Career fair follow-up? Get on it...
Congratulations to those of you who attended the Spring Career Fair earlier this week! Our office received loads of positive feedback from employers on the poised, prepared, and knowledgeable nature of our UW students. Give yourselves a pat on the back for successfully braving the crowds, and making a great impression on employers. And then, get back to work. :)
It's important to follow-up with employers after a career fair, and it's a step in the job search process that students are often unaware they should take. Putting forth a little effort to go the extra mile will make you stand out from the competition (even more than you do already, you fabulous Huskies, you.) Here's some advice from Peter Vogt, a MonsterTRAK Career Coach:
- If you have not done so already, take a few minutes to jot down notes about the employers and companies that you spoke with at the fair. It's easy to do and it will help you remember the specifics of your conversation, the opportunities that are available with that employer, and any next steps the recruiter suggested you take. And do it soon! The longer you wait, the murkier your memory will become.
- Follow-up on what you said you'd do. If you promised a recruiter a targeted résumé, or told them you'd pass along the URL to your website, make sure to follow-up, posthaste. Your quickness in responding will illustrate your responsibility and professionalism.
- Send a thank you note. Take it from us: hardly anyone thinks to send a thank you note to career fair recruiters. But the extra thought and effort set you apart, and employers will appreciate and admire your gratitude. Take a moment to thank them for their time, reiterate your interest in their company, and briefly state a few of your skills that you feel qualify you to work for them.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns on how to follow-up with employers from the fair, contact our office in 134 Mary Gates Hall, or give us a call at 206.543.0535. We're here to help! And if you're hungry for more career fair action, don't forget that the Summer Career Fair is just around the corner on June 24th.
To read Peter Vogt's full article, click here.
Hi cara, nice job on your previous post that solved a lot of my queries.I encountered a similar problem and that helped me in fixing it. Thanks for sharing.
melissa
Like the news just said today, there are still 2 million job openings right now. With more people getting their GED, high school diploma or college degree, the competition will be steep!
BV
Great advice!
I wanted to reiterate just how important it is to follow up with a prospective employer. In these economic times, anything you can do to stand out from the crowd is beneficial. [Promotional link removed - Admin]
Great details. It appears that the fair will be held at the same time this year and I am sure with where the economy is, it will be extremely busy. Like the news just said today, there are still 2 million job openings right now. With more people getting their GED, high school diploma or college degree, the competition will be steep!
Jan Sidler
thanks for providing the link to Peter Vogts article it was very good as usual
The thank-you note is a big winner. For less than $1 you can put your application to the top of the list.
Thanks for reminding me how little things count :)
peter v wrote a great article thanks
With the economic downturn, it's more important than ever to keep your resume up to date, and really make an effort to 'work the room'. -Rick
Thank you for the great information you provided me earlier in the week. :)
Seriously Peter Vogts article is fantastic, so much to learn for college grads.
Your Summer and Spring carrer fares were awesome. Great people and some great help.
Good article. Thanks
Sending a thank you note is a really important thing people forget all too often. Not only does it show your gratitude for being considered but it is a great way to be remembered and get your foot a bit farther into the door.
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