Transcript: How to follow up after an informational interview
Now that you have done an informational interview, this video will teach you how to follow up with your contacts to keep them active and potentially lead you to job offers.
First, send a thank you letter. Make sure you send your letter within 24–48 hours after you meet and include one or two things you learned from the interview.
Here is an example:
“Hi Sarah,
It was so nice to meet with you today! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and talk about what it is like at Pfizer. It seems like an amazing place to work. I especially loved hearing about opportunities you’ve had to innovate and push the boundaries of scientific discovery.
I look forward to staying in touch as I continue my degree. I plan on taking your advice and reaching out to the referral you gave me as I prepare for future employment opportunities.
All the best,
Samuel Miranda”
Second, follow up within 2-3 weeks of your conversation with an update on how you have followed the professional's advice. For example, if you were given a referral of someone to talk to, send a message that you have reached out to the referral and keep your professional updated on what takes place.
Continue to act on advice and follow-up with progress updates. A good rule of thumb is to touch base every 2-3 months. It will be different with everyone so pay attention to how your professional responds to your messages. His or her responses will be helpful to determine how often you should follow up.
Some additional ideas you can use are:
• Send short emails with an update on your education, job search, or other subjects you discussed during your meeting.
• Send articles you recently read that they might be interested in.
• Send congratulation cards or emails when they receive a promotion or honor in their field of work.
• When you land a job or internship, message or call to thank them for the assistance they provided you.
And don’t forget to continue asking for suggestions and recommendations like referrals, books, courses, certificates, etc. This will make your follow-up process very natural and lead to good relationships for the future.
Good luck with your preparation!