Following Up After a Career Fair

By Kelsey McWilliams, Marketing Intern at CU-Boulder Career Services

What’s equally important as attending job fairs like our Fall Career and Internship Fair? Following up with the recruiters you talk to! Following up shows that you are professional, thoughtful and dependable. A simple email could mean the difference between landing a job and unemployment.

During the Fair

In order to follow up, make sure to collect business cards and contact information from all of the recruiters you talk to while at the career fair. Be polite and courteous to each and every employer, even if you aren’t interested in their company or the jobs they are offering. You never know who they know!

Timing...

Make sure to send thank you notes to all of the representatives with whom you spoke within 24-48 hours of the fair. Timeliness is key in this scenario because the sooner you contact them; the more likely they will be to remember you. Don’t forget: chances are they met hundreds of job candidates during the fair, so find a way to make yourself stand out.

What to Include

Your follow-up should be a brief, personalized letter to each recruiter you spoke with during a career fair, thanking them for their time and consideration. Review your notes from the fair and pick out some key conversation topics you discussed with each employer. This information is crucial for personalizing your thank you note, which will help you stand out amongst other candidates. Make sure to also include your contact information (i.e. email address and phone number).

Check Back In

If you’re really interested in a position, email the recruiter a week or so after the fair to follow-up again. This will reaffirm your interest and keep you in the recruiter’s mind. Don’t pester if you don’t hear something back within a day or two- they could be traveling or very busy.

As Always... Be Professional!

Proper grammar, spelling and punctuation are all crucial in any communication with recruiters. Double and triple check your email or letter before sending it. Remember, spellcheck won’t always catch every error.

What If I’m Not Interested?

Whether you just found your dream job or could have fallen asleep while talking to the recruiter, both circumstances deserve equal consideration! Send a thank you note even if you’re sure the position isn’t right for you because you never know what opportunities networking can bring!

The recruiter took time to speak with you, so they deserve a thank you note at the very least. Your professionalism and consideration may impress them enough to recommend you to a colleague, who could facilitate your dream job. Don’t forget that referrals are incredibly valuable!

If you’re not interested in a position the thank you note may be a bit more challenging to write. Simply thank the recruiter and reaffirm your interest in the company while gently suggesting the position may not be a good fit for you. This will keep the door open for other opportunities.

Ready... Set... GO! To the Fall Career Fair and Internship Fair

By Kelsey McWilliams, Marketing Intern at CU-Boulder Career Services

Fall Career and Internship Fair

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

UMC 2^nd Floor

9:00am-3:00pm

Are you looking for a summer internship or full-time job? Many employers are beginning to interview for summer internships, and it’s never too early to start applying. Seniors, employers are ready to hire December 2012 and May 2013 graduates for full-time employment. Students of all ages should attend the Fall Career and Internship Fair and get a head start on your job and internship search!

We encourage freshmen to attend the fair just to get an idea of what it’s all about. Even if you’re not quite ready to commit to a position, the Fall Fair is a great place to network and make connections that could help you in the future. There will be more than 150 organizations in attendance, and they are looking to hire YOU!

Career Services’ Fall Career and Internship Fair is open exclusively (and FREE!!) for CU-Boulder students and alumni, so don’t forget to bring your Buff OneCard.

Be sure to practice your 30-second elevator pitch, research the companies ahead of time in our fair guide, and dress professionally (i.e. no sneakers with your suit and no stilletos!). Read our Tips for Attending a Career Fair and make sure to attend our pre-fair workshops listed on our Facebook page under "events."

Login to Career Buffs – Career Events to see the list of participating employers, which includes Shell, Goldman Sachs, Halliburton, Say Media, Chevron, Disney Online, Microsoft, NASA, Pepsi Corp., Steve Madden, Teach for America , Wells Fargo Bank and many more!

Companies are looking for students of all majors!

Don’t be discouraged if the employers on the list don’t seem to apply to your interests. You would be surprised how many different positions there are within large companies and the diversity of majors that fulfill those qualifications. Ask the company rep what type of positions would be open in their company for a person of your skillset.

What should you do if employers tell you to apply online?

Apply online!! They ARE NOT brushing you off. This is due to Equal Opportunity Employment law where all candidates need to be given equal consideration when applying. They may take your resume and write notes on it about you hoping to see your name in the online candidate pool. Don’t let your insecurities get the best of you- apply online and get that job!

Want additional networking time with an employer? Consider signing up to be a Student Host – help employers during check-in and check-out. Contact Ann Herrmann and let her know if you’re interested in the 7:00-9:00am shift or the 2:30-4:30pm shift.

Essential Email Etiquette

By Kelsey McWilliams, Marketing Intern at CU-Boulder Career Services

Not sure if you’re being quite professional enough in your online communication? Read on for some quick tips that will guide you through your next email encounter.

Be Timely

No one likes a pen pal who doesn’t write back! It is incredibly important to stay on top of your emails and respond in a timely manner. If you have a smartphone you should make sure that all of your email accounts are set up and that you check them often throughout the day. Every time you’re at your computer you should check your email at least once, and do your best to respond to messages within 24 hours.

Be Professional

Now that you are in college you should have a professional email address. As a general rule it should be made up of solely your first and last name. Yes, that means your 6^th grade account “sk8rgurl4lyfe@aol.com” is no longer appropriate. Switch over to your Colorado.edu email address, which is perfectly professional or use a gmail or Yahoo account!

Use English

And by that we mean proper English. Correct grammar and spelling are crucial for employers, teachers and fellow students to take you seriously when sending an email. You should also write out words in their entirety because “Where R U gf?” no longer makes the cut! Also make sure to use spellcheck, capitalize and punctuate correctly.

Be Concise

The purpose of email is quick and efficient communication; so make your messages worth reading! Cut to the chase rather than droning on with an awkward introduction – the person you’re emailing will appreciate it!

Watch Your Tone

It is much more difficult to express tone via email than it is in person or over the phone. Don’t try sarcasm in your emails because your audience may not understand or appreciate it. Make sure that you come off as respectful, friendly and approachable. No one wants to receive an email that is rude or demanding!

Be Polite

Always address people you don’t know as Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr. or Professor. Only use their first name if they have already implied that you may do so. When signing your emails make sure to say something like “Best,” or “Sincerely,” and then your first and last name on the next line.

Whether you’re writing to a professor or applying for a job, email etiquette shows respect for the person you’re communicating with and could make or break your chance at being offered a position. Don’t miss your chance for some great opportunities because your email communication is less than professional. People will notice and will take you more seriously. 

How to Write a Killer Cover Letter

By Kelsey McWilliams, Marketing Intern at CU-Boulder Career Services

Writing a cover letter is one of the tougher tasks in applying for jobs. There have been several jobs that I haven’t taken the time to apply for just because I didn’t have a cover letter. Once you write your first cover letter, however, applying for jobs will become much easier because you will only have to tweak a few small things in your original cover letter based on each job’s description. Follow these helpful steps on writing a cover letter and don’t ever miss out on another job opportunity! You’ll not only have a great cover letter, but one that will blow away your competition.

Why do I need a cover letter?

The goal of a cover letter is to demonstrate to a potential employer how your strengths match the position as well as your knowledge and interest in the company and the job. Your writing should focus on how you will meet the company’s needs, not the other way around.

Cover Letter Outline

Date

Company Contact Information

Dear Ms./Mr. ____________:

(Do your research and find out how to make the cover letter out to. Don’t use “To Whom It May Concern”- that’s just plain lazy.)

In the first paragraph you should explain the reason for your letter and/or identify the job position you are applying for. Mention how you learned of the job especially if you were recommended by a mutual contact. Show enthusiasm for the position and demonstrate your knowledge and interest in the company.

The second paragraph should include relevant information about your experience or coursework. Next, you should address your ability to contribute to the company’s needs. You can demonstrate this by giving examples of your qualifications, accomplishments, and skills based on your past jobs and activities.

Finally you should express your confidence that you are the perfect fit for the job. Give the potential employer a reason to want to hire you. Your final paragraph should also include contact information where you can be reached and a sentence that says you will follow up with them to make sure they received your resume and cover letter. Don’t forget to thank the employer for their time!

Helpful Hints

• Cover letters should be concise, simple, and direct. They are usually about three to four paragraphs long.

• Make sure to vary your sentence structure, so that not every sentence starts with “I.”

• Carefully read each job description before composing a cover letter. Don’t forget to modify and tailor your cover letter for each position. Include keywords that match what they are looking for.

• Be sure to change the company name throughout your cover letter so you don’t accidentally use the wrong name! That can get your

• Always proofread your cover letter for grammatical and spelling errors. One spelling error could get your resume trashed.

• Make sure to save your cover letter (and your resume) as one PDF file rather than two separate Microsoft Word documents. Paste your cover letter in the body of your email and also attach the PDF file.

• Don’t use any abbreviated or text language in the body of your email. Use  professional language throughout the email.

• Use the same size font as well as the same header with your contact information on your resume and cover letter, so that they both look the same.

• Be confident! Don’t be afraid to tell employers why you are right for their position, but be sure you can back it up with the appropriate skills or results.

Visit our website for more information about cover letter and resume writing. If you have additional questions, come on in and see us! We have 15-minute walk-in appointments Monday- Thursday from 1:30-4pm where a counselor can give you feedback.

We want to CU Clothes the Deal!

By Kelsey McWilliams, Marketing Intern at CU-Boulder Career Services

Are you looking to add professional business attire to your wardrobe? Do you need a new suit to wear to an upcoming job interview? Even if you’re just looking to spruce up your image then you should attend our upcoming event “Clothes the Deal!”

Career Services is partnering with Nordstrom Rack to present head to toe fashion tips and store discounts on professional attire at Nordstrom Rack. CU-Boulder students will receive great deals on professional attire to help prepare them for interviews. Nordstrom Rack will highlight outfits for $100 and less. Additionally, local consignment shops will also be participating by giving additional discounts on professional attire.

Don’t miss this “Clothes the Deal!” event on Tuesday, September 18 from 3-5pm at Nordstrom Rack at the 29^th Street Mall.

Following the event there will also be a Boulder 2140 and CU Career Services Networking Event at Cantina Laredo from 5:30-7:30pm. This will give students and recent alumni a chance to connect with young, local, Boulder professionals and employers. Don’t miss this Boulder 2140 event if you’re seeking to jump-start your job search before Career Services’ Fall Career and Internship Fair on Tuesday, September 25 in the UMC Ballroom 2^nd floor from 9am-3pm.

Proceeds from Boulder 2140’s follow-up networking event will go to a scholarship fund for financially deserving/high achieving students to help them purchase professional interviewing attire! Appetizers will be provided courtesy of 29^th Street Mall and happy hour prices will be extended until 7:30pm. To learn more about Boulder 2140 visit their website.

Register ahead of time here (http://boulder2140.com/events/september-2012-happy-hour/). Don’t miss these fantastic opportunities to professionalize your wardrobe and network with potential employers!