Professional Development
Hiring
To be eligible to participate in the hiring process, Mason’s Hiring and Recruitment Policy requires all individuals involved to show completion of search training within the past year. This is the minimum requirement and must be completed prior to the review of applications. “All individuals” includes the hiring manager/authority, search coordinator, search committee members, and any others involved.
Training is co-presented by Human Resources and the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
How Do I Know if I Need Training?
To verify when you last completed training, please review our job aid for reviewing your transcript.
If you have never completed search training, or you attended more than one year ago, you are required to complete Search Training.
Search coordinators are required to verify and attest compliance with the training requirements when they set up the search in PageUp.
Contact
- Questions about training? Contact our Search Training admin team at sctrain@gmu.edu.
- Questions about the policy or the hiring process? View the applicable Hiring Toolkit (by position type) and/or contact Talent Acquisition at jobs@gmu.edu.
To support Mason’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, HR's Talent Acquisition team offers training on how to certify the diversity of applicant pools in job searches. This training will encourage a more proactive recruitment approach by assessing diversity within the applicant pool prior to reviewing resumes.
Units will designate a Talent Equity Advisor (TEA)* who is then trained by HR to analyze the unit’s applicant pools. In training, TEAs will learn:
- How to responsibly analyze applicant pools for adequate diversity representation in the areas of race/ethnicity, gender, disability, and veteran status in light of federal equal opportunity and affirmative action requirements;
- How to appropriately share data to ensure that searches move forward with more diverse applicant pools; and
- How to support hiring authorities when an applicant pool cannot be certified.
*To avoid conflicts of interest, the Talent Equity Advisor should not be a search coordinator, chair, or committee member.
Register for this training in MasonLEAPS.
Performance Management
This training will provide an overview of performance management at Mason. Participants will learn about the evaluation process, rated performance capabilities, how to complete the evaluation form, and how we define successful performance at Mason.
This training will inform non-supervisory employees what performance management means, the benefits of feedback and coaching, and how their job description and goals can assist to drive performance and measurable outcomes. Participants will gain a greater understanding of about Mason’s performance evaluation ratings, importance of the self-evaluation, and their role in performance management.
Gain the tools to strategize your career growth, advocate for your workplace wins, and foster a collaborative and constructive relationship with your supervisor.
This session helps participants understand why setting goals is crucial to performance achievement and success. By using SMART goals and objectives in performance planning, employees will learn how to direct their work, inform supervisors and colleagues of their progress, document success, and create opportunities for growth and professional development.
This training will inform supervisors what performance management means, the importance of engaging with staff, and how a job description and goals drive performance. Participants will also learn best practices for observing and monitoring performance, providing coaching and feedback, managing a remote workforce, effective rating practices, and their role in performance management.
Coming Soon
Learn how to define SMART goals and link them to strategy with this LinkedIn Learning video: Setting Team and Employee Goals Using SMART Methodology
Employee Engagement
Supervisors are encouraged to join an interactive session focused on faculty and staff engagement. Participants will take part in discussions surrounding Gallup survey engagement data and current best practices as well as learn new strategies to enhance the faculty and staff experience at Mason.
Non-supervising Mason faculty and staff are encouraged to join an interactive session focused on individual contribution to Mason’s engagement culture. Participants will increase awareness of Gallup survey engagement data, discuss engagement strategies that non-supervisors can implement and promote, and learn about resources available for recognizing and engaging colleagues.
Join us for an engaging and interactive session aimed at enhancing leadership skills, creating a psychologically safe workplace, cultivating a positive and productive workplace culture, and mastering the art of meaningful conversations while recognizing the pivotal role of supervisors. Participants will leave with actionable insights and a toolbox of communication techniques that can positively impact employee engagement.
Based on the book “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace,” this training aims to help Mason faculty and staff, including supervisors and non-supervisors, discover strategies for assessment and practical application of genuine workplace appreciation. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in conversation surrounding the five languages, reflect on personal preferences for receiving appreciation, and determine impactful means of appreciating Mason colleagues.
This workshop is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills essential for thriving in a modern, flexible work environment. Supervisors will discuss the benefits of flexible work, develop essential knowledge and skills for engaging a hybrid workforce, and learn how to effectively manage employee performance, development, and engagement in a hybrid environment. Participants will be provided with actionable strategies to leverage the opportunities presented by hybrid work.
Organizational Development and Learning
Each year, George Mason designates a day for bringing faculty and staff together for professional and personal growth, known as Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day (FSED). Faculty Staff Enrichment Day offers professional and personal development workshops, lunch, and a chance to network with George Mason colleagues.
All Mason employees are invited to participate! Supervisors are encouraged to provide flexibility during work hours for their teams to attend.