Find A Career
August 8, 2010
Career Services offers many resources for job-seeking students
The George Mason University School of Public Policy offers a large scope of career services. Duane Bradshaw, director for Career Development and Alumni Relations, provides assistance by directing workshops and information sessions each semester.
The SPP Career Center manages an online job search and recruiting tool, SPP JobNet, which provides a listing of job and internship opportunities, employer data and information on other professional development resources.
“All jobs we receive go directly into the job database,” said Bradshaw. “We collaborate with the Fairfax [Mason] campus. I would recommend that students sign up for accounts in both the Fairfax HireMason (formerly PatriotJobWeb) and SPP JobNet.”
The Career Center can be used to gain specialized resources for specific industries and companies. The career section of the SPP website provides listings of professional associations, NGOs, international, state and local governments. JobNet’s search engine can also be tailored to the needs of the students.
“Soon we will be adding a job section or search for Ph.D. students,” said Bradshaw.
In addition to its workshops and JobNet, the Career Center has the advantage of connecting with the SPP Alumni Association network.
“We have 1,400 alumni who have stated they are interested in helping other students and alumni in career search and information interviews,” Bradshaw said. “We also have a career fair at the Arlington campus once every spring. These job fairs are designed for companies seeking to employ graduate degree students. This year, we had 30 companies come to the Arlington campus for the job fair.”
The main goal of the Career Center is to provide resources and personnel for students to achieve whatever career goal they have for themselves. To promote this, the Career Center of the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) and the SPP Career Center share resources and communications.
The Career, Academic & Alumni Services for the School of Law acts separately, as students there seek jobs requiring a legal background. Yet ICAR and SPP collaborate on certain programs. The students’ career counselors can direct them to resources SPP may be more familiar with.
“[Students in] the MPA program at [Mason] and other graduate level students can feel welcome to attend these job fairs and résumé clinics,” said Bradshaw.
Soon Arlington will welcome a new dean for the School of Public Policy, Dr. Edward Rhodes.
Bradshaw is very optimistic about this change in administration: “We had a 45 minute block to speak with Dean Rhodes as a candidate, who said both career and alumni relations will be priorities.”
SPP recently hired a new assistant for their career center, Heather Wright, who serves as the SPP Career Center assistant director. Both the dean and Career Center thought it was necessary to add another person to the office.
“I am looking forward to the upcoming semesters ahead,” said Bradshaw. “I realize the changes in the market are causing difficulties in seeking employment. Yet I think we [the Career Center] will be able to provide new avenues for students and alumni on the job hunt.”
Ryan Dunn, Stylus Correspondent