Author: Samantha Greenberg

Did your student attend the Career Fair and is now wondering what his or her next steps are to secure a job or internship?  Please see below for some tips from University Career Services to get your student re-connected to employers:

1. Remember, career fairs are not the only way to find a job or internship. The number one way to find a job or internship is through networking. One way to do this is through creating and developing a professional online presence through LinkedIn.  Students can access the Getting LinkedIn to Your Network workshop in HireMason (Mason’s job and internship database) under the Resources tab in HireMason’s Document Library.

2. Follow up with employers. Encourage your student to reach out to any of the employers with whom they spoke to at the Career Fair.  Effective follow up includes referencing an aspect of the conversation they had with the employer at the fair and inquiring about the status of his or her application.

3. Prepare for interviews. You never know when your student will receive a phone call or email requesting an interview.  University Career Services has staff who can help your student practice his or her interview skills.  They also have an online system, Interview Stream, where your student can practice interviewing 24 hours a day week days a week.  Students can create a profile and start practicing today.

4. Manners matter.  It’s important any time your student communicates with an employer that they remember proper etiquette.  Whether it’s remembering to say “please” and “thank you,” or double checking spelling, punctuation and grammar in their email, the way students present themselves to employers is also part of the interview process.

5. Create a “Plan B.” Just in case your student’s first job or internship option does not come to fruition, encourage them to have a “Plan B.”  If your student is not sure what options to consider, he or she can make an appointment with their industry advisor at University Career Services.  Contact us at 703-993-2370 to make an appointment today!

Ann Mills
Associate Director, Career Development
University Career Services

In recognition of the critical role families play in their student’s experience at Mason, Orientation and Family Programs and Services honors one family every year with the Alan and Sally Merten Family of the Year Award.  Honoring an outstanding family annually at Family Weekend allows us to celebrate the impact and importance of families to the Mason community and reminds us that families are an essential part of the support network of our students.

The 2013 Alan and Sally Merten Family of the Year Award went to the Haygood family.  The Haygoods are from Springfield, Massachusetts and were nominated by their student, Briana Haygood. Briana nominated her mother, Lisa, and sister, Aleah. Below is an excerpt from Briana’s essay about her family:

“I have no one else to thank for my current situation but my family. These two ladies have never missed any major part of my life. They are there for every move-in, every Family Weekend, Siblings Weekend, and any other chance they get to visit Mason. I appreciate them for all that they do. Whether it is the everyday phone calls or text messages from my mother, wishing me luck on exams, or the random FaceTimes from my sister, I know that I am loved. This is why I believe my family should be the family of the year. Even if not, they will always be my family of the year, each and every year.”

Dr. Sally Lorentson, Director of Orientation and Family Programs and Services, and President Cabrera recognized the Haygoods as the 2013 Alan and Sally Merten Family of the Year during the Family Weekend Welcome Dinner.  As the winning family, the Haygoods also received a commemorative plaque, a waiver for all Family Weekend fees, and a $250 gift card for Briana to use at the University Bookstore.   Again, congratulations to the Haygood Family!  We are honored to award you the 2013 Alan and Sally Merten Family of the Year Award.

If you believe your family has what it takes to be the 2014 Alan and Sally Merten Family of the Year, encourage your student to be on the look out for nomination information on masonfamily.gmu.edu.

Rebecca Kurihine
Graduate Assistant
Orientation and Family Programs and Services

Nov. 5:	Spring 2014 Registration Begins
Nov. 6:	Family Webinar: The Health and Wellness of Your Student, noon (EST)
Nov. 8:	Hoopla: First Men's Basketball Game, 7 p.m. – Print this email and bring it to the event to receive a FREE George Mason Family Association bumper sticker!
Nov. 27 – Dec. 1:	Thanksgiving Recess - No Classes