Category: Career Readiness

Giving Day is April 8, 2021

At Mason, we are proud to be home to over 37,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, many of whom face overwhelming financial obstacles while in school. And when our students are in need, Mason Nation answers the call.

That’s why University Life, College of Health and Human Services, the Schar School of Policy and Government, the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution and the Honors College are working together on Giving Day to raise money for career readiness – to eliminate barriers to economic and social mobility by making it possible for all Mason students to have the career-building experiences they need for postgraduate success.

Join us on Giving Day, April 8, and make a gift to our Career Readiness Fund which supports the Unpaid Internship Scholarship program. To date, University Life has distributed over $140,000 in scholarships so students did not have to choose between taking a paying job not necessarily related to their career goals, or a resume-building internship opportunity that is unpaid.

Together, let’s ensure that every student with the ability to succeed at Mason has the opportunity to do so.

2021 Mason Leadership Summit to be Held Throughout March; Register Today

Registration is open for the 2021 Virtual Mason Leadership Summit: Innovative Leadership for Adult Learners (25 years old and up) and Student Parents, hosted by the Leadership Education and Development Office and Contemporary Student Services. This year’s Summit will be held March 1 – March 30. Participants will learn practical ways to further develop as leaders in multiple contexts (career, family, community, etc.). Students will broaden their perspectives on leadership and engage with other adult learners, and student parents, through practical and applied leadership skill development. For details and to register, click here. Email questions to Jayson Padilla or Shayma Kuver.

Mason 2020 Virtual Fall Career Fair Set for Oct. 8-9

Mason Career Influencers Network to Hold August Training for Faculty and Staff

University Career Services will offer its Career Influencer Training as a virtual workshop series in early August. The Career Influencers Network provides faculty and staff the opportunity to learn how to best support students in becoming career ready and achieving post graduate success in today’s quickly evolving world of work. In times of uncertainty, we can expect to discuss job and career plans with Mason students even more than before. Joining the Career Influencers Network will help you help students as they reflect on, refine and pursue their career goals.

The three modules that comprise the training will be offered from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., August 3 – 5. Participants must participate in ALL THREE scheduled workshops in the series to complete the training. The workshops are intended to be undertaken in the order offered, so plan to participate in the workshops on all three mornings. Course participants can expect to:

Learn how to work more effectively with students seeking career advice;
Gain knowledge of the career development process;
Support recruiting efforts of employers in compliance with NACE standards; and
Promote Handshake and other digital career resources available to Mason students to support their job and internship search.

Upon completion of the training, participants will receive a certificate of completion and the Career Readiness Toolkit, a collection of activities, rubrics, and templates to facilitate connections between students’ academic experiences and their career goals. Members of the Career Influencers Network also receive invitations to Lunch & Learns for on-going professional development and updates on career related programs and services. Click here to register.

Survey shows continued career success for Mason alumni

George Mason University alumni have a strong track record of landing jobs they want, and that professional success continued with the class of 2019.

In the university’s Career Plans Survey, 87% of respondents reported attaining a position that aligned with their career goals, up from 82% in 2018. The survey also showed that 86% of students who earned graduate degrees and 81% of students who earned undergraduate degrees reported a positive career outcome within six months of graduating, both remaining consistent with 2018.

Career Services hosts virtual job fair as one way to help students and alumni find internships, jobs

Virtual Job Fair: Save the date – June 18

George Mason University Career Services is hosting a Virtual Job Fair on Thursday, June 18 from 12-5 p.m. Employers will recruit for all types of openings – part-time, full time and internships. All Mason students and alumni are invited. Your student can check Handshake and careers.gmu.edu for the list of participating employers. In preparation for the fair, encourage your student to visit Career Launch: Preparing for Virtual Fair on May 27, drop-ins for Resume & Interview Prep daily from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and Virtual Resume Clinic from June 16-17.

Virtual Career Launch 2020

Even during “normal” times, career preparation can feel confusing and intimidating. Facing that in the midst of a national crisis, is simply put, scary. We can’t fix everything, but we are here to serve Mason Nation as a source of reliable career expertise.

We have reformulated our annual Career Launch workshop series. This year it’ll not only be completely virtual, but will also directly address questions and concerns about career preparation in the age of COVID-19. Whether your student is currently job searching or just want to get strategies and insight from the career experts, Career Launch 2020 is for them.

Virtual Nonprofit Career Week

To achieve their missions, nonprofits need everyone from accountants and administrators to developers and programmers to designers and marketers and everything in between and beyond. Your student can join University Career Services to explore the multi-faceted world of nonprofit work!

Mason students can dive deeper into how they can use their degree to get into this field and how to choose and develop the skills necessary for their industry-focus before they get there.

In the upcoming panels and workshops, your student will get to talk to professionals working in those fields, ask questions, and network with alumni.

One-credit career-readiness courses

Whether your student is exploring a major and career options, or preparing for graduation, career education courses are a great way to help them get closer to their career goals while earning academic credit! These goal-oriented courses offer in-depth career planning guidance at all stages, from exploring majors to transitioning to the workplace.

George Mason University has a robust Career Education Program comprised of five, one-credit career courses, taught by employers and career advisors, and overseen by University Career Services and the Mason Care Network. These courses are instrumental in helping your student make decisions pivotal to education and career readiness.