Communicating throughout the recruitment process

January 3, 2025

Just imagine—you’re walking out of a career fair after a great conversation with a Deloitte professional you met. You’re feeling excited about what’s next. But then you wonder…what is next? How do I keep that conversation going? How much communication is too much, if there is such a thing? When I do follow up, what should I say?

Here are some tips to help you confidently communicate and expand the new relationships you’ve built at Deloitte.

• Follow up with specifics. One of the best ways to show genuine enthusiasm for the conversation you had with your recruiter is by highlighting some of the specific things you discussed. In your follow-up email, you might share an article or link relevant to your discussion. If you connect with your recruiter on a networking site, be sure to share where and when you met and anything that stood out to you from the conversation. And most importantly, always close with the next step. Action-oriented communication such as “I’d love to connect again—what’s a good time?” or “What’s the best way for me to get in touch with you?” helps sustain the momentum.
  
  
• Make regular contact. Reaching out regularly can help build connections. While it can feel intimidating, taking the right approach can help. For example, communicating something valuable, such as some industry research you found for a role you discussed, or asking specific questions about roles or the organization demonstrates your interest and curiosity. You may be worried about “over-communicating,” but if you focus your communication on specifics and put effort into your messaging, it can help build a relationship over time. You could send a brief email or request a 15-minute virtual coffee. If you have a meeting, whether online or in person, prepare an agenda or talking points to maximize the time.
  
  
• Be an active listener. Effective communication isn’t just about when you reach out or what you say; it’s also about listening. Active listening can not only help build connections and strengthen your relationships but also help you retain valuable insights throughout the recruitment and hiring process. There are a handful of ways to practice active listening, including:
  • Asking questions and clarifying anything you don’t understand or want repeated
  • Reflecting on what you’ve heard and even repeating it back to the recruiter to summarize the takeaways
  • Truly engaging in the conversation, avoiding distractions like your phone or other sounds on your computer if you’re having a virtual conversation

Great communication can help you feel empowered and build relationships and community. When building communication skills, you’re often building valuable leadership skills as well.

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