During times of uncertainty and transition, the Schar School Career Development team is here to assist you, whether you are a current student or alumni. Transitioning from a job or looking for a new career can be challenging, but they are also opportunities to explore new paths and continue to make a positive impact on our communities. The Career Development team at the Schar School is here to help you do just that. We provide services for career coaching, job searching, resume/cover letter reviews, interview prep/mock interviews, and salary negotiation. Our office also provides many workshops (in-person, hybrid, and virtual) on various career topics.
Upcoming Events
Rebuild. Recover. Rise: Support Group for Former Federal Workers
Dates: Thursday, March 20, March 27, April 3, April 10, April 17, and April 24
Time: 7 to 8 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Sponsor: George Mason University Counseling Program
Contact: Shaunda Thompson
Register to attend the Rebuild. Recover. Rise: Support Group for Former Federal Workers event.
Losing a job is more than just losing income – it’s losing stability, purpose, and a sense of direction. If you’re a former federal worker struggling with uncertainty, grief, or stress, you don’t have to face this journey alone.
- Join this free 6 week support group to:
- Gain emotional support
- Rebuild Confidence
- Create a new resume
- Learn coping, networking and job search strategies
Career Pivot: Staying Resilient and Navigating the Job Search after a Layoff - (hosted by Georgetown University’s Graduate Career Center)
Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Time: noon to 1 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Navigating job loss can be a challenging and anxious experience that can leave you feeling adrift. Join Annie Rao, Director of Georgetown University's Graduate Career Center. This virtual session will help attendees to identify transferable skills, leverage their existing network, break into new professional spheres, identify goals, and create a plan.
Alumni Panel: Pivoting Careers Under a New Administration Park 2 (cohosted by Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)
Date: Wednesday, April 9
Time: 1 to 2 p.m. EDT; 10 to 11 a.m. PDT
NASPAA schools are hosting panel discussions featuring alumni who have navigated federal administration transitions through diverse paths. Join us for a candid conversation on their experiences, challenges, and insights. Confirmed speakers as of February 27: Beyza Seflek (NYU Wagner), Associate Manager, Global Real -Estate PepsiCo; Jody Davin (Pitt GSPIA), Grants Management Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation; Derek Corbin (IU O'Neill School), Biologist, EPA.
Salary Negotiation and Expectations Webinar
Date: Wednesday, April 9
Time: 6 to 7 p.m.
Location: Virtual
What should you say when an employer asks you for salary requirements? What should you do if you don’t like the salary, but want the job? Come learn how to evaluate a job offer and gain tips for initiating and managing the negotiation process.
Realign to your public service mission (hosted by Partnership for Public Service)
Date: Wednesday, April 9
Time: 6 to 7 p.m. EDT
Location: Virtual
Federal leaders must navigate rapidly changing personal, professional and environmental changes while balancing agency priorities. This session will share strategies for federal leaders to realign with their agencies' mission and their personal call to public service.
Transferable Skills Workshop: Thriving Beyond the Federal Workforce
(sponsored by City of Alexandria Workforce Development Center)
Date: Thursday, April 10
Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Losing a job can be overwhelming, but your skills remain valuable! This workshop is designed to help former federal employees identify their transferable skills, build emotional resilience, and take proactive steps toward their next career opportunity.
- What You’ll Gain:
- Understanding of transferable skills and how they apply across industries
- Strategies for overcoming career transition challenges
- Guidance on certifications, networking, and career advancement
- Tips to maintain emotional well-being during this transition
- Who Should Attend?
- Former federal employees navigating career transitions
- Professionals looking to apply their skills in new industries
- Anyone interested in learning about career resilience and upskilling
Transferable Skills Workshop: Thriving Beyond the Federal Workforce
(sponsored by City of Alexandria Workforce Development Center)
Date: Thursday, April 10
Time: 1 to 2 p.m.
Location:
4850 Mark Center Drive, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Losing a job can be overwhelming, but your skills remain valuable! This workshop is designed to help former federal employees identify their transferable skills, build emotional resilience, and take proactive steps toward their next career opportunity.
- What You’ll Gain:
- Understanding of transferable skills and how they apply across industries
- Strategies for overcoming career transition challenges
- Guidance on certifications, networking, and career advancement
- Tips to maintain emotional well-being during this transition
- Who Should Attend?
- Former federal employees navigating career transitions
- Professionals looking to apply their skills in new industries
- Anyone interested in learning about career resilience and upskilling
What insights can I learn from executive search recruiters? (hosted by Partnership for Public Service)
Date: Wednesday, April 16
Time: 6 to 7 p.m. EDT
Location: Virtual
Learn from executive search recruiters what employers are looking for and how you can make yourself stand out.
Bowie State University Spring 2025 Career Fair
Date: Wednesday, April 23
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Location:
Bowie State University
14000 Jericho Park Road
Martin Luther King, Jr. Center room 224
Bowie, MD 20715-9465
Elevate your career at Bowie State University's Spring 2025 Career Fair, presented by the Career Development Center! Connect with over 100 top employers eager to meet talented students and alumni like you. This is your moment to network, showcase your skills, and take the next step in your career journey. Don’t miss out; this opportunity could be the start of something great!
Why a skills assessment is your most powerful career pivot tool (hosted by Partnership for Public Service)
Date: Wednesday, April 23
Time: 6 to 7 p.m. EDT
Location: Virtual
We know that federal employees have many unique and valuable skills, but it can be challenging to articulate what you do and how you do it, especially in a new sector. This session will lead you through conducting a skills assessment to reflect on your skills and utilize the findings as a foundation for your personal brand, critical career tools, and job search strategy.
Managing the Traumatic Burden Among Us (hosted by Society for International Development-US)
Date: Thursday, April 24
Time: noon to 1 p.m.
Location: Virtual
We have heard from so many people in the community that the changes in recent months are a shared trauma. In response, we are inviting the SID-US community to join us for a 60-minute virtual mental health session where Siddharth Ashvin Shah, Founder and President of Greenleaf Integrative, will share more on their integrative approach to understanding and addressing trauma. Siddharth leads from a lifelong passion for supporting helpers, protectors, and healers in their work. As a physician and public health scientist, he sees the often overlooked complications trauma poses in the public service sector, which is why he started Greenleaf.
- This interactive session will emphasize self-efficacy, nurturing the belief that individuals can take purposeful steps to manage the burden of trauma effectively. The session will include:
- Education on Trauma's Hidden Impacts: Learn about the often invisible effects of trauma, which we define as overwhelming emotional experiences that create a real or perceived loss of control.
- Body-Based Soothing Techniques: Practice two somatic methods designed to calm and regulate the nervous system: physiologic sighing and progressive muscle relaxation.
- Mobilization Against Helplessness: Combat feelings of helplessness and immobility, empowering participants to sustain meaningful action in community.
- Please note that this is an off-the-record virtual session. This virtual event is open to SID-US members free of charge and non-members for $10.
- Registration will close on April 23 at 4:00 p.m. EDT.
Navigating New Beginnings: A Job Fair for Federal Employees
Date: Friday, April 25
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location:
Reagan National Airport, Historic Terminal 1
2401 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Access Road
Arlington, VA 22202
Join the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, in partnership with top DC-region employers, for a specialized job fair designed to support federal employees exploring new career opportunities. Connect with hiring managers from diverse industries, gain valuable career insights, and take the next step toward your professional future.
Hunt Like a Hero, Apply Like a Scientist: A Practical Guide to Finding Your Next Job in the New Social Sector (hosted by Society for International Development-US)
Date: Thursday, May 1
Time: 11 a.m. to noon
Location: Virtual
Recently laid off from your global development, public service, or social impact job? Looking for practical steps to land your next role while staying true to your values? Bad job search advice is rampant. Many well-intentioned coaches want to believe that the job search is all about your mindset, while resume writers sell you on “beating the ATS” with a shiny rewrite. These both miss the mark and lead to a long, painful job hunt. Executive coach Dan Freehling and social sector talent agent Spencer Campbell have developed a completely different and counterintuitive approach. It comes from what they've learned supporting hundreds of jobseekers. Their model is based on two truths: the job search requires both undergoing a personal transformation and finding your place in the market. To land your next job faster, and come out better for the experience: Hunt Like a Hero, Apply Like a Scientist.
- In this talk, you will learn...
- What to do first. We know how hard it is to be on the job market. We’ll provide guidance on how to regain your footing and start making real progress toward getting hired (it’s not endlessly scrolling job boards and polishing your resume).
- How to hunt. The job search is fundamentally a process of discovery - you must uncover your fit in order to get hired. You will learn how to create your 3 Fit Hypotheses and test them to refine your search.
- A better networking approach. We’ve all heard it’s not what you know, but who. This cliché fundamentally misses the point of networking. We’ll share why you're doing it wrong and what to do instead.
- Real-world resume advice. We’ll guide you on how to write an Effortlessly Readable Resume with the same template we use with clients.
- What really works. This method is what Dan and Spencer use with their job hunt clients and what underpins their forthcoming book: Good for You!
- Leave with answers to your toughest questions, free access to the same resume template we use with clients, and a plan for what to do next.
- Hunt Like a Hero, Apply Like a Scientist: A Practical Guide to Finding Your Next Job in the New Social Sector is a "pay what you can" event with a suggested donation of $10. Your donation helps us host events like these for our community. We understand that not everyone may be in a position to donate at this time, but if you are able, we encourage you to contribute at a level that is comfortable for you. Every donation, regardless of amount, has a meaningful impact on our small team at SID-US.
Maximize your impact at networking events and career fairs (hosted by Partnership for Public Service)
Date: Wednesday, May 7
Time: 6 to 7 p.m. EDT
Location: Virtual
This webinar will guide you through the essential steps to maximize your impact at networking events and career fairs. You'll learn how to effectively research companies, plan your approach and make brief, yet impactful connections. Plus, we'll give you a sneak peek of the Partnership’s free Career Expo on May 15, so you can navigate the event with confidence and ease.
Find Your Next Calling: State and Local Opportunities for Former Feds (hosted by Partnership for Public Service)
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT
Date: Thursday, May 15
Location: Virtual
Join us virtually on May 15 at our nationwide virtual public service career expo for former federal employees. This career expo is open to any former federal employee who is interested in continuing a career in public service at the state and local levels of government. The expo will feature opportunities from across the country in a variety of career fields for all experience levels from early career professionals to senior executives. The virtual event will allow jobseekers to visit booths with state and local agency representatives in direct conversations. The career expo will also feature multiple webinars on career development topics for job seekers to sharpen their skills.
Hire Vets Now Networking and Hiring Fair
Date: Thursday, May 15
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location:
Fort Myer Community Center
228 McNair Road, Bldg. #405
Fort Myer, VA, 22211
This event is a networking reception and career fair offering transitioning service members, military spouses and veterans the opportunity to connect with Virginia employers looking to hire military talent. Participating employers are offering career opportunities in IT, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, defense, government, law enforcement and more!
Expand your Opportunities: How to Conduct a Long Distance Job Search
Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Saskia Campbell
Executive Director
University Career Services
Resources
Handshake – George Mason University’s job board features employers actively seeking applicants. Requires university email and password for login. If you have not used your George Mason email in three months, then you will need to reactivate it with Information Technology Services (ITS) by calling 703-993-8870. If you have never used Handshake, or if your Handshake account is disabled, please contact University Career Services (UCS) at 703-993-2370.
Partnership for Public Service - The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. whose mission is to inspire a new generation of civil servants and to transform the way government works.
- FedSupport - The FedSupport Hub is a resource for you—a centralized and reliable place where you can find answers to your questions, share critical information, build community, and most of all, respond to what you need now and in the months to come. Check back regularly for new updates and sign up for our weekly newsletter.
- FedSupport: Upcoming Events and Webinars - Our webinar series and virtual events will help you stay informed on the latest developments, connect you with experts on a range of topics, and answer your questions.
- FedSupport Weekly Newsletter - Each Tuesday, we will highlight resources on a range of topics that will help you navigate this time of uncertainty—whether you continue to serve in government or are transitioning to new opportunities.
- Career Pivot Bootcamp - This bootcamp provides participants with actionable content to guide them through a career pivot from the federal government to a non-federal sector such as private sector, nonprofit, higher education and state/local government. Participants receive training videos from career development experts at the Partnership, a wide range of career pivot resources and tools to organize their career pivot journey. Upon completing the program, participants will gain confidence and skill in all aspects of the career pivot journey, including elevator pitch, networking, resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn, interviewing and salary negotiation. The content is fully asynchronous. Participants gain access to the bootcamp and go through the 7 modules at their own pace for 30 days.
Tips for Navigating a Job Loss
FedsForward - Serves our federal workers with resources and support to transition into the next stage of their careers.