Dear Aunt Martha,
I went to the career fair on campus and got a bunch of business cards from interesting people I might want to reach out to in the future to see if I can work or intern at their company. How should I be networking with these recruiters without seeming too awkward or that I’m just using them?
Sincerely,
Nervous Networker
Dear Nervous Networker,
My heart is warmed to hear of the many amazing people you have met at the career fair. Don’t worry about seeming awkward, networking is a skill that can be developed through practice! Although it may seem uncomfortable at first, if you keep on practicing, it’ll eventually become more natural.
A great way to keep in touch with people you met at career fair is to stay connected through email. Though it may sound daunting to do so, I have broken down the components you should have in your email to make it easier.
Introduce yourself
Representatives at career fair meet hundreds of students so don’t be surprised if they don’t remember who you are on the first try. Therefore, it’s always good to start off with a brief introduction of who you are by stating your college, year, major, and interests.
Recall the conversation
If you had a meaningful conversation with the person at career fair, remind them about it! For example, “I had a wonderful time talking to you about the market’s recent performance during the career fair.” Finding a common topic is a great way to not only remind them of who you are, but to also to re-engage in a common interest.
Bring up any new career advancements in your life
Close the email with any new activities that are happening. For example, joining a new professional club or even researching a new topic could be great updates to send. Additionally, if you took advice from the recruiters such as reading a book they suggested, mentioning that you took their advice and the outcome of taking the advice would be great too.
Check out our blog post for more information about networking! https://hecec.human.cornell.edu/2018/04/12/building-your-network-how-to-talk-to-strangers/
Warmest wishes,
Aunt Martha