WIB-RTP: Career Fair for Women In Bio, October 11, 2023

On October 11, 2023, the Women In Bio RTP organization successfully hosted its inaugural Career Fair at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech). This event aimed to foster connections among professional women in the region, offering them valuable career opportunities and networking prospects. With a sold-out event, we welcomed 106 enthusiastic attendees and featured eight exhibitor booths. The event also featured informative workshops by our distinguished speakers, Kate Lewis and Emily Crookston.

Emily's presentation centered on "thought leadership," emphasizing how thought leaders establish their expertise by advocating big ideas and facilitating meaningful connections. She drew inspiration from influential figures such as Regina Anaejionu, Tara McMullin, Kelly Diels, Tarzan Kay, and Layla F. Saad. Kate shared invaluable insights into leveraging LinkedIn profiles for job hunting and effective online networking. Her tips included optimizing profile elements like the background banner to reflect personal passions, ensuring an up-to-date professional photo, and crafting a compelling headline showcasing one's skills and strengths to recruiters and potential employers. She also delved into strategies for staying on the radar of companies actively seeking ideal candidates, like following them online and connecting with current employees.

Representatives from prominent organizations, including Advanced Recruiting Partners, Career Path Writing Solutions, EpiCypher, Inc., CSL, CARsgen Therapeutics, Syneos Health, Caidya, and UCB were present, allowing job seekers to engage with potential employers. This event facilitated interactions with these companies and provided a platform for attendees to connect with one another. The overwhelming enthusiasm and engagement witnessed at each booth confirmed our region's high demand for career fairs.

We look forward to building on this success in the future, offering even more opportunities for our new and incoming members next year. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated volunteers, enthusiastic attendees, and the participating businesses for making this inaugural event a resounding success!

Submitted by Linda Nguyen