(Courtesy of Philip Wilkerson)
Insights from the booth on how Mason students make their mark
BY JAMIE GHOLSON, CULTURE EDITOR
George Mason’s Spring 2025 Career Fair has concluded after an expanded three-day format, giving students more time to connect with potential employers. Organizers limited the number of participating companies to encourage deeper engagement, a change that appears to have paid off.
“I think we had a successful first day because students [had] more time and opportunity to connect with employers,” said Philip Wilkerson, an Employer Engagement Consultant at George Mason.
The fair, previously spanning two days, dedicated its first day to STEM fields, the second to all majors, and the third to business, government and nonprofit organizations. On the first day alone, 1,555 students attended, many arriving hours before the doors opened.
Wilkerson, who had originally started a “first in line” certificate tradition in 2018, said he enjoys tracking recipients’ career progress on LinkedIn. “The fact that they show up early shows their hunger for the work that they want to do,” he said.
Recruiters from various industries said they found promising candidates among the Mason student body.
Karen Lopez, a Mason graduate ‘21 and Human Resource agent at AlphaBEST Education praised the students’ enthusiasm. “It is important to talk to everybody, even if you don’t see it as your career now,” she said. “Networking is the best thing you can do in your career to get far in life.”
Lopez, whose company offers part-time and full-time opportunities in its before and after-school programs, emphasized the importance of time management. “I have experience of being a full-time worker and a full-time student. I managed both and it was very flexible in my scheduling,” she said.
Ryan Harper, a recruiter at EPIC, a healthcare software company, said problem-solving is the most valuable skill students can have. “Regardless of your major, we want to make sure you can work through different issues,” he said.
Harper encouraged students to think beyond their elevator pitch. “Don’t be afraid to go beyond just your pitch. It’s not just about explaining what you can do. Ask what the employer is looking for and take us down a path to help us find the best fit for you,” he said.
JJ Teganini, a senior recruiter from Virginia Cancer Specialists, said her company values applicants from all backgrounds. “Be open to those entry-level positions. They may have aspirations to be a director or a supervisor, but sometimes the best way to reach that goal is to start at the beginning and get that well-rounded look at what every job in the practice looks like because we have to work together,” she said. “We are all one piece to the puzzle and that can help build your career going forward.”
Teganini added that Mason’s career fair successfully connects students to jobs. “In the past years, we have actually hired individuals from Mason from this career fair,” she said.
Students attending the fair saw the crucial opportunity to make connections.
Erfan Ahmed, a computer science major and a previous winner of Wilkerson’s “first in line” certificate, attended the career fair in search of internship opportunities. His efforts last fall resulted in five interviews with companies including CSCI and CGI.
“Career fairs are one of the most important fairs if you’re looking for an internship or a full-time job because you never know when your luck will hit you,” Ahmed said.
Mustafa Gurdov, a cybersecurity major and this semester’s “first in line” student winner, said he was eager to meet with tech companies such as Peraton and GuidePoint Security. After attending two previous career fairs at Mason, he understood the importance of arriving early.
“Showing up early and making yourself known is key,” he said.
For first-time attendees, he stressed preparation and professionalism. “Bring an updated resume in a folder, dress business-ready, and bring your A-game when speaking with recruiters,” Gurdov said.
With the job market in flux, he remained open to any opportunity that would advance his career, particularly cybersecurity internships. His decision to arrive early stemmed from past experiences.
“I had just left my 7:30 a.m. class and wanted to check if they were ready so I could skip the line,” he said. “From my past two career fairs, nothing is worse than waiting in line for another 30 minutes.”
As students and employers reflect on the event, many emphasize the importance of preparation, confidence, and openness to new opportunities. Whether landing an interview, making connections, or gaining insight into a potential career path, attendees left with valuable experiences.
With the next niche career fair for health and science majors scheduled for Thursday, Mar. 27, Mason continues to provide students with pathways to their professional futures.
