Category: Mason Family Flash

The UPS Store in University Hall is a great resource for your student during the school term. Not only do we pack and ship, but we also print projects and reports, offer notary services, take passport photos, and much more!  Remind your student to stop by and ask what we can do for him or her.

Although this semester has just begun, it won’t be long until we’re thinking of spring.  Some students will be graduating, while others will be making plans to return to Mason in August.

If your student will be returning in the fall, please know that we offer a Summer Storage program that will lessen the stress of moving out in May and moving in during August.  Through the Summer Storage program we will store your student’s belongings so he or she doesn’t have to take it home in May just to bring it back in August!

During the month of March we will post advertisements around campus encouraging students to utilize the Summer Storage program.  There will be a discount offered to those who sign up early, so encourage your student to be on the lookout for this information.  We will also be providing more information through an upcoming Mason Family Flash with complete pricing details.

Once the registration period begins later in the semester, your student will have the opportunity to sign up for the storage program via The UPS Store GMU Storage website, or by visiting us in University Hall, located on the Fairfax campus.  When your student visits the store to make his or her payment, he or she will receive storage boxes, a roll of tape, an inventory sheet, and a list of packing tips.  If your student will be storing a fragile item, such as a TV, we can fragile pack it at an extra cost.  At the time of payment we will ask all residential students which neighborhood they will be moving into in August and their items will be delivered directly to their residence hall!

During residence hall move-out in May, we offer a pick up service where your student can simply leave the boxes in front of his or her door and we will take care of transporting and unloading them into our safe and secure warehouse.

Please note that once the boxes are in storage, it is very difficult (and costly) to retrieve anything that has been accidentally packed.  Please remind your student to be careful in packing and hold anything out he or she may need during the summer, such as passports and other important documents.

In August, residential students will have the opportunity to pick up all belongings within their neighborhood during move-in.  There will be an assigned room in each residential neighborhood where storage items are held for pick up.  As the summer winds down your student will receive an email with details providing information on their pick-up location and the best times to sign out their storage items.  If your student needs help getting his or her items to their room our staff will be available to assist them.

If you or your student have questions about the Summer Storage program or any other services we provide, email us at store6272@theupsstore.com or call us at 703.865.5544.

Ilka Lazaroff
Manager
The UPS Store, Fairfax Campus

This Saturday, February 15 marks George Mason University’s annual Homecoming celebration.  This year we will celebrate with the theme “Bringing Home the Green and Gold” as the men’s basketball team battles St. Bonaventure University.

We invite all students and families to join us for the annual Homecoming Block Party on Saturday from 3 – 5 p.m. before the game in Lot K.  Orientation and Family Programs and Services, Leadership Education and Development, and the Office of Student Involvement will be hosting a family friendly zone; a tent where we will be providing lots of fun games and activities for families.  We will also be giving away Mason Family Association car decals to Family Association members!  In order to receive a car decal, print out or show us this email on your electronic device before going into the Patriot Center.

Haven’t purchased your tickets to the game yet?  Don’t worry!  Orientation and Family Programs and Services is offering tickets to George Mason Family Association members at a discounted rate of $10.  We encourage you to click here to purchase tickets for you and your family.  Tickets are limited, however, so make your purchases TODAY!

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Rebecca Kurihine
Graduate Assistant
Office of Orientation and Family Programs and Services

Feb. 5, 7 p.m.:	Family Webinar - On- and Off-Campus Housing: Help your Student Navigate the Search
Feb. 15:	Homecoming, Block Party: 3 – 5 p.m., Basketball Game: 6 p.m. Click here to purchase your tickets for the game at a discounted rate of $10!
Feb. 17:	Midterm evaluations begin
Feb. 19 & 20:	Spring Job and Internship Fair
Feb. 21:	Spring 2014 graduation application deadline
Feb. 24:	Selective withdrawal period
March 1:	Immunization record deadline

The Spring 2014 Career Fair will be held February 19-20, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Johnson Center. All students seeking internships, co-ops, full-time jobs, or part-time jobs are encouraged to attend. The fair is open to all students and alumni of George Mason University and in the past, over 1,200 students have attended the fair daily.  This year, Wednesday, February 19 will feature employers from the engineering, science and technology industries, while Thursday, February 20, will focus on business, public service and non-technical careers.

Preparing for the Career Fair is easy; it just takes a little time.  We recommend that students start preparing a few weeks early so they feel prepared to make their best impressions to employers.  We suggest the following four strategies for preparing for the Career Fair:

Research participating employers
Encourage your student to research employers participating in the Career Fair.  A full list of employers can be found on the University Career Services website (link to: careers.gmu.edu).

Craft a personal pitch
A personal pitch is how your student can start a conversation with an employer.  Encourage your student to create a short pitch introducing him or herself, explaining his or her interest in the organization, describing his or her strengths and qualifications, and asking a relevant question.  To view an example of a personal pitch, click here. 

Prepare a resume
Your student can use a resume to show his or her experience, provide a brief summary of qualifications, education, and experiences relevant to the job search objective.  Encourage your student to utilize the Resume Checklist, Key Action Verbs List, and Skills Profiler, and resume format examples in order to create the most competitive resume.  Your student also has the opportunity to have his or her resume reviewed by a member of the University Career Services staff.  Read on or visit careers.gmu.edu for more information on upcoming Resume Clinics.

Dress professionally
It is important for your student to look his or her best at the Career Fair.  Encourage him or her to wear a suit in a conservative color, closed toe shoes, and keep jewelry to a minimum.  It is also important for your student to travel light.  Encourage him or her to only bring essential items to the fair.

For more information or to learn how to talk directly with someone from Career Services about how to best prepare, encourage your student to visit the University Career Services website. 

University Career Services is also sponsoring several events to help students prepare for the Career Fair.  Encourage your student to attend the Practice Interview Day on February 5, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in University Career Services office located in Student Union Building I.  Through this workshop your student can practice his or her interviewing skills by meeting one-on-one with an employer for a 30-minute mock interview followed by constructive feedback and tips on how to improve and perfect his or her interviewing skills.  To sign up for a practice interview students should log into HireMason, click on “campus interviews I qualify for” and search for practice interviews.

University Career Services will also be hosting resume clinics for students on February 12 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on February 18, 1 – 7 p.m.  Through these clinics students will have the opportunity to meet with employers to have his or her resume critiqued in 15-minute sessions.  The clinics are first come, first served and all students encouraged to attend.

For more programs and services offered by University Career Services, visit careers.gmu.edu or call 703-993-2370.

Ann G. Mills
Associate Director, Career Development
University Career Services