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Mason Family Flash

Career development opportunities for your student

A full house of employers is expected for the 2019 Spring Career Fair on February 20-21 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in Dewberry Hall of the Johnson Center. The market is hot and there are plenty of employers looking to recruit Mason students and alumni! Don’t let your student miss out on networking with more than 200 employers.

A range of national, regional and local employers are expected including Amazon, Booz Allen, Ernst & Young, Cox, Merrill Lynch, National Geographic, Yelp, Cvent, McAfee, and other major employers from around the Northern Virginia area. Many federal and local government agencies are also registered including the NSA, FDA, NIH, Marine Officers Selection, FDIC etc., and several branches of local county governments.  Nonprofits, including several prominent think tanks and charities from around the D.C. region are well represented among the employers attending.

Although the focus of the first day is Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and the second day is Business, Public Service and Nonprofit, 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. At the fair, many employers promote their online application tools, while some accept resumes and a few conduct screening interviews.

How can you help your student perform a self-evaluation before meeting employers? Here are our top tips for parents and families:

  • Encourage your student to attend a preparation event before the Career Fair to practice speaking with employers and to have their resume reviewed. View the events calendar: gmu.edu/events
  • Suggest they attend the Career Fair professionally dressed to make a strong first impression. Learn more about preparation: pinterest.com/masoncareer/workwear-business-professional-interviewing-attire
  • Ask your student to research 6-8 companies before attending the fair. Employers do not like being asked what they do! They expect students to know this information. The list of participating employers is available within your student’s Handshake account, which can be accessed by clicking on the Handshake button on the top right of gmu.edu and signing in with their usual net ID and password.
  • It is recommended that students complete their profile to 100% in Handshake. The more your student engages with and uses the platform, the better. They need to upload their resume and it will need to be approved by University Career Services before they can apply for any positions. This process can take up to 3 business days, so encourage your student to start early!

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!

Bernadette Davey
Career Fair Manager
University Career Services

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