What Should I Say When...?
This blog will cover three common correspondence tips and examples including: how to reach out to a professor about your interests in their research, connecting with a professional who a mutual friend/colleague introduced you to, and following up from an interview when you did not hear back.
As you reach out to your contact, make sure to address them respectfully and include a clear subject line (if sending an email). Remember to be intentional in your outreach and state your reason for reaching out. Each situation is different so keep in mind what the best form of communication would be: email, phone, video chat, LinkedIn, or in-person.
Expressing Your Interest in Research Opportunities
Interested in getting involved with research for the first time? Whether you have seen an opportunity in the Undergraduate Student Research Placement Tool or are fascinated by your professor’s research projects, here is an example of what your outreach could look like.
“I hope this email finds you well. My name is Brutus Buckeye, and I am a 2nd year chemical engineering student. I recently came across your [insert name of research project/publication] and thoroughly enjoyed learning more about [insert topic]. After doing more research on this topic, I became especially interested in the type of work you are leading. I am currently looking to gain research experience while utilizing my [insert transferable skills and/or strengths] and was wondering if I could speak further with you about [insert research opportunity/’potential opportunities’]. I have attached my resume to this email for your reference. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
Requesting an Informational Interview
So a friend/colleague knows you want to learn more about where your major can take you and mentions that you should meet an engineering professional that they know on a first-name basis. First off, these are one of the best connections you can have and how lucky are you to know someone that is connecting you to a person that shares the same interests! These conversations can lead to potential opportunities and can help you learn so much about career paths.
As you start to craft your email, include any relevant information that your connection told you about and be clear on what you want to get out of the conversation.
“My name is Brutus Buckeye, and I am a 3rd year engineering physics student at The Ohio State University. Our mutual connection, [insert name], mentioned your name during our recent get together and suggested I connect with you. I am always up for learning more about where my major could take me and talking with other engineering professionals about their experiences. Specifically, getting a better understanding of your role as a Laser Systems Engineer and what you enjoy most about [insert company] would also be something that I would be interested in hearing more about. I would be happy to connect in the next week or so if you are free and interested! Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.”
Pro Tip: Make sure to send a thank you note/email within 24 hours after your meeting, expressing how helpful your conversation was and how much you appreciated their time.
Following Up on the Status of Your Interview
No response after your first-round interview? Don’t automatically result to thinking you are out of the running as there may be multiple reasons why you have not heard back. So make sure to take a deep breath and congratulate yourself for making it through the interview!
Unless the interviewer told you specifically that it will take longer than a week to hear back from them, in general, it is a good idea to follow up within one week after the interview to check in. IF the employer told you a certain day you would hear back, and you still have not heard from them, it is reasonable to reach out one business day after that specific date.
“My name is Brutus Buckeye and I recently interviewed for your Software Engineering Internship position posted on your company website. I enjoyed speaking with you about how my [insert experience/skill] would benefit [insert role]. I wanted to reiterate my interest and follow up on the status of my interview. Based on what I gathered from our discussion, this role seems like a great fit for my technical background. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions. Thank you for your time and consideration.”
If you are looking for more professional correspondence examples, check out Handshake’s Resource Library (Handshake > Career Center > Resources > type “Professional Correspondence” in the search bar).
“Success is a way of life. It’s about discovering your ultimate purpose, pursuing it with everything you have and everything you do.” - Don Green
