prompted a lot of networking activity among candidates and recruiters. “Previously, Working Worlds has been about recruitment and recruitment only, but this was much more of a networking event as well,” said Cornelia den Hartog, managing director of GAX.

She told Recruiter that while it was too soon to provide a full breakdown of visitors, candidates were once again of a high calibre.

UK exhibitors were notably absent but den Hartog believes they “will catch up fast” and hopes to see more at the Working Worlds 4.0 event, which will be held on 28 May 2009. The number of exhibitors was affected by the economic downturn but she added: “I’m certain that even in a conservative environment, any innovative action that shows real results and return on investment will be implemented.”

Exhibiting for the second time was Amsterdam-based SS&C Technologies, which provides software products and services to the asset management industry.

Managing director Marion Roelofs told Recruiter that the company’s attendance brought a secondary business benefit: “As a global company we value the international aspects of these events. It also provided a great platform for the introduction of our company and our financial e-learning solution to both recruiters and candidates, thus providing us with good networking opportunities.”