Univeristy Student Activites
Join us Friday, November 21st, for career building activites
Register for Event
On behalf of the University of Houston Clear Lake (UHCL) and the Hosuton Area GIS Day, we invite university students to our 2025 GIS Day events.
You’re invited to join us at UHCL on Friday, November 21, for a special day designed for current GIS students and early-career GIS professionals. Whether you’re interested in hearing from industry experts about their career journeys, looking for professional advice on landing an internship or your first GIS job, hoping to have your resume reviewed by a GIS professional, or just want help translating HR job postings into plain language, this event is for you. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with other GIS students and build your professional network.
Best of all, registration is free for students—so take a moment to sign up for GIS Day 2025 and join us for an inspiring and informative experience!
Register Today
Participate in career-oriented GIS activities designed to help university students build skills, make connections, and explore future opportunities.
University event on November 19-20th
University GIS Student Professional Roundtable Development Activities
Location: Garden Room
Student Participation: Approx. 6 students per activity station, rotating through each session during their time slot.
Activity Stations
1. Roundtable Resume Review (Group Setting)
- Common resume pitfalls
- How to tailor resumes to GIS-related job descriptions
- Formatting tips and relevant GIS keywords or project highlights
- Open discussion of questions students may have about resume expectations in the field
2. Roundtable Interview Preparation (Group Setting)
- Strategies for virtual vs. in-person interviews
- How to research interviewers or organizations ahead of time
- Common GIS interview questions and effective answers
- Tips for professional demeanor and confidence-building
3. StoryMap/Portfolio Review – "Accomplishment Resumes"
- Showcase examples of portfolios
- Feedback on digital project presentations
- Discuss hiring manager expectations
- Help students craft a "visual resume"
4. Mock Interviews with Managers
Structure:
- 15-minute simulated interview + 5-minute feedback session
- Volunteers listen to elevator pitches and review experience
- Standard + technical GIS questions
- Goal: Build confidence and provide constructive feedback
5. Job Description Dissection (Group Activity)
- Analyze 2–3 real GIS entry-level job postings
- Identify key skills, tools, technologies, and soft skills
- Discuss aligning resumes and cover letters to postings
- Optional: Groups present findings
6. Elevator Pitch Practice Circle
- Students give a 30–60 second pitch in small groups
- Volunteers + peers provide feedback on clarity, confidence, and relevance
- Emphasis on GIS strengths and career goals
- Can run as a timed, round-robin challenge
7. GIS Technical Skills Gap Check
- Students self-assess against common GIS job requirements
- Share one strength and one growth area in groups
- Volunteers recommend learning resources and tips
| Time |
Presenter Name & Title |
| Time |
Registration |
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
[Welcome] |
| 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM |
Map Wizardry Plenary |
| 10:10 AM - 10:30 AM |
Networking Bingo |
| 10:30 AM - 11:50 AM |
[Student Career Round table] |
| 11:50 AM - 12:00 PM |
[Break] |
| 12:00 PM - 1:05 PM |
[Interactive Lunch with GIS Professional] |
|
20 min – Lunch |
|
15 min – Lunch Presentation 1 - Michaela Wojslaw, GIS Analyst with Waller County Road and Bridge Department |
|
15 min – Lunch + Presentation 2 - Anna Gonzalez, ESRI |
|
15 min – Lunch Presentation 3 - Joshua Dye, GIS Analyst III with HCAD presenting on "GISP-E" |
| 1:05 PM - 2:00 PM |
GIS Professionals Q and A Panel |
|
Panel Speaker - Miriam Salazar, GIS Specialist with City of Sugar Land |
|
Panel Speaker - Andrew Matej |
|
Panel Speaker - Kami Denny |
|
Panel Speaker - Miguel Manning, Mapping and GIS Account Manager at AllTerra Central |
Contact Us
Houston Area GIS Day
H-GAC's Geographic Data Workgroup
Houston, Texas, USA
Email: Questions? Contact Us
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