We are noticing a definite uptick in employer recruiting efforts at George Mason the past 6 months. Job postings are up, paid internships are up and employer attendance at various events is at record levels! Don’t let your student miss out on networking with all these employers.
The Fall Career Fair will bring over 200 employers to campus on October 5 and 6. A range of national, regional and local employers are expected, including Accenture, Andersen Tax, General Dynamics, Booz Allen, Capital One, Washington Post, Naval Research Lab, NSA, Air Force Special Investigations Office, Peace Corps, and many other employers, government agencies and non-profits from around the DC metro area. Although the focus of the first day is Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and the second day is Business, Public Service and Non-Profit, many employers are hiring for a range of positions, so it is important for students to attend both days.
All students, from freshmen to seniors (and recent graduates) are encouraged to attend the fair. Attendees can expect to be exposed to various career options and learn about the hiring needs of employers in their industry of interest. Many employers use the fair to promote their online application tools whereas some take resumes at the fair and a few may even do screening interviews on site.
So, how can you help your student prepare for the Career Fair? Here are our top tips for Mason family members:
- Have your student attend a preparation event before the Career Fair to practice speaking with employers and have their resume reviewed. Check out the events calendar here.
- Make sure they come to the Career Fair professionally dressed to make a strong first impression.
- Ask your student to pick out about 6 to 8 companies before the fair to research. Employers do not like being asked at the fair what they do, as they expect students to know that already. The list of participating employers will be available a few weeks before the fair and can be accessed within your student’s HireMason account or by downloading the Mason career events app, Mounza from our home page.
Finally, we are here to prepare and connect career-ready students for post-graduate success. Make sure your student is making the most of this excellent Mason resource by using it early and often!
Take a Patriot to Work Day
Have you heard about Take a Patriot to Work Day? Take Mason students to work with you during this one-day job-shadowing event! Show off your facility and company culture while providing students with a realistic perspective of a career field or company of their interest. Job shadowing is unpaid and students do not receive academic credit. Take a Patriot to Work Day occurs twice a year. For the fall 2016 semester it will be held on November 4.
If you are a family member working for an employer or running your own company, please consider volunteering to host one or more students at your workplace. We are accepting registrations from August 29 through September 23 and students can begin applying to the job shadow positions on September 24. For more details and how to sign up, visit Take a Patriot to Work Day.
Carolyn Kleiman, MS
Career Counselor
University Career Services