The best way to follow up after the career fair

Take off your blazer and breathe a sigh of relief. You’ve made it through the Career and Internship Fair — good job. But the work isn’t over. It’s time to start solidifying those newfound connections.

 24 – 48 hours after the fair

These are not your grandma’s etiquette rules. Send an email within 48 hours of meeting the recruiter and thank them for taking the time to chat with you. Okay, that one might make grammy happy.

But before you press send, low-key investigate the company on the internet — use the skills you perfected from “researching” your online dates. Check these sites where you can read employee reviews and information about what it’s like to work for the company you’re interested in.

Make your connection LinkedIn official — first, update your page. Do more than press “connect,” go to the recruiter’s profile page and jog their memory by including a note reminding them that you met at the ASU career fair.

You’re finally ready to send that email. But remember, around 2,000 people attend the fair every year — even your email needs to stand out. Attach your resume or a work example to your message. If you discussed something unique, remind them of the conversation. The point is to have your message bring a positive memory to mind.

One month after the fair

If you haven’t been communicating with the recruiters you met, it’s time to reach out again. While consistently liking company and status updates on LinkedIn is good, personal connection is better. Send a private message or an email asking a followup question about when they will be hiring for summer or after graduation. You can ask them to meet up for coffee or if there is someone in the organization they could connect you with for further advice.

Ask if they are going to be at the spring ASU career fair. If they are, let them know you’ll stop by to say hello. Then, really do stop by. Bring an updated resume to show them.

Three months later and beyond 

Having recruiters in your camp is always good. Whether you’re in your dream job or are still searching, keep reaching out. These connections can last throughout your career. If you’re considering a move in the future, or looking to hire, they’ll be ready to help. And if you hear of something or someone that may interest them, return the favor.