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
May 2025
City of Alexandria Job Fair (hosted by City of Alexandria Government)
Date: Tuesday, May 6
Time: 2 to 5 p.m.
Location: Alexandria City Hall, Room 1900, 301 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
The City of Alexandria will host a job fair on May 6 to highlight the wide range of career opportunities available with the City. This event will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. outside of City Hall in Market Square (301 King Street), with hiring departments and representatives from Alexandria City Public Schools advertising the City’s open positions and answering any job seekers’ questions. The City’s Benefits and Retirement teams will also be available to provide information about the benefits offered by the City of Alexandria.
In addition to open positions and benefits information, the City’s job fair will include the following unique opportunities for attendees:
- Two exclusive tours of City Hall – including opportunities to speak directly with City employees and City Leadership. Tours require sign-up and will begin at 2:30 p.m. and 4:10 p.m.
- A presentation hosted by the Workforce Development at 3:30 p.m. to discuss available resources for developing careers.
- Representatives from the Virginia Employment Commission who can answer questions about applying for unemployment benefits and the specific requirements for any former federal workers.
- Free professional headshots provided by the Office of Communications and Community Engagement for anyone looking to update their job search profiles. Sign up for a spot by filling out the Job Fair RSVP Form. Spots are first come, first served. Additional spots will be available at the event based on availability.
This job fair will offer an exclusive peek into what it would look like to work for the City of Alexandria while also providing resources that many in Alexandria and the surrounding areas can benefit from in the current turbulent job market. Find the event details on the City Calendar.
Date: Tuesday, May 6
Time: 4 to 5 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Join us to learn more about how international development professionals are adapting to today’s changing landscape. Whether you are a student or just starting out your career, learn more about how others have identified opportunities for growth in their career. Presenters will share their personal stories of career shifts, lessons learned, and strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of global development.
HireVetsNow Fort Belvoir Networking and Hiring Event (hosted by HIRE VETS NOW)
Date: Wednesday, May 7
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: National Museum of the U.S. Army, 1775 Liberty Drive, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060
This event is a networking reception and career fair offering transitioning service members, military spouses, veterans, and affected government employees and government contractors the opportunity to connect with Virginia employers looking to hire qualified talent. Participating employers are offering career opportunities in IT, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, defense, government, law enforcement and more. Resource Providers will be on hand to assist with: Resume writing, SkillBridge internships and mentorships.
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.
Virginia Career Works Northern Regional Job Fair
Date: Friday, May 9
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location:
Fairfax County Government Center
12000 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035
Calling all job seekers! Virginia Career Works Northern is bringing together employers from across Northern Virginia for a career fair.
- Featured employers include:
- AECOM
- Amentum
- CACI International Inc.
- Department of the Army
- Agencies from Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William County Governments
- Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William County Public Schools
- National Industries for the Blind (NIB)
- Virginia Department of Transportation
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
- …and more!
Date: Saturday, May 10
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual
Ready to move from federal employment to the private sector? This workshop provides essential insights, strategies, and tools to help you transition with confidence. Learn how to identify transferable skills, optimize your resume, master job search tactics, and navigate interviews and salary negotiations. Gain the knowledge you need to thrive in your next career chapter!
Workshop Agenda:
- Federal & Private Sector Distinctions
- Self-Assessment & Career Exploration
- Job Search & Networking Strategies
- Resume Writing for the Private Sector
- Interview Preparation & Salary Negotiation
- Mental Resilience & Moving Forward
Find Your Next Calling: State and Local Opportunities for Former Feds (hosted by Partnership for Public Service)
Date: Thursday, May 15
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT
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
NEXT STEPS: RESOURCE EXPO for Federal Employees and Contractors (hosted by Arlington Employment Center)
Date: Wednesday, May 28
Time: 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Location:
George Mason University
Mason Square
3351 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201
Discover Job Opportunities, Resources, and Career-Themed Workshops at the NEXT STEPS: Resource Expo. Over 40 employers and service providers will be in attendance. We will also be offering sessions on Transferable Skills, Using Ai for Job Search, Activating Your Resilience for Well-Being, Resume Reviews and more!
Resources
Schar School Career Development Resources
Tips for Navigating a Job Loss
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.
State/Local Resources
- DC Government’s Public Service Career Hub – One-Stop Support System for Federal Employees to Find Employment Opportunities within the District. The information has been curated specifically to assist public service professionals in finding new employment opportunities within the DC Government. The District of Columbia is dedicated to establishing a comprehensive job search hub that offers support and resources for public service professionals. This hub is designed to be an invaluable tool for job seekers with specialized skills and experience, identify relevant employment opportunities within the DC government. The employee hub prioritizes high-importance listings, focusing on roles that are in high demand, difficult to fill, and crucial for District Government.
- FFX/NOVA, Find a Job - From cutting-edge tech positions to purpose-driven careers, explore all open jobs across FFX NOVA where you can make an impact locally, nationally or globally — no matter your level of experience.
- Maryland Workers, Career Transition Support and Job Opportunities - Governor Moore announced that Maryland has partnered with Work for America, a nonprofit that helps state and local governments recruit and retain talent. Through Civic Match, former federal workers and campaign staffers can upload resumes and interests to the platform. Once completed, these individuals will have access to available job postings on the Civic Match platform and governments will be able to review these resumes to identify promising candidates. More information on Civic Match is available on this webpage. Recruitment events also offer a great way for jobseekers and employers to connect. Governor Moore recently announced a series of hiring fairs in partnership with counties and local leaders.
- Virginia Has Jobs - With over 259,000 open jobs, Virginia Has the Job For You. Find opportunities in Virginia by region.
Other Resources
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.
FedsForward - Serves our federal workers with resources and support to transition into the next stage of their careers.
Civic Match by Work for America - Civic Match by Work for America is a nonpartisan program connecting federal workers and campaign staff with meaningful roles in state and local governments across the country.
Career Pivot Substack - State governors and public sector leaders are actively recruiting Federal staff, contractors, and consultants recently furloughed or laid off (or about to be) to state-level public sector jobs. Many states are expediting the recruitment process for those recently separated from their dream jobs in the public sector. Here are several states that recognize Federal government layoffs are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the US public and private sector to hire the best and brightest candidates right now.
Order My Career, 400+ “Hidden” Job Boards - Linkedin and Indeed are not the only two places to find jobs – “hidden” job boards have popped up to solve a major problem with having two major job boards: They got too big for their algorithms to find real results for people’s searches! Here’s where to find those jobs not on Linkedin/Indeed. Listed by specialties or industries, these boards are gold to bookmark!
Society for International Development-United States - The SID-US Professional Development Hub (PDH) is an online resource library designed to help jobseekers and professionals advance in their career. The PDH is broken down into a collection of virtual booths put together by different presenters, each covering a professional development topic.
Topics include:
- Building a Sustainable LinkedIn Presence
- Building Your Resume and Cover Letter
- Career Changes and Transitions
- Establishing a Mentor
- Unleash Your Humor to Ace Your Interview
- and many more!
The Professional Development Hub (PDH) operates on a "pay what you can" model with a recommended donation of $10. As a small team, SID-US directs 100% of contributions toward operating expenses. 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, makes a meaningful impact.
Greater Washington Partnership Jobs Board
The newly launched Greater Washington Partnership Jobs Board gives access to more than 7,000 open job postings ranging from private-sector, higher education and nonprofit roles from the region’s leading employers. It was developed to help transitioning workers, especially those impacted by federal workforce reductions, find meaningful opportunities with top employers across Maryland, Virginia and DC. Job seekers can explore listings and customize searches by skills needed, skill level, company size, industry, desired salary and location (all within our region) in one place.