The Art of Following Up
Here is how you can send an ideal follow-up:
First, you have to define your objective and there are 4 primary objectives:
- Ask for information: Example: You met with Company Z at the Career Fair and talking about a position you have already applied to, and the recruiter asks you to send an email with your resume. Your follow-up email would fall in this area because you would be asking for a status update on your application.
- Request a Meeting: Example: The recruiter at Company Z works near Wellesley and you want to learn more about the training programs there for entry-level positions. You can send a follow-up email requesting a call or an informational interview!
- Say Thank You: Example: Imagine you end up getting that internship or job at Company Z. You would want to send a thank you email to the recruiter that answered all your questions and gave you advice/information at the Career Fair.
- Catch-up: when you haven’t spoken to a particular contact in a while and you have heard exciting news about their career or you want to share a milestone that you have achieved. Example: You spoke to the Company Z recruiter about a shared hobby, you could send an interesting article related to that hobby to the recruiter.
Second, create an appropriate subject line which is short and concise but intriguing enough to get the attention of the receiver. It could be about a particular topic you talked about. Example: “Great talking with you about (topic)”
Third, include content and clearly state the objective of the email. Make sure to include how you met, where you met and what you talked about. Ask specific questions on internships, full-time position, connections and application.
Fourth, make sure to end the email with professional closing phrases:
- Please contact me again if you need further information.
- Let me know if you need anything else.
- I look forward to hearing from you.
- See you in (location) or Talk to you on (time).
- Take care.
- Sincerely,/Best regards,
Also, send the email in an appropriate time frame (24-48 hrs)
Final Reminders:
- Make sure to double check the email for spelling and grammar errors
- Ensure that it’s concise and action oriented
- Word it clearly to ensure you are communicating why you are emailing them
- Attach any documents if needed such as resumes or cover letter (make sure the label is clear)
Hopefully you send the perfect follow up and get the internship/full-time job you want!