Dual Career (Spouse/Partner) Assistance
What is Dual Career Assistance?
Mason's dual career assistance program provides career assistance to spouses/partners of Mason faculty and classified staff. This program is offered by Human Resources in partnership with the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) to support recruitment and retention.
Mason employees may arrange for their spouse/partner to meet with a member of Talent Acquisition's Outreach and Compliance Team to discuss their career goals and role(s) desired, explore available opportunities, and review resumes and/or cover letters. In the event that the spouse/partner applies for an eligible position, the team will reach out to the hiring manager in that department to communicate that a dual career spouse/partner has applied.* Please note that this process does not automatically guarantee employment.
*Spouses/partners must apply to a position via jobs.gmu.edu or hercjobs.org before the Outreach and Compliance Team makes contact with the department.
What Do We Mean by "Dual Career"?
Dual career is a term used to describe a scenario in which an employee is hired and their spouse/partner is interested in exploring opportunities for their own career development/employment. This can sometimes be a key factor in the recruitment or retention of an employee. George Mason University and the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) have put together resources and services to assist the spouses/partners of Mason employees.
Dual career resources and services provided by George Mason University vary by department and are available for spouses/partners of faculty and classified staff. HERC provides dual career resources and services that enhance the offerings of its member institutions.
What Dual Career Resources and Services are Available at George Mason University?
Mason provides consultative services to the employee and dual career spouse/partner. The employee and spouse/partner may arrange to meet with a member of the Outreach and Compliance Team to discuss approaches to finding employment. The team will review CVs/resumes and cover letters and provide guidance if requested. A Talent Acquisition consultant/recruiter may be brought in to assist in this review as well. There are no guarantees that this meeting will result in securing a position for the spouse/partner.
Spouses/partners must apply to positions at jobs.gmu.edu and/or hercjobs.org before contact is made with the department. The Outreach and Compliance Team will reach out to the departments to communicate that a dual career spouse/partner has applied, should a position of interest be identified.
Tips for Seeking a Job at George Mason University
- Submit prompt applications. Resumes, cover letters, and applications should be submitted prior to the full consideration date to ensure they will be reviewed. There is no guarantee that applications submitted after the full consideration date will be reviewed.
- Set up email alerts so you can be notified and apply early when positions that meet your desired qualifications become available.
- Make sure your resume and cover letter are up-to-date. Know your professional brand and display it in your resume and cover letter.
- Apply for positions even if you don't meet all of the desired qualifications. Underrepresented minorities and other disenfranchised groups often do not apply if they don't meet certain requirements, even if they would have been considered.
- Grow your network and let them know you are looking for work.
- Know how to speak to the requirements listed in the job posting and how you are able to meet them.
- Do your research on the companies you apply to and be prepared to speak about what you've learned.
- Be present in the interview with good eye contact, a firm handshake, confident posture, and a self-assured tone.
- Be flexible.
- Review HERC's article on Age-Proofing Your Resume.
About HERC
The Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) is a non-profit consortium of over 700 colleges, universities, hospitals, research labs, government agencies, and related non- and for-profit organizations across the United States who are committed to diversifying the pipeline of faculty, staff, and executives in academia. There are 19 regions across the United States. Here in the Mid-Atlantic region (Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia), there are 25 member institutions.
HERC offers its own dual career support in addition to the following resources:
- A partnership with the Ayers Group, a talent firm that provides career transition consulting, professional development, and more. They offer reasonably priced career consulting to spouses/partners. HERC members receive a ten percent discount on select services.
- A dual career job search tool that can help you and your spouse/partner find jobs within commuting distance of each other
- Webinars and articles on a variety of career development topics
- A list of dual career-friendly HERC institutions
After meeting with your spouse/partner, Mason's Director of Mid-Atlantic HERC will share their information within the HERC network. Interested contacts may then reach out to you directly to discuss opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
Ready to get started or just want more information? Contact Talent Acquisition at jobs@gmu.edu.