THE ACS CAREER RESOURCE CENTER:
Employment and Professional Services at Regional Meetings
Introduction
ACS Career Services provides year-round employment and professional services to assist and enhance the career development of chemists. The following programs -- offered to all ACS Regional Meetings -- provide current information and opportunities in chemical employment and professional development. There is no charge to the member or region for running these programs.
Employment Services
REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT CLEARING HOUSE (RECH)
RECH provides members with the opportunity to interview for industry and academic job openings within the region.
An informal networking session is held for employers to share information about their company and for RECH job seekers to have casual conversations with employers about career opportunities/options.
To participate in the Employment Clearing House, job candidates and employers must signup with Career Services and also register for the regional meeting. Your committee may make allowance for unemployed members by waiving or reducing the registration fee. However, persons without a meeting registration badge will not be admitted to the Employment Clearing House.
Job Candidates and employers interested in attending RECH may obtain information from the ACS Fax-On-Demand service at (1-877-227-0505), the Career Services home page (www:acs.org/careers), or Career Services directly (1-800-227-5558) for registration and fee information.
Professional Services
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
ACS Career Services provides professional services at regional meetings to assist and enhance the career development of chemists.
Basic Program
ACS staff and trained volunteers will review resumes and provide specific career advice to attendees in 25-minute appointments. Typically, resume reviews are offered during RECH operating hours.
Career Services provides a variety of free literature for attendees at each meeting, including professional development publications, workforce and salary survey reports and Career Services catalogs.
Three one-hour mini sessions are included in the Basic Program. These sessions are run on the same day, usually on the second day of the meeting, to allow for maximum attendance. The following three one-hour modules cover all aspects of managing an effective job search.
Targeting the Market. This session first addresses employment trends and professional values (assessing yourself). Then, the process of networking is explored: who is your network, how to expand it, and lastly the benefits of informational interviewing.
Résumé Preparation. Your résumé is a personal introduction and leaves an impression. Learn which personal data format is right for your "marketing plan," and construct a winning résumé.
Interviewing Skills. Many job seekers think their work ends once an interview is secured. Think again! This session will examine the interview process, types of interviews, frequently asked questions, and how to evaluate an offer.
Optional Programs
Strategies for Career Transitioning. Given today’s job market, chemists need to explore possible career transitions. This session places emphasis on the transition process and will explore ways in which chemists can identify possible job/career options. Other elements of managing a job search will be discussed -- resumes, networking, and interviewing. This program is designed for experienced chemists.
9 Steps for Career Success. Looks at how to maximize your career prospects through your current job.
Tell It Well. Covers oral communication skills.
Write It Right. Covers written communication skills.
Special Requests
Upon request, Career Services can provide programs targeted to specific audiences (Student Affiliates, Younger Chemists, Women Chemists). Career Services will work with the Chairs of the regional meeting program, YCC, WCC, or Student Affiliate Chapter to design the most effective program for the region’s needs and interests. For information on Student Affiliates regional meeting programming, please contact Latrease Garrison at (202) 872-6166. For information on YCC and WCC regional meeting programming, please contact John Sophos at 202-872-4608.