How important is it to Follow Up?

Congratulations! You have another (or maybe your first!) career fair wrapped up and you are anxiously awaiting employers to review your resume, remember the awesome conversation you had, and give you a call to come in for an interview. What do you do in the meantime? Have you followed up with the employers you met at the job fair?

One of the biggest mistakes job fair candidates can make is to not follow up with employers they had a connection with. Keep in mind that although you may think the conversation you had with your dream company was memorable, they met with a lot of people that day and may need a little reminding.

Here is something small you can do to help you stand out and move your resume to the top of the pile!

Send an email!

Seems simple enough right? This step in the job search process is easy to forget so we had to make a blog post about it as a quick reminder to follow up with employers!

If you were able to get a contact’s email, or can do a little digging and find an email address online, don’t hesitate to reaffirm your interest in the position this way. Here is an example of something you may say in an email:

Ms. Jen Shah

Talent Recruiter

Creative Marketing Firm

Minneapolis, MN 55411

Dear Ms. Shah,

It was a pleasure to meet you at the Job and Internship fair in Minneapolis last week. I appreciated speaking with you about the Creative Marketing Firm. I especially enjoyed learning about CMF’s mission, and the unique brand of marketing your firm is bringing to the Minneapolis creative scene.

I want to reaffirm my interest in the Account Manager position you have open and I would love to set up a meeting to talk more about it. I know that my past communication, marketing, and management experience would make me a great fit for the position. I am excited to show CMF what I have to offer.

I have attached an updated version of the resume you received at the Job and Internship Fair. I will call you next week to discuss this opportunity in more depth. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Warm regards,

Madeline Ellingson

4 Privet Drive

Mankato, MN 56001

507-389-6061

Here are some other great tips

• Call or email approximately 5-7 days after submitting your application
• Follow up in the method that is preferred by employers (how they communicated with you previously)
• If calling, write out a script beforehand so you are fully prepared
• In your communication with the employer, portray yourself as confident and inquisitive, but not entitled or demanding
• Ask at least these three things: did they receive all of your application materials, do they have any additional questions or need anything more from you, when might they be interviewing candidate
• If they communicate with you that they will be interviewing in 2 weeks, it is appropriate to follow up again a little after that period passes if you have not yet heard back
• Keep an organized file of when you made contact and who you spoke with for future records

 

Here are two videos that will be helpful to watch as well:

• Tips for job seekers: Interview follow-up pt. 1
• Tips for job seekers: Interview follow-up pt. 2

Do you have additional questions about following up with an employer? Stop by QuickStop Monday – Friday from 11am-2pm at the Career Development Center (Wigley 209) and get some advice from the Grad Staff!

-Kady Johnson, CDC Graduate Assistant

IMPACT Programming Board Graduate Advisor