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Overview of Contest and Series

This contest and series of workshops is designed to help Jackson School students take an active role in the development of a professional network. Students will learn how geoscience professionals represent themselves on the web and use social media, online professional societies, alumni networks and mentorship groups to create connections and find jobs. Over the course of three workshops, students will build and refine their "digital professional identity."

To enter the contest and receive invitations for upcoming (optional) workshops via Canvas, join this course:

Join this Course

Goals for participants:

Know about key professional, academic, alumni and mentoring networks
Understand professional networking in terms of goals, effective strategies, norms and etiquette
Create a polished portfolio for professional networking consisting of:
1. LinkedIn profile
2. Online professional bio on the JSG site or alternative location
3. Resume (or academic CV)

Portfolio Contest

Submit your resume, LinkedIn profile and online bio/website for review by JSG staff and a panel of Expert judges drawn from industry and academia. Judges will award a prizes for the best overall undergraduate, Masters and PhD portfolios. Everyone who submits a portfolio element will receive constructive feedback delivered via UT's Canvas system.

Workshop Series

Session 1: Professional Networking and Social Media

This workshop will introduce participants to the goals, strategies and norms of digital and traditional professional networking. It will then focus specifically on how social media is emerging as a critical platform for making professional connections, learning and finding jobs. The workshop will go over how you can best represent yourself and use various social networks, using stories and examples drawn from the JSG community, and it will identify key networks of interest to JSG students. Finally, workshop facilitators will work with students in groups to either build their LinkedIn profile or provide feedback on the profile they already have.

Date: March 27, 2019
Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
Location: JGB 4.102 | Barrow Conference Room
Hands-on focus: LinkedIn
What you should bring: Laptop
What you will leave with:
- Knowledge and resources for navigating LinkedIn and other social networks
- Awareness of key geoscience communities on these networks
- Feedback on existing LinkedIn profile or a start on a new profile

Session 2: Developing your Professional Profile on the Web

This workshop will show participants why and how they should develop a digital professional profile for themselves on the web. Example profiles drawn from the Jackson School community will be presented, best practices will be identified, and students will be linked with key websites and tools for building their own online bio or website. Workshop facilitators will work with students in groups to either build a first draft of an online profile or provide feedback on an online profile, bio or website they already have.

Date: April 3, 2019
Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
Location: JGB 4.102 | Barrow Conference Room
Hands-on focus: Online Profiles and Websites (JSG student profiles, about.me, Google Sites or similar)
What you should bring: Laptop
What you will leave with:
- Understanding of what makes a good professional profile or website
- Examples of good professional profiles and websites
- Basic knowledge of some of some simple and free/low cost tools for building your own bio or website
- Feedback on existing profile/website or a start on a new one

Session 3: Preparing for Networking Events and Job Applications

Participants will learn how to integrate and use their professional networking portfolio to make the most of academic conferences, career fairs, networking events and job opportunities. Specific guidance will be provided on resumes and cover letters, and workshop facilitators will engage participants in a hands-on peer review session focused on resumes and academic CVs.

Date: April 12, 2019
Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
Location: JGB 4.102 | Barrow Conference Room
Hands-on focus: Resumes and CVs
What you should bring: Bring four printed copies of your resume (whatever kind of draft you have is fine) and a pen or pencil.
What you will leave with:
- Understanding of how elements of your professional networking profile can work together to present you well in various professional contexts
- Guidance on resume and cover letter writing
- Thoughtful, detailed, systematic feedback on your resume, and a clear idea of what you can do to make it stronger