Working a Job Fair - Part Three 11/9/2005 8:26:03 AM
Follow Up for Success
Record the Day
When you finally get home after a long day, take a few moments to jot down some notes. To whom did you speak – name, title and company. What were your impressions of the company, the interviewer and the prospects for gainful employment?
Even though you’re beat and suffering brain fade, take 10 minutes to jot down some key notes while the adventure is still fresh in your mind.
Follow Up – Fast
If you promised a list of references to an interviewer, get them out, along with a nice note expressing your appreciation for the company’s interest and the interviewer’s time. Don’t wait on these. In some cases, your response time is being measured. Be there.
Thank You Notes?
Absolutely! Think of it as another chance to put your name and credentials in front of that HR rep. Some suggestions, however.
Send a handwritten note, and use professional, high-quality note card stationery. Scratching out something on 3-hole binder paper just won’t create the image of professionalism you’re looking for. If possible, use stationery with contact information as part of the printed letterhead.
As with any typed document, the note should be letter perfect. So, type it out on the computer, run a spell check, proof for grammar and punctuation, then copy it over neatly on the good stationery – in pen!
Use the note to jog the reader’s memory. Be sure to mention something specific about your meeting – that funny anecdote or answer in more detail a key question the interviewer asked. The note should put your face and the words together in the mind of the reader.
Sell a little. You don’t have to provide your entire professional history, but you can certainly mention experience of specific use to the company and other resume gold stars. Just keep it short:
“After reviewing the materials you provided, I’m more confident than ever that I can meet and exceed the expectations of XYZ, Inc. My 10 years of experience as a field manager will transition perfectly into the HQ position under discussion, providing “eyes from the field” in-house.”
That should do it. Finally, close with a ‘thank-you’, ‘yours truly’ and sign your full name.
The Bang for Buck Equation
You get good bang for your job fair buck, so it’s a resource you should use during any job search. The key is planning, preparation and implementation. You also pick up a couple of side benefits by following basic job fair protocol.
First, you’ll feel more confident – ahead of the pack because you’ve done your fact gathering, developed a professional PEP and worked the floor with laser precision. Hey, you are good!
Second, you’ve met more key people in marketing and sales. There are lots of stories of people who landed a job two or three years after meeting someone at a job fair. It could well happen to you. So, meet, network, interview, surveille and take notes. There’s a lot to learn and a lot to see at any well-organized job fair.
Finally, if you can ace eight interviews in a day, than that single, follow-up interview will be a walk in the park. Think of job fairs as opportunities to practice your interviewing skills, your people skills, and as a showplace where you’re the star.
