After going through extensive preparations before attending a career fair and then making the absolute most out of the actual event, don’t forget to top your career fair experience off by following up afterwards.
As important as the career fair itself is, it’s the follow-up that can make or break an applicant for a position. Even if you made your conversations with recruiters as memorable as possible, when they head home with stacks of resumes, they’ll still need some prompting to keep you top of mind.
So what’s the best way to follow up with these recruiters to ensure that you’re the one they think of when it comes time to fill the position? We’ve put together a list of tips to help you do just that.
It’s important that you follow up with recruiters with 24 – 48 hours after the career fair. Wait any longer than that, and you risk losing the job to other, more eager applicants. It might even be a good idea to call and leave a voicemail the day of the career fair, and then follow up on that with an email.
Because recruiters saw so many individuals that day, share a tidbit that will help them remember you, such as “You complimented my tie!” or “We shared our love of surfboarding.” Just as you needed to stand out on the day of the fair, your follow up email needs to stand out, too. Keep it short and make sure to let them know that you appreciated them taking their time to discuss the opportunity with you.
Recruiters are used to getting follow-up emails and even calls, but a good old-fashioned handwritten thank you note can really set you apart from the crowd. Again, be sure to mention something specific to jog the recruiter’s memory as to the conversation you both had at the job fair. Taking the time to write and mail an actual letter will show the recruiter your drive. Because the post can take a day or so to be received, write it after you leave the fair and mail it out that day. Make sure you are spelling the individual’s name correctly!
If the recruiter has told you the next step to take in the application process, such as applying online or contacting another person within the company, then make sure you follow his or her instructions to a tee. Not doing so will make the recruiter think that you either aren’t serious about the position or that you don’t follow directions well and thus wouldn’t be a good fit. Keep the recruiter updated on your progress, as well, by emailing him or her whenever you take that next step, and asking when you should expect to hear an update.
In order to ensure that you continue to have access to the recruiters you spoke with, connect with them online through networking sites such as LinkedIn. That way, even if this particular position doesn’t pan out, you’ll be building your network, and you’ll still have that connection if future openings arise. Be sure to follow the company’s page, too, especially if you desire to work for that particular company. Companies often post new job openings on LinkedIn and share the update on their page so you can stay in the loop regarding new positions.
If your communications show a lack of real interest in a position or even a faked enthusiasm, recruiters will be able to tell. Your emails and calls need to reflect the genuine passion with which you are pursuing a job not too little and not too much. You should also explain how your passion specifically relates to the position, company, or industry for which you are applying. Doing so shows that you have an understanding of the needs of the position, company, or industry and how your talents can fill this need.
Get organized with your follow-up and create a schedule to keep track of who you’ve contacted and when as well as setting dates for the next time you’ll make contact with each recruiter. This way you won’t be contacting too soon before a decision is made or too frequently. Checking in on a regular basis will show the recruiter your commitment and help keep you in his thoughts long after other candidates have given up.
Keeping these six tips in mind as you follow up after a career fair will help to ensure that you’ve made the absolute most out of the opportunity and that you’ll reap the best possible rewards from it as well.
