Navigating Your Future: Career Advising Services at Costello College of Business

The Donald G. Costello College of Business at George Mason University is dedicated to empowering its students and alumni for career success in both business and government sectors, both locally near Washington, D.C., in Arlington and Fairfax, and at George Mason’s global campus in Incheon, South Korea. The Office of Career Services within the Costello College of Business provides comprehensive career advising, job search support, and coaching tailored for undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni.

Personalized Career Consulting Services

The Costello College of Business offers personalized career consulting services for life. Career advisors are available to guide students and alumni through the complex job search process, helping them navigate every step of the way. As busy working professionals, your time matters. Need an evening appointment or don’t see a time that works for you? The Career Services team will work with your schedule to set up a time to connect.

Experiential Learning and Internships: The Key to Career Success

The Career Advisor position, reporting to the Director of Career Services, is part of a dynamic team dedicated to creating innovative programs that provide the seamless development of our students' academic and career aspirations. This position has an emphasis on internships and experiential learning programs.

Madison Hite, MS, serves as the Experiential Learning Manager in the Office of Career Services. The Career Advisor engages students in planning for full time jobs and internships in business, assisting with their career needs, which may include resumes, interview skills, and preparing for the job search. The Career Advisor works to build specific industry knowledge that directly aids ability to assist students in their job/internship search.

RSM's 1-Day Pathways Virtual Experience

Students can explore potential careers in assurance, tax, and consulting through opportunities like RSM's 1-day Pathways virtual experience.

Read also: Opportunities at Costello College

Independence Point Advisors (IPA) Spring Case Competition

Students can participate in the Independence Point Advisors (IPA) Spring 2026 undergraduate case competition. This is your chance to step into the role of a finance professional, analyze a timely business scenario, and present recommendations to senior leaders across the industry. This year’s case asks students to navigate the substantial capital demands of the accelerating AI revolution. This competition is designed to be a learning experience. What matters most is your effort, creativity, and ability to apply what you’ve learned.

Events and Networking Opportunities

The Costello College of Business recognizes the importance of networking and provides numerous opportunities for students to connect with employers. Events are hosted to give business students the opportunity to interact and network with employers across several industries.

Faris Madani's Success Story

Faris H. Madani, a current George Mason University - Costello College of Business student in the #Accounting and #BusinessAnalytics concentrations, secured an Assurance Intern position with CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen). Faris shared, "I am an Assurance Intern at CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), working in Professional Services. I obtained this internship through networking events, career fairs, and consistent engagement with recruiters. My experience so far has been extremely valuable, giving me real exposure to audit work, client engagement, and teamwork in a professional environment. The Office of Career Services helped me prepare through resume reviews, interview prep, and networking opportunities. My advice to other students is to start early, attend career events, and actively build relationships, because opportunities often come from connections even more than applications."

Resume and Interview Preparation

The Office of Career Services provides comprehensive support for resume and interview preparation.

Kelly Coughlan, M.A., CLCP Coughlan, Sr. Career Manager for the Office of Career Services, and Rani Bernstein, Lead Recruiting Manager, TA & University Relations at Marriott International, held a Resume 102 workshop. Students learned how to craft stronger bullet points, tailor their resume to specific roles, and optimize for ATS.

Peter Tu from Aston Carter leads Resume Basics & Formatting Workshops.

Spotlight on Mentorship

The #MasonMentors program pairs students with experienced professionals in their field, providing invaluable guidance and support.

Troy Ho and Katherine Jurado: A Mentorship Success Story

Troy Ho, CPA (BS accounting '16), Principal at Alford & Rambaran, LLC, and Katherine Jurado, a George Mason University - Costello College of Business student, exemplify the power of mentorship.

Troy shared: "It has been an honor to participate in the MasonMentors program. From the very first meeting with my mentee, we’ve been able to build a strong foundation for an effective and meaningful mentorship. We established a regular meeting cadence, and aligned on what works best for both of us. Having been fortunate to receive guidance from mentors and coaches throughout my own career, I wanted to share my experience, skills, and support. Our first session set the tone for the semester. We discussed career opportunities, networking strategies, and ways she can take advantage of events like career fairs during her job search. Katherine is passionate, driven, and consistently comes prepared with thoughtful questions and goals she wants to work toward. One of my favorite sessions so far was a mock interview we conducted. Even though it was brief, it gave us a valuable opportunity to walk through her responses, and she took notes she could apply to her future interviews. As the program continues, I look forward to supporting Katherine’s growth and watching her gain real-world experience.

Katherine shared: "Being part of the mentorship program has already been such a meaningful experience. Over the past months, I’ve had the chance to connect with Troy who genuinely wants to see me grow, asks thoughtful questions, and guides me through my academic and career goals. One of the most impactful experiences was the AGA MPGC Ethics Workshop. I got to hear from Professor McLeod. I found her background inspiring because she is not only a licensed attorney, but also a CPA since 1993 and an expert witness in accounting malpractices. I also ran into Ms. Kimberly N. Ellison-Taylor, who I connected with in previous experiences. I'm proud to acknowledge her accomplishments as the first Black woman and person of color of any gender to serve as the AICPA's Chair. I've been able to see things from a different angle and feel more equipped for the future by listening to professionals' actual experiences, learning from discussions about ethics and accounting standards, and receiving helpful advice.

Read also: Phoenix Suns' New Center

Mentorship creates space for growth, connection, and clarity. It helps you see possibilities you may not have considered, encourages you during challenging moments, and gives you access to the kind of guidance that can shape your future in powerful ways. Having someone invested in your success is truly invaluable.

Success in Data Science: The Fiscal Patriots

Five George Mason University - Costello College of Business students proved that this week when they brought home first place in the AGA #NLT26 Datathon. Khaled Alkurd, Pranavi Doodala, Mariam Debas, Nikita Chandrasing, and Andy Yaro, better known as the Fiscal Patriots, developed Audits Made Simple: An Interactive Platform for Exploring Government Data. This program turns complex government datasets into accessible, engaging visuals, designed to advance financial literacy and encourage deeper public engagement with federal spending data. The team was supervised by Costello faculty members Mike Wetklow, professor of accounting, and Clement Chen, adjunct professor of management.

Policies and Procedures

Undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni will be held to the following policies and procedures.

Staff

Meagan Richesin is an Administrative Associate in the Office of Career Services in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.

tags: #costello #college #of #business #advising #services