English

Major, Career & Job Hunting Information

The resource listed below can help you find the information you need in order to make decisions about choosing a college major and/or occupation, getting experience, and identifying employers you may like to work for.  After exploring these resources, schedule an appointment with your career counselor at University Career Services, 993-2357, to discuss the decisions you are considering.

ENGLISH PROGRAMS AT MASON________________________________________________________________________

Exploring Majors  – includes description of major, special skills and abilities needed to succeed, examples of job titles, examples of organizations that hire Math majors, resources for learning about the field, contacts.

Academic Course Planning Form – Select the course Planning Form for the year that you entered Mason as a student, or stop by Academic Advising, SUB1, Room 304

Contacts

o Prof. Laura Ellen Scott, English Dept., A 481 Robinson Hall, (703) 993-1179

o Prof. Susan Lawrence,  Internship Coordinator, English Dept. (703) 993-1088, slawrenb@gmu.edu

o Academic Advising Office, SUB I, 304, (703) 993-2470

o Ken Guerrant, Career Services Office, SUB I, 348, (703) 993-2370

English Department – Learn about course offerings, English concentrations, faculty, special programs and events.

LEARN ABOUT OCCUPATIONS AND CAREERS_____________________________________________________________________

• Career Library Resources located in SUB1, room 348 (Blue section)
• O*NET Online (In-depth information about occupations) … optional, but recommended
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – Writers & Editors
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – News Analysts, Correspondents, Reporters
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – Desktop Publishers
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – College Faculty
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – Librarians
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – Teachers, PK-12
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – Interpreters & Translators
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – Public Relations Specialists
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, Sales Managers
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – Archivist, Curators & Museum Technicians
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – Lawyers
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – Graphic Designers, Set and Exhibit Designers

• George Mason University Career Network  - GMU network of alumni and share information on career fields and job hunting - available only to GMU students and alumni. Call 993-2370 for login information.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS__________________________________________________________

· Magazine Publishers of America

· American Society of Journalists and Authors

· Society for Technical Communications

· Association of  American Publishers

· American Society of Newspaper Editors

· The Association of Women in Communications

· Public Relations Society of America

· The Society of American Archivists

· American Association of Museums

· American Institute of Graphic Arts

GETTING EXPERIENCE BEFORE GRADUATION_____________________________________________________________

• English 498/504 Internship in Writing and Editing course
• Susan Lawrence, Internship Coordinator, GMU English Department, (703) 993- 1088, slawrenb@gmu.edu
• Contact Ken Guerrant, Career Counselor, at the Career Services office for assistance, 993-2370
• PatriotJobWeb – University Career Services internship/co-op database
• StudentJobs.gov – US government career experience programs
• Internship Fair – each fall and spring semester an internship fair is held at Mason
• Career Library Resources located in SUB1, Room 348
• Types of Career Related Experience
• Getting the Most from Your Internship Experience
• Prepare to Job Hunt (good information for getting experience as well – writing resumes, interviewing, etc.)

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL_________________________________________________________________

• Petersons Guide to Graduate Schools
• Career Library Resources located in SUB1, room 348

PREPARE FOR AND SEARCH FOR JOBS___________________________________________________________________

• Job Hunting Strategies
• PatriotJobWeb – University Career Services
• USAJOBS.gov – Student experience programs with federal government agencies. TIP- search by individual agency websites
• Current Jobs in Writing, Editing and Communications – Call University Career Services at 993-2370 for userid and password
• Preparing to Job Hunt