This blog post has been updated by Kristina Rust, Career Consultant on June 11, 2024 for relevancy, inclusivity, and formatting.
Congratulations! You updated your resume, dressed up, prepared your elevator speech and mastered the art of small talk with recruiters and employers. It took hard work, and now the Career Fair has come and gone.
Now that you have connected with the recruiters and passed out your resume, you may be scratching your head asking, “What’s next?” Attending the career fair was only the first step. In fact, the steps you take going forward will be just as important during your job or internship search process. Here are a few tips we would like to recommend to ensure you stay active after a career fair!
1. Get Organized.
Start by organizing the information you received from the Career Fair. It can be difficult to keep track of all the employers and recruiters you contacted. Use your notes and business card information to start a document that lists their names and contact information. Staying organized will be extremely important if you’re serious about getting a job. Also, this list will be helpful as you proceed to the next step…
2. Be Patient.
Even patient people find it hard to wait for recruiters to contact them after a Career Fair. Don’t feel discouraged by the lack of communication. Remember, UGA isn't their only stop during this busy recruiment season!
3. Follow-up.
After a day or two, we suggest that you follow up with the employers or recruiters you spoke with to get back on their radar. You can do this by using the list you created with their contact information. This way, they know that you are an eager candidate who takes initiative. Most importantly, whether you call or send a Thank-You card or email, make sure to keep it professional. View our sample Career Fair Follow-up email in our E-mail Correspondence Examples.
Although following up is a great way to establish a stronger connection with the recruiters, don’t overdo it by contacting them excessively. They probably have multiple projects to manage, events to attend, and people to work with, so you don’t want to get on their bad side by calling or emailing them every week. Just send a quick email occasionally to ask about opportunities the recruiters might know about or to update them on new professional development workshops, volunteer work, or recent projects on which you’ve been working. This shows that you are still interested in working for their company or organization without disturbing their workflow.
4. Practice Interviewing.
Next, while you wait for the call for an open position, make sure to brush up on your interviewing skills. The Career Center offers appointments for mock interviews with your Career Consultant, who can provide sample interview questions related to your industry. They will ask you several questions and provide feedback on your responses and presentation. This way, you can put your best foot forward when you interview with the company for which you are hoping to work!
Finally, if you received any feedback from the company representatives on your resume, make the appropriate updates. The suggestions are especially helpful if they are industry-specific, so don’t let their suggestions go to waste! Once you’ve made the changes and would like someone to review it again, be sure to stop by during the Career Center’s Drop-In Hours during the Fall and Spring semesters. Also, our website (career.uga.edu) has a career guide that offers many tips and examples for resume writing that you can refer to at any time.
You already did an awesome job by attending the Career Fair, so continue with these steps to increase your chances of employment. If you have any questions about these steps, or any professional development topics, UGA Career Center Consultants are more than willing to guide you through the process. Additionally, we have several workshops this semester through our Arch Ready Professionalism Certificate Program that may be useful to you during your job or internship search. Event information and other online resources are available on our website, and you can schedule an appointment by calling our Front Desk at (706) 542-3375, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.