Jobs and Careers Center at the 2017 AAG Annual Meeting
The Jobs & Careers Center will be located in Rooms 203, 204 & 205 of the Hynes Convention Center, Second Level. It provides a central location for job seekers, students, and professionals to interact with one another and to learn more about careers and professional development for geographers. A careers information table will be staffed and accessible each day for general questions, information, and resources and will be open daily from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm.
This year’s session track will include over 75 panel and paper sessions, workshops, and field trips related to careers and professional development. Sessions will cover a broad range of topics, from working as a geographer in the public, private, nonprofit, or academic sector, to networking, to becoming a certified GIS Professional (GISP), to building inclusive spaces for women in geography. In addition to the many sessions taking place within the Jobs and Careers Center, dozens more careers and professional development sessions will take place at various locations throughout the meeting. The complete schedule of activities is available online at https://www.aag.org/annualmeeting/jobs_center.
Highlighted Sessions
The AAG would like to highlight two back-to-back Friday afternoon sessions featuring two high-profile leaders in workforce development. On Friday, April 7 from 1:20 – 3:00 pm in Hynes 203, Ms. Trinh Nguyen, the Director of Mayor Walsh’s Office of Workforce Development, will participate in a panel entitled “Building Tomorrow’s Workforce: Leading Employers Discuss Career Pathways to Jobs in Infrastructure, Hospitality, Tech, and Sustainability,” and from 3:20 – 4:00 pm (also in Hynes 203), the Honorable Ronald L. Walker, II, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development will be keynote speaker at the recognition ceremony for the AAG Emerging Workforce Scholars program participants. The session is entitled: “Keynote by Hon. Sec. Ronald L. Walker, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor: Massachusetts’s Workforce Investment Programs and AAG Emerging Workforce Scholars Recognition Ceremony”
AAG Careers in Geography Fair
The AAG Careers in Geography Fair will feature representatives from a wide range of industries that employ geographers. Employer tables will be located in the Hynes Convention Center, Second Level, in the hallway outside of the Jobs & Careers Center on Friday, April 7, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. A room will be reserved for breakout meetings and on-site interviews with qualified job candidates on Thursday, April 6 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm and Friday, April 7 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. For more information about the Careers in Geography Fair, visit: https://www.aag.org/annualmeeting/jobs_center/career_fair
Career Mentoring
Whether you’re looking for your first job, considering graduate school, or changing careers, the advice of a mentor can help prepare you for success in today’s competitive job market. The AAG has assembled a team of experienced geography professionals, faculty members, and advanced students to provide one-on-one and small-group consultation about careers in a variety of industries and employment sectors. Topics for discussion might include creating resumes and cover letters that will grab an employer’s attention, finding jobs where you can put your geography skills and training to work, choosing a graduate program, developing your personal and professional networks, long-term career planning, and more. Career mentoring sessions will take place April 5-8, each morning from 10:00 – 11:40 am.
Job & Student Opportunity Postings
Each year, the Jobs & Careers Center features job postings and student opportunities in all fields of geography. Attendees can browse the postings during the career mentoring sessions and or at any time during the conference. Employers are also welcome to post printed ads for open positions within their organizations.
Diversity Ambassadors
A diverse group of graduate students, faculty, and professional geographers serve as AAG Diversity Ambassadors. AAG Diversity Ambassadors are organizing a panel session at the 2017 Annual Meeting entitled “Embracing Diversity: An Open Discussion with the AAG’s Diversity Ambassadors.” The session will take place on Wednesday, April 5 from 2:40 – 4:20 pm in Hynes 203. This session is a continuation of similar panels organized in recent years, which intends to both build upon and enhance the information provided in alternative conference sessions focused on careers and professional development.
AAG Emerging Workforce Scholars
This year, the AAG has launched a unique Emerging Workforce Scholars program for Bunker Hill Community College, Boston Latin Academy and Charlestown High students to engage local youth and advance diversity in geography and the geosciences. The Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) and Massachusetts Workforce Professional Association (MWPA) have been working on this innovative project as AAG’s implementation partners. Please extend a warm welcome to the Emerging Scholars as they explore careers in geography and the geosciences! For more information about the program, visit: https://www.aag.org/diversity_scholarship
GISCI Certification
Did you know you can earn GISP credits by participating in the AAG Annual Meeting? Attendance provides several ways to earn necessary points for the “Contributions to the Profession” and “Education” components of becoming a GISP. A workshop entitled “GISCI – An Exploration of Professionalism Early in a Career or Profession” will take place on Thursday, April 6, from 1:20 – 3:00 pm in Hynes 205. Prospective GISPs and current GISPs who have questions about renewing their certification are encouraged to attend. Attendance is first-come, first-served.
For more information and materials about careers in geography, visit the Jobs & Careers area of the AAG website (www.aag.org/careers). For more on the 2017 AAG Annual Meeting, visit www.aag.org/annualmeeting.
