Maybe this was your first career fair – maybe it wasn’t. Either way, don’t lose a valuable opportunity to enhance that first impression. Follow up! Did you have a good conversation with a recruiter? Were you interested in learning more about an opportunity that was mentioned? Not interested? Follow up on those too – recruiters talk and recruiters move. Making an impression on someone will go a long way.
Networking? Wait. Career fairs are networking? Yes. Every employer you meet is a networking opportunity. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but it’s a chance to build your network. You never know where you’ll be in a few years – or where they’ll be. Maybe they’ll take a job with a company you’re interested in 3 years from now. You can reference that you met them. They may or may not remember you (if you follow-up, they stand a better chance of remembering you), but will appreciate that you remember meeting them.
What do you say/how to follow-up? A quick email will suffice, or you can send (as in snail mail) an old-fashioned thank you note. A simple, quick note to the person you met who might have a position you’re interested in will go a long way. Reference your conversation, what you like about the position discussed and why you feel you’d be a good fit – briefly. Not particularly interested in the company or position? Try “Thanks for your time;” “it was nice meeting you;” “glad you came to UConn;” etc.). You just never know when your paths might cross again, and a positive impression will go a long way.
What else? Check HuskyCareerLink for positions posted. If you’re really interested in the position, and don’t hear back from your new contact, reach out again in a couple of weeks. Another quick note to remind them that you’re very interested in what you discussed will show your commitment.
