Surviving & Thriving in Scary Interviews

Interviewing is one of the most nerve-racking experiences a person can face. Within a short time frame, you need to convince the interviewers that you are the best candidate for the job. In this presentation, learn what to expect in various interview situations, from the impersonal, computer-driven interview to the dreaded panel interview. Gain practical tips on handling difficult questions while showing your strengths and capabilities.

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Building, Maintaining and Leveraging Your Professional Network

No matter where you are in your career, your professional network contributes greatly to your growth and development. However, building a solid professional network does not happen overnight. Join us for an interactive session on how best to create a strong professional network at any career stage.

Speaker Bio: Brandon Buscaino is an optical engineer at Ciena working on next-generation optical networking and sensing technologies. He is an active volunteer in the optics and photonics community, starting with his involvement with the student-run Stanford Optical Society, organizing conferences and outreach programs, and continuing through recent mentoring initiatives for students and early-career professionals. Brandon has also participated in advocacy efforts supporting the National Photonics Initiative and has served on multiple Optica and OFC technical and conference committees. He is an Optica Ambassador and recipient of the Optica Kaminow Outstanding Early Career Professional Prize. His passion is fostering collaboration, mentorship, and engagement across the global optics community.

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WORKinOPTICS HR & Talent Summit

WORKinOPTICS Talent Summit is a one-day virtual training program designed for HR professionals, recruiters and hiring managers looking to strengthen their talent strategies and stay ahead of today's workforce trends.

Led by expert consultants from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), this interactive program combines strategic insights with practical, actionable guidance that participants can immediately apply within their organizations. Through engaging workshops, individual exercises, breakout discussions, real-world use cases and knowledge checks, attendees will deepen their expertise while learning alongside peers.

The program features various workshops covering today's most important HR topics:

• Compensation
• Talent Acquisition
• Workforce Planning
• Employee Engagement

Whether you're responsible for recruiting top talent, building an engaged workforce or developing long-term people strategies, this event will provide the tools, best practices and confidence to make a lasting impact within your organization.

SHRM Professional Development Credits (PDCs) will be available to participants, along with Optica CEUs.

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OFC 2027 Career Zone

The OFC Career Zone is your go-to destination for workforce development in the optical networking and communications industry. Whether you're an employer looking to connect with top-tier talent or a job seeker exploring your next career move, the Career Zone offers unique opportunities to build relationships, elevate visibility and access expert resources.

For Job Seekers

• Connect with Employers: Network directly with leading companies recruiting for full-time, part-time and internship opportunities.
• 1:1 Career Coaching & Resume Reviews: Sign up to meet one-on-one with our expert Career Coach
• Boost Your Visibility: Share your resume and profile with employers actively hiring at OFC 2027 and beyond.

For Employers

• Meet Qualified Candidates: Engage with early-career and experienced professionals seeking roles in optics, photonics and networking.
• Host a Recruitment Table: Conduct one-on-one interviews, build your talent pipeline and increase your company’s visibility at the heart of the conference.
• Expand Brand Exposure: Position your organization as an industry leader through live programming and networking events.
• Explore Partnerships: Collaborate with us on custom solutions to attract and retain top talent.

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To request a topic or presentation, contact workinoptics@optica.org

Looking to increase your organization's visibility by sponsoring an event? Visit the Employer Engagement Opportunties page or contact workinoptics@optica.org for more information!