Collect Business Cards

Close every conversation by asking for a card; you can also offer yours as a way to prompt the exchange. If an employer doesn’t have their cards (or ran out), ask for their name.

Have a small notebook and pen so you can make quick notes from your conversation. Use these notes to draft your follow-up emails. If you have a name but not an email address, you can also reach out via LinkedIn.

Thank-You Or Follow-Up Email

Sending a thank-you or follow-up email to all employers you meet is a very important step.

It shows appreciation and gives you the opportunity to stay fresh in an employer’s mind. It also allows you to repeat your interest in the company and available opportunities they may have mentioned.

View our Follow-Up Emails resource to help you get started.

Take Action Right Away!

You will be busy with graduation and celebrating but you want to build on the connection you made in a timely manner. (This is especially important for Fall graduates, because of the holidays.)  Set aside time to follow up on Monday after the event. If an employer asks for you to contact them or send your portfolio right away, carve out some time on Friday.

Make the follow up process easier. Record information on a spreadsheet similar to our Research Strategy Template.

Draft a few sample messages in advance that you can quickly customize. Keep them short, direct, and sincere. They can be as short as 3 or 4 sentences.