For job seekers
Whether you're an experienced chemist or a newly minted chemistry graduate, we hope that NERM 2010 will provide an great place for you to network, develop skills and find new opportunities.
Contents
Registration for job seekers
Undergraduate members and the unemployed pay only $25 for registration before May 21st; graduate student members pay $70. This makes NERM 2010 a very affordable conference, particularly if you stay in campus accommodation.
When you register, you will be asked to respond to the statement, "I am a chemist looking for employment". Be sure to answer "Yes" to this, and then (with your permission) we will provide your name to any prospective employers attending the event.
Events for job seekers
Main poster session and career fair
On Wednesday evening in the Barrington Multipurpose Room, we will be holding our main poster session and career fair. If you wish, you can simply attend the event, and meet prospective employers in an informal setting. Alternatively, if you have research results, you may choose to present a poster.
Under a new scheme piloted at NERM, posters can display a colored dot to indicate your status to recruiters:
- An orange dot indicates that the presenter is a BS chemist seeking employment, or an undergraduate seeking employment after graduation
- A blue dot indicates that the presenter is an MS chemist seeking employment, or a graduate student seeking employment after graduation
- A purple dot indicates that the presenter is a PhD chemist (or PhD - ABD chemist) seeking employment
- A green dot indicates a graduate student looking for a postdoctoral position
If you provide your name to prospective employers, they will be able to talk with you about your research at your poster.
Career workshops
For more information, see the page on career workshops'
On Thursday, June 3rd, ACS Career Services will offer a set of career workshops for those interested in planning a career in chemistry. These comprise the following
- Planning Your Job Search (9:00 AM – 10:30 AM)
- Preparing a Resume (10:30 AM – 12:00 AM)
- Effective Interviewing (1:00 PM – 2:30 PM)
Panel discussion
The St Lawrence Student ACS group is organizing a panel discussion titled Life as a Chemist: Taking a Step (or Two) Away from the Bench.
This will focus on the various areas of study within chemistry, and it will highlight exciting opportunities to undergraduates. The primary audience for this discussion will be undergraduates who are deciding on whether a life in chemistry is right for them. Different fields and occupations of chemistry will be represented, perhaps from the selection of chemists available at the NERM. It is important for students to realize that a career in chemistry involves more than “traditional” lab work.
Networking
Finding a professional job most often involves good networking, and conferences such as NERM provide just the right environment for you to meet influential people in your field. If you give a presentation, you may find a prospective employer is listening in the audience - hopefully impressed by your knowledge and experience! If you attend a talk, you may choose to talk to the speaker afterwards to learn more about a particular sub-specialty, and this may lead to new contacts or even a job offer. Make the most of the opportunities at NERM 2010!
