3 Steps UConn Students Should Take After a Virtual Session with an Employer

What to do after your virtual session to leave a great impression with employers.

If you’ve just finished attending a virtual recruiting event, you may be thinking, “Now what?” How do you keep the momentum going, and secure a potential internship or job interview? Here are tips for following up after your virtual sessions with employers.

1. Follow them on Handshake

After you meet an employer you like, go to their Handshake page and click Follow—or the star button if you’re on the app.

You’ll receive notifications when they post new jobs and events. Plus, when the employer views your profile, they can see that you follow them. Mutual interest definitely works in your favor!

2. Apply to an open job or internship

While you’re on their Handshake page, check out the list of open jobs and internships. If you discussed a specific opportunity with the employer, get ready to send your application.

If you didn’t discuss a specific job, read through what’s available and apply to any that interest you. If you need a little time to get your application ready, save the job you like so you’ll get a notification to apply before the deadline.

3. Send a thank you email

If the employer shares their contact info, plan to send a follow-up email within 24 hours of your session. Begin your email by thanking them for their time and telling them you enjoyed meeting them.

Then, include something specific that you liked discussing or learning about. Finally, let them know what next steps you’re taking, such as applying for a job.

Quick tips for your follow up:

  1. Prepare a draft of your message before your sessions. That way, you can quickly edit and send them once the session is over. This will make it easier to get your email out quickly and will help you stand out.
  2. Keep the subject line simple. You can have “Thank you” as your subject line or include your first and last name.
  3. Be concise. Employers are busy and receive a lot of emails, so keep your message brief. One or two short paragraphs are all you need.
  4. Proofread before you click send. It’s really important to catch any spelling or grammatical errors. Software such as Grammarly is great for spelling, but it may not catch all grammatical errors or missing words. If you have time, ask a friend or family member to review your message as well.

Bonus tip!

This is the perfect time to practice job interviewing. The Career Center is here to help! Schedule a practice interview with a career coach to build confidence and present your best self during your interview with decision-makers!

This article is adapted from a blog on www.joinhandshake.com.

By Evan McMunn
Evan McMunn Publicity and Marketing Administrator