Career Pathways Workshops

ACS Career Pathways: Discover the career path that best matches your talents, goals, and personality with this new innovative program.

257th National Meeting and Exposition
San Diego Convention Center 
August 25 - 28, 2019

Workshop Descriptions

Careers in Industrial Chemistry:  Identifying Your Role in the Industrial Value Chain

Offers an overview of the job market and job types for industrial chemistry. Participants will also learn how the industrial value chain can be used as a tool to help refine your job search in alignment  with your strengths and values.  The course will also help uncover key components ofjob descriptions and participants will learn how to break down job desctiptions  to best match job opportunities with their experience, strengths, and values.

Finding Yourself: Identifying a Career that Matches your Strengths and Values

Finding Yourself: Identifying a Career that Matches Your Strengths and Values allows you to self-assess your career values and strengths.   Participants will also learn how the four sectors of chemistry employment compare and contrast.  This course will also help you determine which sector best aligns to your values and strengths and plan your next steps to obtaining an ideal position.

Foreign National Scientist Obtaning a Job in the USA

In today’s global environment, it is becoming more and more common to seek
employment in other countries. This session is designed for international
chemical professionals seeking a career in the US, whether in
academia, industry, or government. The session will discuss the legal/
immigration issues that foreign-national scientists must be aware of
and some of the practical aspects international applicants who wish
to work in the US must consider. A panel including an immigration attorney
as well as representatives from industry and a university international
student office will discuss contemporary issues and answer
questions from the audience members.    

How to Find and Apply for a Chemistry Position in the Federal Government

Provides participants with sources to locate chemistry positions in the federal government.  Participants will also learn how to break down a federal job announcement.  The course will also prepare participants for an application for a position in the federal govnerment, including automated features, resume components, essays, and questionnaires.       

Making the Most of Your Interview:  Outshining the Competition

Offers strategies and techniques to develop an extremely effective interview. Participants will also learn how to anticipate questions; develop thoughtful, robust responses; and, handle difficult questions.  The course will not only provide critical practive interview scenarios, but will also help participants leave a lasting impression with hiring staff to secure the position well-aligned to their strengths and vlaues.    

Networking:  How to Get Started

Will help participants utilize networking to enhance their job search.  Participants will also learn which types of questions to create a natural flow in a networking conversation.   The course will also help you create a networking plan to locate and obtain your ideal job in the federal government. 

New Technologies to Find Jobs and Manage Your Career

We all know the Internet and information technology have changed the way we do business. But how have they changed the way we find business, jobs, or even completely new careers? New technological tools such as blogs, social networking sites, wikis, telephone and video conferencing provide a wealth of information - both for you and about you. This presentation will focus on tools and techniques of particular use to chemical professionals, and how they can be used for both active and passive career development.

Opportunities for Chemists in the Federal Government

An overview of the demographics of employment for the federal government.  Participants will also learn about the General Schedule (GS) as well as the three types of positions in the federal government.  The course will also determine federal coding for chemists and chemical engineers as well provide data about employment by geography, discipline, department, and agency to help participants match job opportunities with their experience, strengths, and values.  

Setting Yourself Up for Success in an Interview

Breaks down the interview process into navigable stages.  Participants will also learn how to identify critical performance factors from job announcement media.  The course will also help interviewees to develop a plan to relate their experience and values to the job requirements and organization values of their potential employers.

Résumé Development:  Marketing Your Brand for an Industrial Chemistry Position

An overview of the content of a robust résumé for an industrial chemistry position.  Participants will also determine best practices in terms of résumé content and formatting through analysis of résumé exemplars.  The course will also elaborate on the components of résumé portfolio, including example cover letter and research summary.  Additionally, participants will learn about the strategic use of job search engines and networking strategies to get their résumés in the proper hands for the industrial chemistry position of their dreams.

Working in Higher Education

Discover the pros and cons of a career in academia.  You’ll learn about typical career pathways and job opportunities within the four main types of academic institutions.  

Working for Yourself

Consider a career as an entrepreneur or consultant.  You’ll hear about all the advantages and disadvantages of being your own boss, helping you decide whether this is the right choice for you.  

Writing Excellent Proposals

Whether in academia or industry, proposals are essential to securing grants, gaining approval for projects and obtaining support for new initiatives. Yet, what makes a good proposal eludes many people. This workshop will help you write proposals that stand-out and gain the attention of the decision makers and/or committee members.

For more information on how to schedule a workshop at your location, please contact careers@acs.org

 

Career Pathways Workshop Schedule 
Heading to a regional meeting? Fit in a convenient Career Pathways Workshop while you're there. 

257th ACS National Meeting
August 25 - 28, 2019
Register today for the National Meeting and sign up for workshops where you’ll learn about the job market and hiring trends in four main pathways – Higher Education, Industry, Government and Entrepreneurship.