These are job descriptions for all the possible jobs that may appear on the website. All AVAILABLE jobs will be visible when you log in to the sign up page, or when you view or edit your existing student volunteer schedule.
All Student Volunteers must understand and speak English well. Good customer service and teamwork is critical in all positions in order to interact effectively with attendees and staff. Most jobs are fast-paced. Volunteers should dress neatly (except where noted below) and wear comfortable shoes.
Alternate
Be available to go cover a wide variety of jobs at a moment's notice that aren't covered by other volunteers, and if no coverage is needed, then remain in the Student Volunteer Office and wait for something to come up for possibly the entirety of your shift. Bring course work or reading materials or something else to do while waiting for jobs in the Student Volunteer Office. Alternates are strongly encouraged to attend one of the Oral Session Assistant Training Sessions (because we often send Alternates to cover Oral Sessions and you can't do that unless you have had the training), offered Saturday from 3–3:30 p.m. and Sunday through Tuesday from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. (No need to sign up for the training online, and you’ll get credit for half an hour in your schedule if you attend the training).
Awards Assistant
Help prepare awards office.
Awards Assistant: Presidential Address and Awards Ceremony (PAAC)
Help prepare room for attendees. Be an usher during the event (ensure attendees find a seat and ensure entry door opens and closes quietly). May need to help move boxes of awards from awards office to ballroom as well.
Badge On Demand Helper
Help attendee with scanning registration QR code so they can print their badge. If there is trouble, accompany the attendee to the help desk.
Bookstore Assistant
Opening and unpacking inventory boxes, tagging merchandise, stuffing bags, delivering boxes to other GSA booths and other assorted miscellaneous jobs (no heavy lifting is required).
Bookstore Tear down
Heavy lifting of boxes (25-50 pounds) off of skids onto tables per the direction of staff and floor plans. Must be organized and able to work independently and quickly after receiving instructions. Neatly re-pack inventory for shipment, lift boxes onto a pallet for shipping. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for lifting, carrying, standing on cement floor, etc.
Division Booth Assistant
Assist with setting up or tearing down the Divisions Booth. Wear clothing appropriate for doing light physical work.
Divisions & Awards Assistant
Greet Division Officers and help hand-out division awards; Help hand out GSA Awards as needed. Care in handling awards; accuracy and great customer service needed.
Exhibitor Registration Kiosk Assistant
Help attendees with the self-service registration kiosks.
Exhibitor Registration Set-up Assistant
Assist in lifting, moving, unpacking/packing crates and boxes (up to 50 pounds), organizing registration materials. Errands and deliveries to nearby hotels may be required.
Field Trip Check-in Assistant
Help field trip participants check in to their trips, and hand out materials. Being on time (early a.m.) for scheduled shift is critical. Note: volunteer does not go on the field trip.
Field Trip Guide Desk Assistant
Assist with handing out field guide books, stacking books, and assisting GSA staff with any additional purchases and/or refunds.
GeoCareers Corner Set-up Assistant
Assist with setting up GeoCareers Corner.
GSA Opportunities Booth Assistant
***Must have been a participant in one of the GSA programs represented at the booth (GeoCorps, GIP, Research Grant, etc.) Be located at the GSA Opportunities Booth in the Exhibit Hall, answer questions, pass out print material, sign people up for e-mail lists.
GSA President's Reception Assistant
Provide a welcoming presence outside the entry doors, answer any questions, and serve as a gentle deterrent to any curiosity seekers at this invitation-only event. After the first hour has passed, Susan Lofton will cover this role long enough to allow the volunteer to enter the reception, retrieve some appetizers/beverages, and return to the entry area. Likely later the volunteer will be able to mingle with the reception invitees until the event concludes.
GSA Programs Booth Assistant
Help out at the GSA Programs Booth.
GSA RISE Training
This is an on-demand training for GSA RISE (Respectful, Inclusive Scientific Events), required for Oral Session Assistant and Short Course Assistant jobs and optional for everyone else. It counts for half an hour of work in your schedule. The training is an on-demand video and short survey, and does not take place on a specific day. A link to the RISE training will be in the confirmation email that you get after you have signed up.
Head-Table Notebook Distributor
Help the Program Manager distribute the head table notebooks to all the Oral Session rooms in the convention center.
Mic Runner for Q&A
Carry a microphone to people who want to ask a question during a lecture or session. Be alert and available when people want to ask questions. Must be able to get to the person quickly.
Online Short Course Assistant
**This is an ONLINE job that takes place BEFORE the meeting, NOT an on-site job. Please take special note of the date and time. Attend online short course, be available to help course leaders and notify program officer of problems. Must also take the GSA RISE Training (please add that job to your schedule as well).
On-site Registration Desk Lead
Lead position in charge of supporting badge printing and troubleshooting questions from registrants. Support on-site GSA staff members.
Oral Session Assistant
All Oral Session Assistants must also add the on-demand GSA RISE Training to their schedule, and attend one (and only one) Oral Session Assistant Training prior to serving in this job (OSA Trainings are held Saturday, 3–3:30 p.m.; Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, 12:15–12:45 p.m.). Responsible for helping to solve any problems with AV or other equipment in coordination with the session chair, as well as other things that will be explained in the training. You can sign up for a specific technical session you’d like to go to during your time slot, one-half day in advance in the Student Volunteer Office. For morning sessions, sign up begins at 12:05 p.m. the day before; for afternoon sessions, sign up begins at 7:15 a.m. that day. People get in line ahead of time to sign up, so plan accordingly. If you don’t sign up ahead of time, come to the SVO at 7:45 (morning sessions) or 1:15 (afternoon sessions) to be assigned a session (or if none are left, you’ll be an Alternate).
Oral Session Assistant Training
All Oral Session Assistants must attend one (and only one) of these trainings (Saturday, 3–3:30 p.m.; Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, 12:15–12:45 p.m.) before their first scheduled technical session coordinator position. Alternates are strongly recommended to also take this training.
Poster Hall Breakdown Assistant
Assist Program Content Manger with taking down posters at the end of the day in the poster hall; getting it ready for the following day.
Poster Hall Info Desk Lunch Coverage
Provide coverage at Poster Hall Info Desk during the lunch hour to allow a break for staff.
Program Assistant
Check in attendees and hand out materials.
Program Assistant - Early Career Coffee
Scan attendee Badges.
Program Assistant - GeoCareers Corner
Check in mentors and mentees and connect them for their meetings. Answer questions.
Program Assistant - GeoCareers Day
Take tickets, check in mentors, help with room set up, facilitate seating of attendees. Collect index cards from attendees during the program and deliver them to the panel of mentors. Collect evaluation forms at the end of the program.
Program Assistant: GeoCareers Tech
Operate Tech (LCD, PowerPoint), take photos, post to social media.
Program Assistant - Networking Reception
Check in program mentors and scan attendee badges.
Program Assistant - Women in Geology
Check in program mentors and scan attendee badges.
Registration Greeter
Be located at entrance points of the convention center and direct people to the proper kiosk at registration and other GSA areas within the center. Comfortable shoes recommended!
Registration Setup Assistant
Assist in lifting, moving, unpacking/packing crates and boxes (up to 50 pounds). Errands and deliveries to nearby hotels may be required. Jeans/work clothes and work gloves are suggested.
Self Care Room Attendant
Staff the Self Care Rooms check-in table to provide access to the rooms (these are locked); make sure room is ok once person leaves. Make sure to bring work or a book, as this job may involve sitting at a desk without much activity.
Short Course Assistant
Attend short course, make sure all attendees have registered, be available to help course leaders and notify program officer of problems. (Because each volunteer may work no more than 15 hours, you may not assist on both days of a two-day short course.) In the event that the short course that you signed up for gets canceled, you will become a Short Course Alternate.
Speaker Ready Room Assistant
Assist with directing people through the Speaker Ready Room process. Must be knowledgeable with computers and have Mac, PC, PowerPoint, and PDF experience.
Student Volunteer Office Assistant
Answer questions from student volunteers and staff (often in the absence of the Student Volunteer Coordinator). Must be able to deal effectively with many people/problems at once without getting flustered. You must be a quick learner with good judgment, to decide whether you can help someone now or must ask them to return later. Variety of clerical tasks, also run errands, check meeting rooms, and fill in for absent volunteers.
Technical Sessions: Change Signs
Assist the Program Manager to change the Oral Session Signs outside all the Oral Session rooms for the next day.
Technical Sessions: Easel and Sign Distribution
Assist the Program Manager to distribute sign holders, easels, pointers, head table and student volunteer books.
Technical Sessions: Easel and Sign Pick Up
Assist the Program Manager to pick up sign holders, easels, pointers, head table and student volunteer books.
Technical Sessions: Poster Booth Number Distributor
Help the Program Manager affix numbers to all the poster booths in the poster hall.
Ticket Taker/Scanner
Use ATS Scanner to admit attendees, or take tickets at the door.