Employment Service Center

Frequently Asked Questions

When does my online profile expire?
Can I deactivate my profile temporarily and then reactivate it later?
Can I tell if employers have viewed my profile?
What do I do if I forget my login name and/or password?
How soon is my profile available for viewing after I register?
When at the GSA Annual Meeting, where do I go to check in, view job postings, pick up and send messages, schedule and participate in interviews?
How do I register for the Employment Service Center at the GSA Annual Meeting?
If I'm already registered, do I need to check in before scheduling interviews and leaving messages?
How often should I check for messages at the Employment Service Center?
Can I check for messages by phone or online?
How long is each on-site interview?
What do I wear to the on-site interview?
What is the difference between the "Pre-Scheduled" and "Open" interview formats and the "Message Service"?
How can I interview with an employer whose schedule is full or closed?
Are more jobs posted once the Annual Meeting starts?
What should I do if I miss my interview, know I'm going to be late, or need to reschedule at the last minute?
How many copies of my résumé should I bring?

1. When does my online profile expire?

Your profile automatically expires on 30 April. For example, if you register any time during 2007, your profile will expire on 30 April 2008. This allows your profile to be visible and your registration to be active for the GSA Annual Meeting. Every April you will receive an e-mail reminder to reactivate your resume for another year if you want it to remain active.

2. Can I deactivate my profile temporarily and then reactivate it later?

Yes. As long as your profile has not yet expired, you may deactivate and reactivate any time you wish. Simply log in to your profile and choose "Activate/Deactivate Your Profile".

3. Can I tell if employers have viewed my profile?

The online system does not currently provide this capability.

4. What do I do if I forget my login name and/or password?

Go to the login screen (https://rock.geosociety.org/employmentService/index2.asp) and click on "DID YOU FORGET YOUR USER NAME OR PASSWORD?" Type in the email address associated with your Employment Service Center registration and press "Submit". A response including your user name and password will be emailed to you within just a few moments.

5. How soon is my profile available for viewing after I register?

Your profile is available immediately for both viewing and editing.

6. When at the GSA Annual Meeting, where do I go to check in, view job postings, pick up and send messages, schedule and participate in interviews?

George R. Brown Convention Center (Houston)
Sunday, 5 October	10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Monday, 6 October	8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 7 October	8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
No interviews scheduled between noon and 1:00 p.m. Last interview begins at 4:30 p.m.

You may register, check in, and view job openings any time the Center is open, but the earlier the better.

Interviews with employers who have reserved booths are conducted in the ESC. When you arrive for your scheduled interview, check with the message desk for any possible changes (and for new messages). Then proceed to the designated interview booth. If the curtains are closed, listen outside to determine if an interview is still in progress and wait nearby until the previous interviewee exits the booth. If you are not comfortable doing this, ask ESC personnel to assist you.

7. How do I register for the Employment Service Center at the GSA Annual Meeting?

Although it's best to register online and as early as possible to get the most exposure, you may register in person once the GSA Annual Meeting has started by coming to the ESC. We will be happy to assist you.

8. If I'm already registered, do I need to check in before scheduling interviews and leaving messages?

Yes. Here are some guidelines:

INITIAL CHECK-IN: It is recommended that you initially check in as early as possible on Sunday morning, 28 October (we open at 10:00 a.m.) so that you can familiarize yourself with the job postings and start the process of scheduling interviews and leaving messages for employers.

WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU HAVE CHECKED IN (and every time you come back):

Check with staff at the Message Desk to see if you have any new messages.
Look through the notebooks and on the bulletin boards for job announcements. Check daily; new employers often register during the meeting and job announcements may continue to be added.
If you find an announcement that interests you, make note of the organization, interviewer's name, and whether the employer is interviewing on-site or only using the message service. Do not remove postings from bulletin boards or notebooks.
If the employer is interviewing at the Center, check the notice boards behind the scheduling desk to see what format the employer is using. These boards will also indicate if their schedule is still open.
• If OPEN: Proceed to the scheduling desk to schedule an interview.
• If FULL or PRE-SCHEDULED: Leave a message, if you wish to contact the employer. Sometimes employers open their schedules or add additional interview slots.

9. How often should I check for messages at the Employment Service Center?

Please come by the ESC as often as you wish, but at a minimum, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The more often you check, the more likely you'll be able to quickly schedule an interview or respond to an employer's message.

10. Can I check for messages by phone or online?

Due to resource limitations and the number of applicants and employers we assist during the brief time of the Annual Meeting, we are unable to provide an online or a phone-message service. You'll need to come by the Center in person to check for messages.

11. How long is each on-site interview?

Interviews are usually scheduled for 30 minutes. They sometimes run a bit late, so your patience is appreciated if you arrive on time and find that the interview before yours is still being conducted. Your scheduling card will indicate if there are any exceptions to the 30 minute appointment schedule, since some employers do schedule longer interviews. But in general, plan for 30 minutes.

12. What do I wear to the on-site interview?

As with any job interview; it's considered a sign of respect (for the job and the interviewer) to dress in a professional manner.

13. What is the difference between the "Pre-Scheduled" and "Open" interview formats and the "Message Service"?

Open Scheduling Format

Interviews will take place in an interview booth within the ESC during the Annual Meeting.
The employer submits a vacancy announcement that is open for interviewing to any qualified applicant who is registered.
Qualified applicants interested in the position may schedule an interview on a first-come, first-served basis at the scheduling desk.

Pre-Scheduled Format:

Interviews will take place in an interview booth within the ESC during the Annual Meeting.
The employer selects candidates based on their online profile and requests an interview online. If selected, you will receive an e-mail.
Once the pre-selected applicants have been scheduled, the employer may choose to open their interview schedule to other qualified applicants.

Message Service:

Some employers do not use the interview booths at the ESC. These employers' job openings are posted on the Web site, in the job openings notebooks, and on the bulletin board at the Center.
If you are interested in one of these positions, contact the employer via the ESC's message service. The employer will follow up with you directly.
Interviews will NOT take place in the ESC.

14. How can I interview with an employer whose schedule is full or closed?

If there is a specific employer you wish to meet and that employer's schedule is full (or closed due to the pre-scheduled interviewing option), you may leave a message for the employer at the ESC. Most employers will respond to these messages, so check back frequently.

15. Are more jobs posted once the Annual Meeting starts?

Some employers don't sign up for the Employment Service until they arrive at the Annual Meeting, so it is possible that there will be new jobs posted once the meeting starts. These jobs will not appear on the Web site until after the meeting, so it is important to check the job openings notebooks and bulletin boards for new postings. They will be clearly identified as "NEW" postings.

16. What should I do if I miss my interview, know I'm going to be late, or need to reschedule at the last minute?

Please call the ESC at (phone # to come in June) as soon as possible if you know you will miss a scheduled interview or are running late. We will make every effort to assist you and the employer, but please understand that most employers have limited schedules that fill up quickly and there is usually little opportunity for flexibility.

17. How many copies of my résumé should I bring?

It is a good idea to have 2 or 3 good copies of your résumé with you when you arrive for your interview. If the employer wishes to have more copies, there is an on-site copying service available.