Career Connections

As a Mason Patriot, you benefit from being connected to a network of thousands of other students, alumni, and employers. They can help you whether you are choosing a major, looking for an internship, or figuring out your first step after Mason.

Connect with members of Mason Nation

1. Peers

Message other George Mason students to find out what they like about their major, how they found their internship, and get their top interviewing tips.  It’s easy to use the peer messaging feature on Handshake. 

  1. Log in to Handshake 
  2. Go to the People section
  3. Find students or alums by major, school, previous employers, and more 
  4. Select the “Message” button to connect with students or alumni open to being contacted 
2. Alums

Connect with George Mason graduates to learn about how they are using their degree, get insight into how they began or advanced their career, what they wish they had known when they were still students, and feedback on your resume. LinkedIn is a great tool for connecting with alums

  1. Create a free LinkedIn account, if you haven’t already, and log in
  2. Go to the George Mason University LinkedIn page
  3. Use the Search box to find alumni 
  4. Identify alumni by "What they do", "What they study", or "Where they work" (click Next for more options)
  5. Scroll down to Connect with alumni using a brief note like the one below
Hi Eric, I’m a Global Affairs student at George Mason (Go Patriots!). I'm interested in your career path. Are you open to discussing your job search experience after graduation? Best, Mara

3. Employers

Many employers are willing to talk with you before you apply for a job with them. Connect with them to express interest in their organization, learn more about career paths, and how to make yourself a competitive applicant for future openings.  To find contact information for people who work at  organizations  of interest, use  Handshake:

  1. Log in to Handshake 
  2. Go to the Employers section and find one that interests you
  3. Scroll to the People section of their page and send a message like the example below:
Hello Natasha Franklin, I am a second-year student studying Game Design at George Mason. Would you be available to briefly discuss your internship program? Regards, Naseer Shah

Up to 85% of jobs are filled through personal or professional connections. In this video, you'll get advice from an employer explaining the importance of career connections as part of the job search.

In the resources below, you'll find templates for requesting a career conversation, sample questions to ask, and tips for staying connected. 

Request a career conversation
Choose your questions
Plan to stay connected