In addition to the successful Student Employment Workshop (now called the Rangeland Employment Workshop), where you can ask questions on how to really succeed in the job market, SRM is planning to host additional workshops on: "What are Employers Looking For," "What are Agencies Looking For," and "Thinking about Graduate School." All workshops will be one-half hour to two hours in length and will be offered concurrently with the 2008 Rangeland Job Fair on Sunday afternoon, February 8th, 2009. Top professionals from both the private and public sectors of rangeland management have volunteered to guide these workshops to benefit SRM members.

THE FUTURE OF THE RANGELAND PROFESSION 1:00 - 2:00pm

Facilitator: Linda Coates-Markle, BLM Liaison to SRM

The intent of this general session of the workshops is to set the stage as to what different sectors of the rangeland profession see as the future needs and trends for the profession. We hope to have representatives of the full diversity of the SRM membership including professionals representing the federal agencies, universities, producers, consultants, and others within rangeland management (and other related professions) at all stages of their careers. Members of the SRM Young Professional Conclave and Leadership Development Committee will also be invited to play a role. These individuals will be asked to speak to their perspectives of the changing demographics of the profession, needed training for new professionals, how to establish credibility within the profession, and the types of job opportunities they see as being available in the future. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions related to any aspect of the profession for which they have concerns, need guidance, would like feedback on or are just plain curious. We expect lively discussions!

CONCURRENT SESSION - OPPORTUNITIES IN GRADUATE SCHOOL - 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Facilitator: Ben Baldwin, Utah State University.

This two-hour workshop will be offered for the first time at the 2009 meeting. Many undergraduate students, as well as younger range professionals, find themselves unsure whether they should pursue or continue in a job in the profession, or whether they would be better off earning a graduate degree. The answer will vary for each person, but this workshop will offer viewpoints that address the question from various angles. In fact, the workshop will focus on two important questions: How do I choose the right path for me: Graduate school or professional experience? And if I choose graduate school, how do I find the right program, funding and faculty advisor?

These questions will be addressed by a panel of speakers who will make brief presentations and field questions from the audience. Included on the panel will be university professors, current or recent graduate students, and field professionals who hire range graduates.

The target audience for this session is expected to include members of the Young Professionals Conclave as well as college juniors and sophomores who are just beginning to think about what might happen after graduation.

CONCURRENT SESSION - RANGELAND EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOP - 2:00pm - 4:00pm

(formerly known as the Student Employment Workshop)

Facilitators:
Jack Alexander, Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc., Belgrade, Montana
Randy Reichert, USFS, Greeley, Colorado

Employers are looking for ethical, motivated, hard working, persons who can think, solve problems, communicate effectively (all modes), work effectively on a team, and have good leadership skills. Yes, they want certain specific technical knowledge and skills, but they generally assume that a person has ample technical ability so that they can train them in the specific technical components of their job.

At this workshop each participant will be asked to bring a specific job application along with a cover letter and their resume that they developed for that specific job. The workshop will help students analyze their materials with discussions on how they may improve it. Further discussions will concentrate on the process of evaluating job announcements, gathering information, preparing check lists, and then writing the resume and cover letter, submitting the application, follow-up, and preparing for the interview.

Also at this workshop you can ask the questions on how to really succeed in the job market. This is a confidential and discreet workshop. You can ask the hard questions without potential employers present. Expect to get honest, straight-forward answers on what employers really look for.

Did you know that the average time spent on a resume by a future employer is 20 seconds? At this workshop a team of experienced range professionals will offer critical real life resume assessments with usable suggestions to help you learn how to become one of the people that get 20 minutes of a future employer's time rather than 20 seconds.

Potential employees that attend this workshop will also learn about appropriate interview attire, the importance of networking, and having a business card. Attendees also will find out why people that serve on committees as students typically get job offers when they graduate.

If you would like to learn more about these things, we would like to see you at the Rangeland Employment Workshop.

RECRUITMENT AND HIRING WITHIN THE FEDERAL AGENCIES 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Facilitators:
Linda Coates-Markle, BLM-SRM Liaison, Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Cindy McArthur, USFS-SRM Liaison, Washington, DC
Dennis Thompson, NRCS, Washington, DC
Leonard Jolley, NRCS, Beltsville, Maryland
Other Federal and State Agencies, TBA

Students and professors alike often ask "What are agencies looking for?" and "How does the agency hiring process work?" These are good questions and the agencies are very interested in the opportunity to address these questions during a one-half hour workshop at the 2008 Meetings. Human Resource and/or Range Specialists from different agencies will be present to explain the hiring process from vacancy search to selection. Details will be covered regarding registration with the different on-line application sites, inputting quality, easy-to-read resumes and tips for strong responses to the vacancy questions. They will discuss the OPM classification series specific to rangeland management positions and how to interpret mandatory qualification requirements.

Land managers from different agencies will be present to discuss desired attributes of highly qualified applicants. Good grades are important but field experience and communication skills are even more important. Also addressed will be: "What does a hiring official look for in a potential applicant?" and "What types of questions are typically used during interviews and why?"

The intent of this workshop is for interested participants to walk away with a good general knowledge of the agency hiring process, and perhaps remove some of the mystique and intimidation that may have previously surrounded it. We will also introduce the Agency Hiring-on-the-Spot program and discuss how this process will work at the SRM Annual Meetings in Albuquerque.