by Rachael King

College graduates entering a weak job market may be finding it difficult to grab the attention of potential employers in the field of information technology. Don't fret. There's another way to get noticed—enter a tech competition. Many large companies from Microsoft (MSFT) to IBM (IBM) run digital challenges students can enter. IBM, for example, uses its Master the Mainframe competition as a way to scout out the next generation of high-tech caretakers for the powerful computers that banks and other large institutions rely on to run their businesses. Those skills are likely to be in demand as Baby Boomers start to retire in the next few years. Read on to find a contest that might be right for you.