wnwdns

A question about networking at conferences. Any tips on sticking out in people's minds better? After having your elevator pitch down to the requisite 2-3 minutes how do you draw someone's attention? I mean in the past even when the pitch seems good most people only seem to give attention out of politeness rather than genuine interest.

I am PhD finishing up my diss this year. I want to go on the job market but am concerned about my competitiveness (no external grants but internal ones, low-ranked uni/low-ranked program, limited publications). My question is how to know if I just don't have what it takes to make it? In the sense that on the one hand I recognize my own lack of competitiveness in the job market but also I feel like my writing isn't strong enough, my ideas/project are not exciting enough and maybe I am not good enough at being productive to change my lack of publications. If the job market is so bad should I consider alt-ac because I don't think I have what it takes to make it--get hired or get tenure?