by: The Technology Industry Awards selection committee

Q. I’m interested in submitting an application to be considered for the 2009 High-Tech Leader Awards. How can I go about doing this and what are some things I can do to increase my chances of being selected?

A. Well short of dropping off a box full of malasadas to one of the selection committee sessions (joking, of course), there are several things you can do to beef up your resume and submit a stellar application to help your chances of being selected next year.

First of all, make sure that at the time of application, you have served at your current employer for at least one year.We also look for some sort of demonstration of how you have improved or advanced this organization using technology.

Next, solicit, beg, or pay your co-workers to give you some recognition for all your hard work. All kidding aside, we do look for individuals who have been recognized by their colleagues for their commitment to excellence in their profession.

You’ll also have to get involved. Whether in professional organizations, community groups, or at church, all of our past winners have been highly involved in making Hawaii a better place to live.

And finally, it may seem obvious, but please follow the directions stated on the application itself. Whether submitting a hard copy or an online application, we like to see that you’ve dotted your i’s and crossed your t’s. If you have more to say than the space allocated on the application, by all means submit an additional sheet or two, telling us why you need to be one of our next High-Tech Leaders.

You can expect applications for next year to be released in the spring of 2009, with the due date being sometime in June. For additional information, you can always visit http://technologynewsbytes.com. We look forward to hearing from you and good luck!