Career Sessions at the 238th AAS Meeting

Join us at the upcoming summer meeting and learn how to advance along your career path. Admittance is free for the following sessions, but you must be registered for AAS 238 to attend.

Public Speaking in a Virtual Environment

Monday, 7 June, 12:00–1:30 pm ET (12:00 pm to 1:00 pm with Q & A until 1:15pm ET)

In this conversation, we will discuss the essentials to delivering an excellent, enthusiastic presentation via virtual platforms. The topic is applicable to job talks, colloquia, conference oral and poster presentations, and any other type of presentations that you may give. We will discuss key tactics that will enable your success as you speak, including how to convey passion, enthusiasm, knowledge, and expertise, how to leverage the parameters of digital platforms like Zoom, and how to utilize storytelling to engage the audience. You will emerge with clear direction as to how you can be a stronger, more confident speaker.

How to Communicate COVID Impacts in Your Job Marketing Materials

Monday, 7 June, 2:30–3:00 pm ET

The pandemic most likely impacted your goals, plans, expectations, and strategies for moving your career forward. If you had to delay a paper because you were unable to collaborate in person with a team, if you saw your schedule upended, if your research plan had to shift or pivot, you are not alone. But how do you ensure that future employers and collaborators understand how the pandemic impacted your professional outputs and perhaps that this last year is not fully emblematic of who you really are? In this session, we will discuss strategy and tactics for efficiently and honestly communicating how the pandemic impacted your career outputs. We will address specific avenues for articulating what you did and faced on your CV, resume, LinkedIn profile, research and teaching statements, and cover letter, and during interviews — how you responded in real time to stimuli, what skills you gained, how it made you sharper and stronger as a problem solver and how you developed resiliency. This was a nightmare of a year, but you emerged, more powerful, agile, and ready to take on challenge for your employer. Let’s make sure they know that!

How to Build a Network as a Postdoc or Graduate Student

Tuesday, 8 June, 12:00–1:30 pm ET (12:00 pm to 1:00 pm with Q & A until 1:15pm ET)

Networking is the most powerful strategy you have in your career discovery, career planning, career, and job landing arsenal. But many early career scientists erroneously believe that 1) networking is a negative action that takes time away from your important research, and 2) it is only something you can do at conferences, especially as you advance. We will dispel both of these myths! In fact, there is so much that a grad student and postdoc can do to build and nurture networks now, and uncover hidden career and job opportunities through networking. In this session, we will discuss how to find people for your network, how to actually network with them (i.e., build win-win alliances), and how to access surprising networking opportunities available to grad students and postdocs.

How to Write a Cover Letter

Tuesday, 8 June, 2:30–3:00 pm ET

Let’s be honest: cover letters are annoying to write! But in this webinar, you will learn a recipe to write a cover letter that you can utilize for the rest of your life, whether you are going for an internship, fellowship, scholarship, job, or promotion. We will discuss the goal of a cover letter, and what elements are included in an effective and compelling cover letter. Then we will write one together, using the recipe. We will address a key aspect of the main part of a cover letter which boils down to Problem-Solution-Result-Spin Back, where applicants really shine as they customize their cover letter. You will emerge with your own customized template to use for any cover letter you write in the future. 

Media Relations: How to Work with Journalists to Promote Your Research

Wednesday, 9 June, 12:00–1:30 pm ET (12:00 pm to 1:00 pm with Q & A until 1:15pm ET)

In this webinar, we will address how scientists can effectively work with journalists to promote your work. We will address how to reach out to, pitch, and interact with journalists and how to develop a partnership with your in-house media relations team (typically referred to as public information, public relations, or external relations). We will also go over a media relations guide — what to expect when being interviewed or having your work covered by a journalist, including dos and don’ts.

How to Ask for More Compensation (More Money!)

Wednesday, 9 June, 2:30–3:00 pm ET

Who wants more money? You do! In this session we will discuss ways, including actual verbiage, to ask for more money, higher salaries, higher compensation, more and different employee benefits, and promotions. What’s that sound? It’s all that cash you are accumulating- just from asking for it!