Wildlife Career Symposium, Career Fair, Student-Professional Mixer Breakfast, Grad. Project Interest Elevator Speeches

Student-Professional Mentoring Breakfast

  • Friday, February 9:  7:00am (Dry Creek Ballroom).  This event starts promptly at 7am – please be on time!
  • RSVP in advance required for the Student Professional Mentoring Breakfast.  Free for students/Professionals: $15.    Limited to 150 people.

The Student-Professional Mentoring Breakfast is an opportunity for students to meet prospective employers and discuss careers in the wildlife sciences in a casual environment, seated at a table for a meal.

Breakfast Buffet Menu:  California Sandwich with Scrambled Eggs, Sonoma Jack cheese, and Canadian Bacon; Spanish Potato and Egg “Tortilla”; Applewood Smoked Bacon; Deconstructed Yogurt Parfait; Assorted Chilled Juices; Fresh Seasonal Fruit and Berries; Assorted Croissants, Danish and Muffins Served with Sweet Butter and Preserves.  Served with freshly brewed Starbucks Coffee and Tazo Tea Selection.

Elevator Speech Training

  • Friday, February 9:  8:30-9:30am (Dry Creek Ballroom – after the Student-Professional Breakfast).
  • All are welcome, no RSVP required.
  • No additional cost, included in the meeting registration fee

Students interested in pursuing graduate school will hear elevator speeches from Western Section research P.I.’s for Master’s and Ph.D. programs, Graduate Students.  Students attending this workshop will then share interests in a speed-round session. 
What is an “elevator pitch”?
An “Elevator Pitch” is a concise, carefully planned, and well-practiced marketing message about your professional self that your grandmother should be able to understand in the time it would take to ride up an elevator.  It should contain a “hook” or “theme” and go no longer than 60 seconds; resonate with your unique personality and interests and contain a follow up request for a business card, a referral, or future meeting.
Why do you need it?
It helps get your foot in the door with potential employers/major advisors whether on the phone, e-mail or in person at a conference, chance social networking event, or through an informal face-to-face encounter through a friend or relative.  The “ready-made” two sentence answer to the question “Tell Me About Yourself” or “What are you hoping to do when you graduate?”

  • It forces you to figure out what your primary skill sets are and what makes you valuable.
  • It helps you do the hard work needed to deliver an effective “cover letter” that entices an employer to read your resume and grant the interview.

Wildlife Career Symposium & Graduate Student Speed Round

  • Friday, February 9:  8:30-11:00am (Russian River Ballroom)
  • No additional cost, included in conference registration fee

-Do you want to learn more about career paths in wildlife biology and natural resources fields?
-Have you wondered how people end up working in a wildlife job they love?
If so, then please join us for the Wildlife Careers Symposium, where you will hear from professional biologists working at State and Federal agencies, non-profit organizations, consulting firms, and corporations. These professionals have a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, and they will share their current work, as well as what they have learned over the course of their careers, to encourage and inspire you to follow your passion to a career in the wildlife field.
While this event is geared toward students and early-career professionals, all are welcome to attend! This event consists of three parts:

  • 8:30-9:30 am – General wildlife careers overview from six representatives of Federal and State agencies, consulting firms, and industry
  • 9:30-10:00 am – Round robin discussion with panel of wildlife professionals
  • 10:00-11:00am – Graduate Student Speed Round (Current graduate students giving a rapid-fire elevator speech summarizing their projects/objectives for career path)

 

Career Fair 

  • Friday, February 9:  8:30-11:30am (Dry Creek Foyer).
  • No additional cost, included in meeting registration fee

At the Career Fair, professionals from state and federal agencies plus several consulting firms will be present to discuss immediate and upcoming career opportunities.