“Industry talent” … that’s you.
The BioFlorida Institute will hold its first-ever statewide biotech Career Forum, Connecting Industry to Florida’s Talent, before the kick-off of BioFlorida’s 14th Annual Conference scheduled for Oct. 23-25 at the Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina in Tampa. The pre-conference event features company, academic and research institute information tables for networking with bioscience and related sector job seekers. In addition, the Career Forum includes sessions geared toward employers as well as young professionals, students and recent graduates.
“Florida’s universities are graduating some of the country’s most talented young professionals, and at the same time our state continues to attract some of the world’s leading research institutions and biotechnology, medical devices and diagnostics companies,” said Harry Orf, PhD, vice president of scientific operations for Scripps Florida and chair of the BioFlorida Institute. “A forum such as this one is a much-needed opportunity not only to connect top talent with potential employers, but also to provide the type of invaluable information and networking opportunities that foster the continued growth of the bioscience industry within the state.”
The employer session will be comprised of several roundtable discussions carefully designed to provide companies and organizations with practical, out-of-the-box information to help them connect to potential employees and refine hiring strategies that lead to a maximum return on investment. The discussions will cover recruiting topics such as working with Florida universities, international hires, competitive wages, and what advantages the state offers in the life science industry. Other roundtables will focus on issues related to training and location, such as Banner Center opportunities and the challenges of locating near talent sources.
Participants will also have the opportunity to get valuable information and give feedback about life science-based events and mentorships, among other topics related to engagement within the industry.
Career seeker workshops, which are free of charge, will help graduating students and young professionals analyze job postings, fine-tune interviewing skills and craft high-impact résumés that reflect their unique skill sets. These workshops will also feature a panel discussion with representatives from bioscience companies and institutes on their hiring needs and what really makes the difference among competing job candidates.
The forum is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23, at the Marriott Waterside and will be followed by an opportunity for networking from 4 to 5:30 p.m. More than 500 business leaders, scientists and investors are expected to attend the three-day BioFlorida Conference, which is the premier business development, investing and networking event for those associated with Florida’s burgeoning bioscience industry.