Breakout Sessions, ASPIRE to Connect 2015

Breakout Sessions offered at ASPIRE to Connect 2015 include the following options. You may attend three. (Agenda will be formatted once demand is known for each session.) 

Acing the Interview 
Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers

In this seminar, Lauren Celano will provide advice for how to succeed during an interview, whether phone, Skype, in person one-on-one or panel setting. Learn more on what hiring managers look for when conducting interviews as well as sample interview questions with their (preferred) types of responses.

Media Training for Real Life: Keeping Your Message on Point
Kathy Rivers, Director of Communications, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

Kathy Rivers preps the best Vanderbilt doctors, nurses, faculty, and staff before they are interviewed by important local and national news sources. Learn how to implement a SOCO (Single Overriding Communications Objective) to achieve your communication goals in networking, interviewing, and other career opportunities.

Big Help for Small Talk 
Ruth Schemmer, Assistant Dean, Career Development, Vanderbilt University Graduate School

This workshop is aimed at helping students and postdocs learn how to carry on social conversations and talk with networking contacts and potential employers outside the formal interview setting.

Leveraging LinkedIn
Kim Petrie, Director, BRET Office of Career Development, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Come discover why LinkedIn is the social media tool of choice for over 250 million professionals around the world! In this session, you'll learn how LinkedIn can help you create a professional online presence, build your professional network, explore career paths, research companies and industries, and find job opportunities. 

Exploring and Identifying Your Network
Kate Stuart, Program Manager, BRET Office of Career Development, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Do I have a network? Who is in my network? How do I grow the network that I have? This workshop will provide a personalized look along with a practical opportunity to explore the levels and roles of your network and their resources.

Making the Most of Professional Conferences (2 Panels)

Professional conferences offer excellent opportunities to showcase your work AND develop new connections and relationships that can help you in your research, training, and career search. In this panel discussion, VU faculty will share their approach to preparing for professional conferences and provide advice for making the most of conference activities.

Humanities and Social Science (HSS) Panelists include: 

Celia Applegate, Ph.D.
William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of History 
Associate Chair, History Department; Director of Graduate AdmissionsAffiliate Professor of Musicology and Ethnomusicology, Blair School of Music

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Panelists include:
Anita Mahadevan-Jansen, Ph.D.
Orrin H. Ingram Chair in Engineering, Biomedical Engineering; Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering; Professor of Neurological Surgery, Neurological Surgery

Puck Ohi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology

Chuck Sanders, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry and Associate Editor of Biochemistry; Aileen M Lange and Annie Mary Lyle Chair of Cardiovascular Research