Trainings
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 sessions are co-presented virtually (via Zoom) by representatives from HR 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 MasonLEAPS job aid for instructions on reviewing your transcript.
If you’ve never completed search training, or if your last search training was more than 12 months ago*, follow the steps below to view upcoming dates and register:
- Log into MasonLEAPS.
- Type “search training” in the top right search bar and press Enter.
- Select Search Training from the list of results.
- Scroll down to view all of the available dates.
- Once you’ve identified the session you will attend, click on the green drop-down arrow next to “View Details."
- Click “Request” to register.
- If you see “Waitlist” instead of “Request," the session is currently full. By clicking “Waitlist," you will be notified if/when a seat becomes available.
- Please note that registration for each session closes 24 hours before the start time. You will not be able to register after this point.
*If you completed instructor-led training in the last two (2) years, you are eligible for the Search Training Online Refresher. Upon completion of this course, you are eligible to participate in the search process for one (1) year. After that year has passed, you must attend another instructor-led training session to resume compliance. If your transcript does not show that you've attended training in the last two years, you will automatically fail this assignment and be instructed to register for an upcoming instructor-led session.
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 our Talent Acquisition team 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 session will provide an overview of the new midcycle performance check-in. It also includes an update on anticipated changes to the annual performance management process for classified staff and A/P faculty. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch.
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.
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.