How to Send a Career Fair Follow-Up Email: Templates and Best Practices
Career fairs create valuable opportunities to connect with recruiters and hiring managers from companies you want to work for. But the real opportunity often lies in what happens after the event. A thoughtful follow-up email can transform a brief handshake and conversation into a meaningful professional connection—and potentially a job opportunity.
Yet many job seekers either skip follow-up entirely or send generic messages that fail to stand out. This guide will help you craft effective career fair follow-up emails that continue conversations and move you toward opportunities.
Why Follow-Up Matters
Career fair follow-up emails serve several important purposes:
Differentiation
Recruiters meet dozens or hundreds of candidates at career fairs. Most candidates never follow up. Those who do immediately stand out.
Relationship Building
Your follow-up continues a conversation that started in person. It’s a chance to build on initial rapport and deepen the connection.
Demonstrating Interest
Following up shows genuine interest in the company and role. It signals that you’re serious, not just collecting company swag.
Providing Additional Information
Career fair conversations are brief. Follow-up lets you share materials (resume, portfolio) and elaborate on your qualifications.
Creating Next Steps
Follow-up creates momentum toward an interview or further conversation.
When to Send Your Follow-Up
Timing matters for follow-up effectiveness:
Ideal Timeline
Same day or next morning: The gold standard. Your conversation is still fresh in the recruiter’s mind.
Within 24-48 hours: Still effective. Recruiters are likely reviewing candidates from the fair during this window.
Within one week: Acceptable but less impactful. Send sooner if possible.
Why Speed Matters
- Recruiters meet many candidates and may forget details quickly
- Quick follow-up demonstrates initiative and organization
- You stay ahead of slower candidates
- The connection feels more natural when recent
If You Missed the Optimal Window
It’s still worth following up even if more than a week has passed:
“I apologize for the delayed follow-up—it was great meeting you at the [Career Fair] last week. I wanted to reach out to continue our conversation about [topic]…”
What Information to Collect at the Fair
Before leaving the career fair, gather what you need for follow-up:
Essential Information
- Recruiter’s full name and title (check business card spelling)
- Email address (business card or ask directly)
- Specific conversation details (jot these down immediately)
- Company name and positions discussed
- Any specific next steps mentioned
Helpful Details
- What you discussed (specific topics, questions they asked)
- Any personal connection points (shared interests, alumni status)
- What impressed you about the company or conversation
- Questions they encouraged you to follow up on
Pro tip: Make notes immediately after each conversation while details are fresh. A quick note on your phone or in a notebook prevents memory blur after talking to multiple companies.
Elements of an Effective Follow-Up Email
Subject Line
Your subject line should be clear and help the recruiter recall you:
Good examples:
- “Great meeting you at [University/Event] Career Fair – [Your Name]”
- “Following up from [Career Fair Name] – [Position] Interest”
- “Thank you for the conversation – [Your Name] from [Career Fair]”
- “[Career Fair] follow-up: [Your Name], [Your Major/Field]”
Avoid:
- Generic subject lines without your name or event reference
- “Following up” with no context
- Anything that looks like spam
Opening Paragraph
Connect your email to your in-person conversation:
- Reference the specific event and when you met
- Mention a specific topic from your conversation
- Express appreciation for their time
Example: “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me at the Tech Talent Career Fair yesterday. I really enjoyed learning about the associate software developer role and your team’s work on the mobile app redesign you mentioned.”
Body Paragraph(s)
Reinforce your qualifications and connection:
- Highlight relevant experience or skills discussed
- Reference specific things that interest you about the company/role
- Add value beyond what was covered at the fair
- Include any information they requested
Example: “Our conversation reinforced my interest in joining [Company]. The collaborative culture you described aligns with how I work best, and I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to your upcoming product launches. As we discussed, my experience leading the redesign of my university’s event management app would translate well to your mobile team’s projects.”
Closing Paragraph
Create a clear next step:
- Reiterate interest
- Make a specific ask (interview, further conversation)
- Attach resume and relevant materials
- Thank them again
Example: “I’ve attached my resume for your review. I would love the opportunity to discuss how my background could contribute to [Company]‘s goals. Please let me know if there’s any additional information I can provide, and I hope we can continue our conversation soon.”
Signature
Professional and complete:
- Full name
- Phone number
- LinkedIn URL
- Portfolio link (if relevant)
Follow-Up Email Templates
Template 1: General Career Fair Follow-Up
Subject: Great connecting at [Career Fair] – [Your Name]
Dear [Recruiter Name],
Thank you for speaking with me at [Career Fair/Event] yesterday. I enjoyed learning about [Company] and the [Position/Department] opportunities available.
Our conversation about [specific topic discussed] reinforced my excitement about [Company]. I was particularly impressed by [something specific they mentioned], and I believe my experience in [relevant skill/experience] would allow me to contribute meaningfully to your team.
I've attached my resume for your consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my background aligns with [Company]'s needs. Please let me know if there's any additional information I can provide.
Thank you again for your time. I look forward to the possibility of continuing our conversation.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Phone Number]
[LinkedIn URL]Template 2: Referencing Specific Position
Subject: [Position Title] Interest – Follow-up from [Career Fair]
Dear [Recruiter Name],
It was a pleasure meeting you at [Career Fair] on [day]. Thank you for the detailed overview of the [Position Title] role and what [Company] is looking for in candidates.
The position aligns closely with my background in [relevant field]. As we discussed, my experience with [specific skill/project] has prepared me well for the responsibilities you outlined, particularly [specific duty mentioned]. I'm especially drawn to [Company]'s [specific attribute: culture, mission, projects, etc.].
I've attached my resume and would be happy to provide any additional materials you need. I've also applied through [Company]'s career portal as you suggested.
I would welcome the opportunity to interview for this position. Please let me know if there are any next steps I should follow.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Phone Number]
[LinkedIn URL]Template 3: Following Up on Specific Conversation Point
Subject: Following up on our [topic] conversation – [Your Name]
Dear [Recruiter Name],
Thank you for the engaging conversation at [Career Fair] yesterday. I particularly appreciated your insights about [specific topic or question they answered].
You mentioned that [specific point they made], which really resonated with my experience in [related experience]. I've been thinking about how my [relevant skill or project] could contribute to [Company]'s work in this area.
As promised, I've attached my resume along with [any additional material discussed: portfolio, writing samples, etc.]. I'm very interested in exploring opportunities with [Company] and would love to continue our conversation.
Please let me know if there's anything else I can provide or any next steps I should take.
Thank you again for your time.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Phone Number]
[LinkedIn URL]Template 4: When You Met Multiple People
Subject: Thank you, [Company] team – [Career Fair] follow-up
Dear [Primary Contact Name],
Thank you for speaking with me at [Career Fair]. I also enjoyed meeting [Other Team Member Names] and learning about the different opportunities at [Company].
The insights your team shared about [Company]'s culture and the [Department/Role] really stood out to me. I'm particularly excited about [specific aspect discussed].
I've attached my resume and applied through your online portal for the [Position Title]. If there's a specific team member I should follow up with regarding the [Position] role, please let me know.
Thank you again to you and your colleagues for representing [Company] so well. I hope to have the opportunity to continue the conversation.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Phone Number]
[LinkedIn URL]Template 5: Brief, Efficient Follow-Up
Subject: [Your Name] – [Career Fair] Follow-Up
Dear [Recruiter Name],
Thank you for speaking with me at yesterday's [Career Fair]. I enjoyed learning about [Company] and the [Position/opportunity] we discussed.
I've attached my resume and completed my application through [Company]'s career site. I would welcome the chance to interview and discuss how my [relevant skill/experience] could benefit your team.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Phone Number]
[LinkedIn URL]Personalizing Your Follow-Up
Generic follow-ups are less effective than personalized ones:
Reference Specific Conversation Points
Not: “Thank you for talking to me about your company.”
Better: “Thank you for explaining how [Company]‘s data science team collaborates with product managers. That cross-functional approach is exactly the environment where I do my best work.”
Mention Something They Said
Not: “I learned a lot about the position.”
Better: “When you mentioned that new analysts start by rotating through different business units, it reinforced my interest—I thrive when learning different aspects of a business.”
Connect to Their Specific Needs
Not: “I think I’d be good for this job.”
Better: “Based on our conversation about the team’s Python workflow challenges, I believe my experience developing automated testing processes could contribute immediately.”
What to Attach
Always Include
- Updated resume (tailored to the role/company if possible)
Include When Relevant
- Cover letter (especially if applying to a specific position)
- Portfolio samples (creative roles)
- Project documentation (technical roles)
- Writing samples (communications/marketing roles)
File Format Tips
- Use PDF format for consistent appearance
- Name files professionally: “FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf”
- Keep file sizes reasonable
Resources like 0portfolio.com can help you prepare professional materials that enhance your follow-up communications.
If You Don’t Have Their Email
Sometimes you leave a career fair without direct email addresses:
Alternative Approaches
Check LinkedIn: Many recruiters are on LinkedIn. Send a connection request with a personalized message referencing your conversation.
Company career portal: Apply through the official channel and reference your conversation in the application.
General recruiting email: Many companies have careers@ or recruiting@ addresses. Use these if no personal email is available.
Call the company: You can call the main line and ask for the recruiting department.
LinkedIn Connection Request Message
Hi [Name], I enjoyed speaking with you at [Career Fair] about [topic/position]. I'd love to connect and continue the conversation. Thank you for your time yesterday!Common Follow-Up Mistakes
Mistakes to Avoid
Sending generic templates: Personalization is key to standing out.
Waiting too long: Strike while the conversation is fresh.
Writing too much: Keep it concise. Recruiters are busy.
Forgetting to attach your resume: Double-check before sending.
Poor email formatting: Use professional formatting, proper spelling, and grammar.
Wrong name or company: Triple-check you’re sending to the right person and haven’t copied the wrong template.
Being too casual: Maintain professional tone even if conversation was friendly.
Demanding or presumptuous language: Request opportunities; don’t demand them.
After Sending: What’s Next?
What to Expect
- Quick response: Some recruiters respond within days with next steps
- Delayed response: Many recruiters need time to review all candidates
- No response: Unfortunately common—don’t take it personally
How to Handle No Response
If you don’t hear back within two weeks:
One follow-up is appropriate:
Subject: Re: [Original Subject Line]
Hi [Name],
I wanted to follow up on my email from [date] regarding [position/opportunity]. I remain very interested in [Company] and would welcome any opportunity to continue our conversation.
Please let me know if there's any additional information I can provide or if there are other steps I should take.
Thank you for your time.
Best regards,
[Your Name]After two follow-ups: Move on. Continue applying through other channels if interested in the company.
Stay Connected
Even if this particular opportunity doesn’t work out:
- Connect on LinkedIn
- Watch for future openings
- Remember positive contacts for future reference
- Career fairs repeat—you may see the same recruiters again
Conclusion
Career fair follow-up emails are often the difference between a forgotten conversation and a real opportunity. By following up promptly with personalized, professional messages, you demonstrate the initiative and attention to detail that employers value.
Remember the key principles:
- Send within 24-48 hours while memories are fresh
- Reference specific conversation points to stand out
- Keep it professional but personalized
- Attach your resume and relevant materials
- Create clear next steps
The career fair opened the door. Your follow-up keeps it open and moves you toward opportunities.
Tools like 0portfolio.com can help ensure your resume and professional materials are ready to impress when you follow up. Combined with thoughtful, timely communication, you’ll maximize every career fair conversation.
Every connection you make is a potential opportunity. Make sure you follow through.
