If you’re in the market for a new (or your first) job, tomorrow’s the day: the New Tech Northwest job fair is happening at 4:00 pm. Hopefully, you’ve done your prep work – polished your resume, made sure you have a fistful of business cards, are dressing appropriately to meet future employers, etc.
In fact, most job seekers seem to know what to do in advance of a job fair…but do you know what to do after the event ends? Here are five follow-up tips that will help you stand out from the crowd, and potentially land your next gig.
Make a list. Take your collected business cards and make a document that lists the recruiters’ names, contact information and any important notes of discussion items. If you eventually apply for a position, jot down the date of your application or resume submission. This will help you remember to follow up at an appropriate time.
Send a short post-fair note. Even if your conversation with a recruiter was brief, take the time to reach out by email. You’d be surprised how many applicants don’t do this, and it not only is a nice gesture, it will help you be remembered by the job fair recruiter. The most optimum time to reach out is during regular business hours no later than two days after the job fair (you want to reconnect while memories are fresh). To ensure your message is opened and read, put your name in the subject line (i.e., Jane Doe Job Fair Follow-up). You can also send a handwritten note, but in the tech world, email is appropriate.
Use LinkedIn to connect. This is another way to reach out to recruiters after the fair, and, as a side benefit, it shows them that you’re active on social media. And after you make a LinkedIn connection, continue to show your interest in the company and the recruiter by commenting on posts. It’s a great way to periodically remind the recruiter that you are more than a run-of-the-mill applicant.
Facebook it. If the company has a Facebook page, leave an appropriate comment about the recruiter and the job fair.
Update your resume. If you received any feedback on your resume while at the job fair, be sure to incorporate that information so you’re prepared for the next interview.
Good luck to all of the applicants who plan to attend today’s fair. Let us know if you have any suggestions for how we might improve the next event.
