Attendance at job fairs has soared, especially in Northern California and in the technology corridor of Northern Virginia, outside Washington, D.C., according to Tracy Staley, a recruiting manager at Lockheed Martin. But some analysts remain skeptical that commercial applications will ever play a large part in traditional defense companies' bottom line. They point to numerous failed efforts to morph military expertise into commercial might. In the 1970s, Boeing made a big push into products such as shower compartments for modular homes. The venture was a notorious flop.
Most experts still feel that way.
I've seen this movie three times before. Even the defense contractors acknowledge it won't be easy. But this time around just might be different. Bid on or offer business services Web design, logo design, computer consulting, and more. Business Week Online may receive a share of any fees you pay for services.