Jobs & Careers Center

The Jobs & Careers Center will be located in Mineral Hall A, B/C and D/E on the Third Floor of the Hyatt. It provides a central location for job seekers, students, and professionals to interact and to learn more about careers and professional development for geographers. A careers information table will be staffed and accessible each day for general questions, information, and resources.

View/download a PDF of the full schedule of events for the Jobs & Careers Center.

In addition to the sessions taking place within the Jobs & Careers Center, many more careers and professional development sessions will take place at various locations throughout the meeting venues. Sessions will cover a broad range of topics, from working as a geographer in the public, private, nonprofit, or academic sector, to networking strategies, to becoming a certified GIS Professional (GISP), to women in leadership roles in geography, and more. 

View/download the PDF version of all career and professional development sessions or view a digital list from the online program by selecting the button below.

View All Careers-Related Sessions

Open Forum on Diversity in Geography

The AAG is organizing a special session on the state of diversity in geography. This open forum is meant to facilitate a conversation on diversity in geography with AAG leadership, including council members, Diversity and Inclusion Committee members, Diversity Ambassadors, leaders of diversity-related specialty groups and geography department chairs. The session is scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 3:20-4:35 p.m. in Mineral Hall D/E, Third Floor, Hyatt.
Read more about the Open Forum

Exhibitor Presentations

The AAG is organizing a two-session series to provide exhibitors and sponsors an open forum for presenting about their companies and organizations. Presenters will discuss topics of their choosing, including company/organization overviews, highlighting projects/programs, sharing available resources, or career opportunities with their organizations.

Confirmed exhibitor participants so far include: U.S. Census Bureau, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Pix4D, Avenza Systems, Elsevier, the American Meteorological Association, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers and AAAS. More will be added soon. These special sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 4:00-5:15 p.m. and Wednesday, April 8, 3:20-4:35 p.m., in the Jobs and Careers Center, Mineral D/E, Third Floor, Hyatt.

Panel Discussions and Paper Sessions

The Jobs & Careers Center will host a number of panel and paper sessions related to careers and professional development. Topics to be addressed at the 2020Annual Meeting include:

  • Welcome to the Annual Meeting: An orientation for newcomers
  • Employment in the business, government, and nonprofit sectors
  • Preparing for and sustaining an academic career
  • Strategies for thriving as a stand-alone geographer
  • Integrating career preparation into geography programs and curricula
  • Leadership opportunities for women in geography
  • Diversity in academia and the workforce
  • Working internationally
  • Work-life balance 
  • Entry-level careers in geography
  • Internship and work-based learning opportunities for geographers

Details about these and other activities scheduled throughout the Annual Meeting will be posted as they are confirmed. Check the online program or mobile app for the latest developments and any changes.

Workshops

Workshops provide hands-on opportunities to learn about and apply ideas and advice from experts in their fields. Topics to be addressed at the 2020 Annual Meeting include:

  • Preparing Geography Students for the 21st Century Workforce
  • Professional Networking Strategies
  • Becoming a Certified GISP (GIS Professional)
  • Finding Your Career Outside Academia
  • Computational Thinking Skills for Human and Physical Geographers
  • Women in Leadership Positions in Geography

For full descriptions of these and other workshops as they are announced, check out the Workshops list on the registration page. 

Student Networking Social

Students are an integral part of the AAG Annual Meeting, AAG membership, and our discipline. To help students meet and network, the AAG is organizing a Student Networking Social on Wednesday, April 8 from 12:30 – 1:40 p.m. in Plaza Ballroom A, Concourse Level, Sheraton. Come meet fellow students (from undergrads to Ph.D. candidates) and build your network of geography colleagues. Have some fun while you make connections that carry through the Annual Meeting and beyond! Students are encouraged to wear their school colors or other university apparel – let’s see how many different schools will be represented in one room! Student attendees can enter a raffle to win AAG swag or even one of 10 free student registrations for the 2021 AAG Annual Meeting in Seattle! Beverages and snacks will be provided and AAG staff will be on hand to answer questions you may have about the organization, the meeting and more.
View more student activities and resources.

Career Mentoring

Whether you're looking for your first job, considering graduate school, or changing careers, the advice of a mentor can help prepare you for success in today's competitive job market. The AAG has assembled a team of experienced geography professionals, faculty members, and advanced students to provide one-on-one and small-group consultation about careers in a variety of industries and employment sectors. Topics for discussion might include creating resumes and cover letters that will grab an employer's attention, finding jobs where you can put your geography skills and training to work, choosing a graduate program, developing your personal and professional networks, long-term career planning, and more. Career Mentoring sessions will take place April 6-9, each morning from 11:10 a.m.-12:25 p.m. (except Tuesday, 11:50 a.m.-1:05 p.m.) in Mineral Hall B/C, Third Floor, Hyatt.

If you are interested in becoming a Career Mentor, contact us at careers@aag.org.

Job and Student Opportunities Postings

Each year, the Jobs & Careers Center features job postings and student opportunities in all fields of geography. Attendees can browse the postings during the career mentoring sessions and or at any time during the conference. Employers are also welcome to post printed ads for open positions within their organizations. 

Visit our online job ads now.

View or advertise the latest student opportunities now.

GISP Certification

Did you know you can earn GISP credits by participating in the AAG Annual Meeting? Attendance provides several ways to earn necessary points for the “Contributions to the Profession” and “Education” components of becoming a GISP. A workshop on GISP certification will take place within the Jobs & Careers Center on Tuesday, April 7: GISCI & the GISP – An Exploration of Professionalism Early in a Career or Profession (10:15-11:30 a.m. in Mineral Hall A, Third Floor, Hyatt). Prospective GISPs and current GISPs who have questions about renewing their certification are encouraged to attend. Attendance is first-come, first-served.
For more information, visit www.gisci.org.