Office of Career Services

A combination of three "Same Day Cancellations" or "No Shows" will result in the inability to make appointments with Costello College of Business Career Services staff for the remainder of the semester in which the violations occur.

About Handshake

Handshake is Mason's source for jobs, internships, employment advice, and career fair details. Only current students and alumni can log in to Handshake using their PatriotPass credentials. If you are a student or alumni and cannot access Handshake please call our office at (703) 993-2140 or email mycareer@gmu.edu.

Handshake Application Policy

If you notice you "Do Not Qualify" for a position of interest listed on Handshake, you may petition Career Services to manually be added to the applicant pool. Email mycareer@gmu.edu with the following information.

• Job ID Number listed in Handshake (you may send more than one).
• A copy of your transcript from any previous institutions.
• If you are not using your default resume, please indicate which document you prefer to submit to the employer.

After reviewing your information, Career Services will inform you of the status of the application.

Accepting a Job or Internship Offer

If you accept a job or internship offer, withdraw any outstanding applications with other employers immediately. If you are invited to an interview after you have accepted an offer either verbally or in writing, you must decline the interview and inform the employer that you have accepted a position with another company/agency/firm. To do otherwise is a serious breach of ethics.

Effective communication is a crucial skill that can greatly enhance your college experience and prepare you for success in your career. Whether you're interacting with professors, peers, or potential employers, professional communication can make a significant difference. This section contains some guidelines for effective, collegial communication that foster a culture of respect, mutual understanding, and excellence at Mason. 

Be Mindful of Your Audience: 

• Consider who you're communicating with and adapt your communication style accordingly. 
• Use formal language when addressing professors and in professional settings. 
• You may be more casual and friendly with classmates or peers, but maintain respect. 
• Do not use slang when emailing or communicating online in professional spaces. 
• Avoid jargon or overly technical language when it's unnecessary. 

Clear and Concise Communication: 

• Organize your thoughts before speaking or writing to ensure clarity. 
• Use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling in written communication. 

Email Etiquette: 

• Use your Mason email address or a professional email address (e.g., NetID@gmu.edu or yourname@email.com). 
• Make efforts to ensure you are emailing the correct individual or group. Make sure you are not “Replying All” when it’s inappropriate to do so. Double check emails that are auto-populated to make sure they are the correct recipient. 
• Always include a subject line that reflects the email's purpose. For example, you might include the course number (eg, BUS 103-01) when emailing your faculty member about a class assignment. 
• Start with a courteous greeting that includes a salutation and the name of the person or people you are emailing (e.g., "Dear Professor Patriot" or “Hello Mary and Khalid,”). 
• Superiors and Professors should be addressed with an honorific (Ms, Mr, Dr, Professor) unless otherwise communicated, while peers can be addressed with their first name. 
• Keep emails concise and to the point. 
• Use a professional sign-off (e.g., "Sincerely" or "Best regards"). Always sign off with your name. 
• Proofread emails for grammar, spelling, and accuracy prior to sending. 
• Don’t use all capital letters or caps lock to write emails. This comes across as you yelling at the recipient and is not acceptable. 

Respectful Communication: 

• Do not use pejorative or insulting language (e.g., calling someone stupid). 
• Avoid offensive language, jokes, or comments that may be hurtful or disrespectful. While these types of communication may be acceptable in your social circle, they are not in professional settings. 
• Keep in mind that the recipient of your email cannot see your body language or facial expressions and may misinterpret your tone or meaning.  
• Sarcasm may be taken literally, so it’s best avoided. Written humor in general is a bad idea in professional settings – even if the initial recipient finds it funny, your email can be seen by others who may not. 
• If you disagree with someone, express your views politely and constructively. 

Timeliness: 

• Respond to emails and messages in a timely manner. This demonstrates reliability and consideration for others' time. 
• If you can’t respond in full to an email immediately, consider sending a reply indicating that you received it and are working on your response. 
• Notify others if you'll be late or unable to meet a commitment. 

Professionalism Online: 

• Maintain a professional online presence, especially on platforms like LinkedIn. 
• Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, etc. accounts may be looked at by potential employers if they are attached to your real name. 
• Use appropriate and respectful language in online discussions and comments. 

Below are several examples of unprofessional communication, and how you can modify your language choices to keep your communication professional while getting across your point. 

Example One 

Subject: Help me with this stupid assignment 

So, I don't get this assignment at all. It's super confusing and seems pointless. I tried looking at the reading, but it's like a foreign language. Can you just explain it to me in a few sentences so I can get it over with? I have other stuff to do, and this is such a waste of time. 

Mary 

This email is unprofessional for several reasons: 

• Informal Tone: The tone of the email is extremely informal and disrespectful. The use of "Hey" instead of a proper greeting, and phrases like "stupid assignment" and "such a waste of time" show a lack of professionalism and courtesy, as does the omission of a signature block containing the student’s contact information and full name. 
• Lack of Clarity: The student doesn't specify which assignment they're referring to or what part of it they find confusing. This makes it difficult for the professor to provide meaningful assistance. 
• Impatience: The email conveys impatience and a sense of entitlement, implying that the student expects an immediate response and doesn't value the professor's time. 
• Negative Language: Negative language like "super confusing" and "pointless" doesn't promote constructive communication or a willingness to learn. 

In professional communication with a professor, it's important to maintain a respectful and courteous tone, clearly state the issue or question, and demonstrate a genuine interest in understanding the material or assignment. Here's an example of a more professional approach: 

Subject: Clarification Request for BUS 103-07 Assignment Due Next Week 

Dear Professor Patriot, 

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to reach out for some clarification regarding the assignment due next week in BUS 103-07. I've reviewed the reading material, but I'm having difficulty grasping the specific requirements and objectives of the assignment. 

Would it be possible for you to meet with me to provide some guidance or further explanation on the assignment's key components? Any insights you can offer would be greatly appreciated, as I want to ensure I'm on the right track with my work. 

Thank you for your time and assistance. 

Sincerely, 
Mary Mason (G00123456) 
Management Information Systems 
mmason@gmu.edu  

This revised email maintains a respectful tone, has a relevant subject line including the course number, states the issue the student is having, and demonstrates a willingness to engage with the material and seek help in a professional manner. 

Example Two 

Subject: no subject 

Can you get me a part time job please 

Even though the word “please” is used, this email is unprofessional for several reasons: 

• Lack of Subject: The email doesn't have a subject line, which can make it appear disorganized and less formal. A subject line helps the recipient quickly understand the purpose of the email. 
• Directness: While the request is clear, the email could benefit from a more polite and formal tone. A direct request without any pleasantries or salutations can come across as abrupt. 
• Informal Language: The tone of the email is very casual. In professional communication, it's important to maintain a respectful and formal tone, especially when making requests of superiors or in a professional or academic context. The email lacks proper capitalization or punctuation. 
• Vagueness: The request in this email is very vague. It doesn't provide any context or specifics about what kind of job the student is looking for, or what help they are specifically asking for. 

This version of the email uses the appropriate tone, clarity, and includes a relevant subject line: 

Subject: Inquiry about Part-Time Job Opportunities 

Dear Career Services, 

Good morning. My name is Miguel Mason. I am a junior Marketing student at Mason, and I am hoping to get connected to Career Services to seek part-time jobs or internships related to my Marketing degree over the summer. I have tried looking on LinkedIn and Handshake, and I am not having much success. I would like to meet with a Career Advisor to discuss my approach and any improvements I can make to my job search process. 

Thank you in advance for your time and assistance. 

Sincerely, 
Miguel Mason (G00123456) 
B.S. Business, Concentration in Marketing 
George Mason University, 2025 
mmason@gmu.edu  

Example Three 

Subject: Project Deadline 

Hey, 

I don't think we're gonna make the deadline for the project. It's just too much work, and I can't handle it all on my own. You need to step up and help out more. 

Myunghyun 

This email is unprofessional for the following reasons: 

• Lack of Proper Greeting: The email starts with a very informal and generic "Hey," which is not suitable for professional communication. A more professional email should begin with a respectful greeting and addressing the recipient by their name or title. 
• Informal language: The email uses slang like “gonna,” which is unprofessional. Every effort should be made to include proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation in professional communications. 
• Assumption without Explanation: The email assumes that the recipient is solely responsible for the project's difficulties and demands that they "step up and help out more" without providing any context or evidence to support this claim, and without taking any accountability. This lack of context can lead to misunderstandings and resentment. 
• Lack of Constructive Communication: Instead of offering a solution or suggesting a collaborative approach, the email simply places blame and makes demands. In professional communication, it's important to be constructive and offer potential solutions to problems. 
• Informal Closing: The email closes with a simple name signature, lacking a polite closing statement or signature line. A more professional email should end with a polite closing (e.g., "Thank you" or "Best regards") followed by the sender's name. 

Overall, the unprofessional email lacks professionalism, courtesy, and a collaborative spirit. It doesn't consider the recipient's feelings or perspective and fails to engage in a constructive discussion to resolve the issue. It places blame on the recipient and comes across as accusatory and rude. 

Effective professional communication should aim to be respectful, clear, and solution-focused. This version of the email emphasizes collaboration, uses professional language and formatting, and provides suggestions to solve the problem the sender is having: 

Subject: Project Deadline Discussion 

Hi Raghav, 

I hope you're doing well. I wanted to discuss the 2022-2023 sales data project progress and the upcoming deadline on the 12th. It appears that the workload is larger than we initially projected, and I'm concerned that we may have challenges meeting the current deadline. 

I think if we move some meetings around in the next week or so, we’ll be better able to compensate for the increased scope and still meet the current deadline, but I’m open to other possibilities. I suggest we have a quick chat or exchange ideas on how to address this situation. 

Thanks and looking forward to your thoughts, 

Myunghyun Mason 
Junior Data Analyst 
myu_mas@companyname.com 
703-555-1234 

Failing to attend, or failing to cancel a scheduled on-campus interview 48 business hours in advance will result in being blocked from Handshake and the On-Campus Interviewing program. Please contact our office at (703) 993-2140 or mycareer@gmu.edu to regain access to Handshake and the On-Campus Interviewing program. Should a second offense occur you will be permanently blocked from both Handshake and the On-Campus Interviewing program.

To renege is to go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract. In this context it means that you verbally or contractually committed to a job offer and then withdrew on that promise. Reneging on an offer with an employer will result in your being blocked from Handshake and the On-Campus Interviewing Program. 

You will remain permanently blocked from the On-Campus Interviewing Program; however you may petition to regain access to Handshake. To petition, set up a meeting with Costello College of Business Career Services within 30 days of having reneged on an offer. If we do not hear from you within 30 days, your Handshake account will be permanently blocked. 

Should a second reneging offense occur after reinstatement, you will be permanently blocked from Handshake without opportunity for petition.