Follow Up Letter After Career Fair
Dear [Recipient's Name],
I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to express my gratitude for the opportunity to meet and speak with you at the [Name of Career Fair] on [Date]. Our conversation left a lasting impression on me, and I am writing to follow up on our discussion regarding potential employment opportunities at [Company Name].
After our conversation, I was thoroughly impressed by [Company Name]'s commitment to innovation and your team's dynamic approach to solving complex challenges. The in-depth knowledge you shared about [Company's Product/Service/Industry] further solidified my interest in joining your organization.
Since the career fair, I have taken the initiative to learn more about [Company Name] by conducting extensive research on your recent projects, company culture, and future goals. The more I discovered, the more convinced I became that my skills and experiences align well with the vision and values of your company.
In particular, my background in [relevant experience/skill #1] and [relevant experience/skill #2] has equipped me with a solid foundation in [mention key areas of expertise]. Additionally, my passion for [Company Name]'s industry and my ability to [mention a relevant accomplishment or project] further contribute to my potential value as a team member.
I am eager to contribute my skills and enthusiasm to [Company Name] and would welcome the opportunity to discuss potential employment possibilities in more detail. I believe that my background and qualifications would be an asset to your team, and I am confident that I can make a meaningful impact.
I have attached my resume for your convenience, which provides more details about my educational background, professional experiences, and accomplishments. I would greatly appreciate it if you could review my application and consider me for any suitable positions that may be available now or in the future.
I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience. I would be honored to meet with you and further discuss how my skills align with the needs of [Company Name]. Please feel free to contact me via email at [Your Email Address] or by phone at [Your Phone Number] to arrange a mutually convenient meeting time.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to the opportunity of speaking with you soon and potentially becoming a part of the remarkable team at [Company Name].
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
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Thank You Email After Career Fair - Professional Follow-Up
Subject: Thank You for Speaking with Me at [Career Fair Name]
Dear [Recruiter Name],
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me at the [Career Fair Name] on [Date]. I enjoyed learning about the [specific position or program] at [Company Name] and discussing how my background in [your field/major] aligns with your team's needs.
Our conversation about [specific topic discussed] reinforced my enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to [specific project or company goal]. I was particularly intrigued by [mention something specific they shared about the role or company].
I have attached my resume for your reference and would welcome the opportunity to continue our conversation. Please let me know if you need any additional information from me.
Thank you again for your time and insights. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email]
[LinkedIn Profile URL]
Follow-Up Email When Recruiter Requested Additional Materials
Subject: Requested Materials - [Your Name] from [Career Fair Name]
Dear [Recruiter Name],
It was a pleasure meeting you at the [Career Fair Name] yesterday. As you requested, I am sending you my [resume/portfolio/transcripts/writing samples] for the [Position Title] role.
During our conversation, you mentioned that [Company Name] is looking for candidates with [specific skills or qualities]. I believe my experience with [relevant experience] makes me a strong fit for this position.
I have attached the requested materials to this email. Please let me know if you need anything else or if you would like to schedule a time to discuss the opportunity further.
Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to the next steps.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email]
Creative Follow-Up Email for Creative Industry Positions
Subject: Following Up on Our Creative Conversation at [Career Fair Name]
Hi [Recruiter Name],
I'm still buzzing from our conversation at [Career Fair Name] on [Date]. Your passion for [specific project or company mission] really resonated with me, and I left that booth knowing I had to reach out.
When you described [specific detail about the role or project], it clicked perfectly with my own work in [your relevant experience]. I'd love to show you how my approach to [specific skill] could bring fresh energy to your team.
I've attached my portfolio so you can see what I mean. I'm particularly proud of [specific project] because [brief reason], and I think it demonstrates the kind of innovative thinking [Company Name] values.
Let's keep this conversation going. I'm excited about the possibility of creating something amazing together.
Cheers,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
[Portfolio Link]
Formal Follow-Up Letter for Competitive Programs or Positions
Subject: Application Follow-Up - [Your Name], [Career Fair Name]
Dear [Recruiter Name/Hiring Manager],
I am writing to express my continued interest in the [specific position/program] at [Company Name] following our meeting at the [Career Fair Name] on [Date].
Our discussion regarding [specific topic] confirmed that my academic background in [your major/field] and professional experience in [relevant area] align well with the qualifications you are seeking. I was especially interested to learn about [specific company initiative or project], as I have been following [Company Name]'s work in this area with great interest.
My experience includes [specific relevant accomplishment or skill], which I believe would enable me to make immediate contributions to your team. I am particularly drawn to [Company Name]'s commitment to [specific company value or mission].
I have submitted my formal application through your company portal as discussed and have attached my updated resume to this correspondence. I would be grateful for the opportunity to further discuss how my qualifications match your needs.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the possibility of joining your organization.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Full Contact Information]
Quick Email When You Forgot to Get Contact Information
Subject: Following Up from [Career Fair Name] - [Your Name]
Dear [Company Name] Recruiting Team,
I had the pleasure of speaking with a member of your team at the [Career Fair Name] on [Date], but unfortunately, I did not catch their name or business card before they moved on to the next student.
We discussed the [specific position or program] and I was very impressed by [specific detail about the company or role]. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to continue that conversation and formally express my interest in joining [Company Name].
Could you please forward this message to the appropriate recruiter, or let me know the best way to follow up on opportunities with your organization?
I have attached my resume for your review. Thank you for your assistance.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Follow-Up Email Mentioning Mutual Connection
Subject: Great Meeting You at [Career Fair Name] - [Mutual Connection Name] Sends Their Regards
Dear [Recruiter Name],
It was wonderful to meet you at the [Career Fair Name] on [Date]. When I mentioned that I know [Mutual Connection Name], I could tell we had an instant connection. [Mutual Connection] has spoken highly of working at [Company Name], which made me even more excited to learn about the opportunities available.
Our conversation about [specific topic] was enlightening, particularly your insights on [specific detail]. My background in [relevant experience] and my passion for [relevant field] make me enthusiastic about potentially joining your team.
[Mutual Connection] mentioned that [relevant detail about company culture or project], which aligns perfectly with my career goals. I would love to continue our conversation and learn more about how I can contribute to [Company Name].
Thank you for your time, and please feel free to reach out to [Mutual Connection] if you would like an additional perspective on my work.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Follow-Up Email When No Immediate Openings Were Available
Subject: Thank You and Future Opportunities - [Your Name]
Dear [Recruiter Name],
Thank you for speaking with me at the [Career Fair Name] on [Date]. While I understand that [Company Name] does not currently have openings that match my background, I wanted to reach out to express my continued interest in your organization.
I was genuinely impressed by [specific aspect of the company or its mission], and I believe my skills in [relevant area] would be valuable to your team when the right opportunity arises.
Would it be possible to keep my information on file for future openings? I am graduating in [month/year] and am particularly interested in roles related to [specific area of interest].
I have attached my resume and would appreciate any advice you might have about preparing for future opportunities with [Company Name].
Thank you again for your time and insights.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Enthusiastic Follow-Up Email for Recent Graduates
Subject: Following Up with Excitement - [Your Name] from [Career Fair Name]
Hi [Recruiter Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to reach out after our energizing conversation at the [Career Fair Name] on [Date].
I've been researching [Company Name] even more since we talked, and I'm genuinely excited about the [position name] opportunity. Everything I've learned reinforces that this role is exactly where I want to start my career.
What stood out most from our conversation was [specific detail]. As someone who is passionate about [relevant interest], I know I could bring fresh perspectives and eager energy to your team. My coursework in [relevant area] and my internship experience with [previous experience] have prepared me well for this challenge.
I'm ready to dive in and learn from the best. I've attached my resume and would love to discuss next steps whenever you're available.
Thank you for taking the time to speak with eager students like me. It means a lot.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Why Follow-Up Letters After Career Fairs Are Essential
- Career fairs are crowded events where recruiters meet dozens or even hundreds of candidates in a single day
- A follow-up letter helps you stand out from the crowd and reminds recruiters of your specific conversation
- Demonstrates professionalism, initiative, and genuine interest in the company and position
- Provides an opportunity to share information you may have forgotten to mention during the brief career fair interaction
- Allows you to attach additional materials like resumes, portfolios, or transcripts that the recruiter requested
- Keeps the momentum going and moves your candidacy forward in the hiring process
- Shows that you have strong communication skills and follow-through abilities
- Creates a written record of your interest that can be forwarded to hiring managers
Elements and Structure of an Effective Career Fair Follow-Up Letter
- Subject Line: Should include your name, the career fair name, and the date or position of interest for easy identification
- Greeting: Use the recruiter's name if you obtained it; otherwise, address it to the recruiting team
- Opening Paragraph: Thank them for their time and reference the specific career fair and date
- Connection Paragraph: Mention something specific from your conversation to jog their memory
- Value Proposition: Explain why you're a good fit and what you can contribute to their organization
- Call to Action: Request next steps, express interest in further conversation, or confirm completion of requested actions
- Professional Closing: Use appropriate sign-offs like "Best regards," "Sincerely," or "Best"
- Contact Information: Include phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile URL
- Attachments: Resume, portfolio, or any materials the recruiter requested
- Tone: Professional yet personable, enthusiastic but not desperate
When to Send Your Career Fair Follow-Up Letter
- Ideal timing: Within 24-48 hours of the career fair while your conversation is still fresh in the recruiter's mind
- Same evening: Acceptable for highly competitive positions or if the recruiter specifically asked for immediate follow-up
- Within one week: Maximum timeframe; beyond this, your follow-up loses its impact and relevance
- After submitting application: When the recruiter asked you to apply through their system first
- When materials are ready: If you need to complete your portfolio or update your resume before sending
- Multiple recruiters: Send individual, personalized emails to each recruiter you spoke with at different companies
- Same company, different recruiters: Send separate emails referencing your specific conversation with each
- Follow-up to follow-up: Wait 1-2 weeks before sending a second follow-up if you haven't received a response
Who Should Send Career Fair Follow-Up Letters
- Current college students who attended campus or regional career fairs
- Recent graduates seeking employment within their field
- Career changers who attended industry-specific recruitment events
- Graduate students looking for internships, co-ops, or full-time positions
- Anyone who had a meaningful conversation with a recruiter and received contact information
- Candidates who were asked to submit additional materials or follow up with specific information
- Job seekers who want to express continued interest in companies that didn't have immediate openings
- Students who forgot to get complete contact information but want to reconnect
- Professionals attending industry conferences with recruitment components
How to Write an Effective Career Fair Follow-Up Letter
- Review any notes you took immediately after each conversation while details are fresh
- Research the company further to add informed comments to your follow-up
- Personalize each letter based on your specific conversation rather than using generic templates
- Reference concrete details from your discussion to help the recruiter remember you
- Keep the message concise—recruiters are busy and appreciate brevity
- Proofread carefully for any spelling or grammatical errors
- Use the recruiter's name and correct title if you collected their business card
- Match your tone to the company culture (more formal for traditional industries, more casual for startups)
- Include specific examples of your relevant skills or experiences
- Attach only the documents that were requested or are directly relevant
- Send from a professional email address, ideally one with your name
- Use a clear subject line that makes it easy for the recruiter to find your email later
Requirements and Prerequisites Before Sending Your Follow-Up
- Business card or contact information from the recruiter (name, email, title)
- Notes from your conversation including specific topics discussed and position titles mentioned
- Updated resume tailored to the position or company
- Portfolio, work samples, or other materials if requested or relevant to the role
- Professional email address (avoid unprofessional usernames)
- Correct spelling of the recruiter's name and company name
- Completion of any actions the recruiter requested (such as applying through their portal)
- Research about the company to add relevant insights to your letter
- LinkedIn profile that is complete and professional (since you'll likely include the URL)
- Clear understanding of the position title or program name you're interested in
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Career Fair Follow-Ups
- Sending generic, templated messages that could apply to any company
- Waiting too long to send the follow-up (more than a week)
- Forgetting to attach your resume or other requested materials
- Misspelling the recruiter's name, company name, or position title
- Writing an overly long email that takes too much time to read
- Being too casual or informal for traditional industries
- Appearing desperate or overly aggressive in your tone
- Failing to mention anything specific from your conversation
- Sending the follow-up to the wrong person or company (mixing up conversations)
- Using an unprofessional email address
- Including salary requirements or demands in the initial follow-up
- Neglecting to proofread for typos and grammatical errors
- Attaching files that are too large or in incompatible formats
- Following up too frequently if you don't receive an immediate response
- Being dishonest or exaggerating your qualifications
Tips and Best Practices for Career Fair Follow-Up Success
- Take detailed notes immediately after each conversation, including the recruiter's name and key discussion points
- Collect business cards from every recruiter you speak with
- Take a photo of the company booth or banner to help you remember which companies you visited
- Set phone reminders to send follow-ups within the 24-48 hour window
- Create a tracking spreadsheet with company names, recruiter contacts, and follow-up status
- Reference your conversation naturally without forcing it—authenticity matters
- Express genuine enthusiasm rather than generic interest
- Use action-oriented language that suggests next steps
- Keep your email to 3-4 short paragraphs maximum
- Include a clear call to action so the recruiter knows what you're requesting
- Follow the company's preferred application method if they specified one
- Connect with the recruiter on LinkedIn after sending your email
- Use email tracking tools to see if your message was opened
- Save copies of all follow-up emails you send for your records
Formatting Guidelines for Career Fair Follow-Up Letters
- Length: Keep the email to 150-250 words or 3-4 paragraphs
- Tone: Professional but warm; enthusiastic without being desperate
- Format: Standard business email format with proper greeting and closing
- Font: Use default email fonts; avoid unusual formatting if sending through application systems
- Subject Line: 50-70 characters maximum for mobile readability
- Paragraphs: Short and scannable with white space between them
- Attachments: PDF format for resume; label files professionally (FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf)
- Signature: Include full contact information in a professional email signature
- Mobile Optimization: Remember that many recruiters read emails on phones
- Timing: Send during business hours (Tuesday-Thursday, 9 AM-4 PM is optimal)
- File Size: Keep total attachment size under 5MB
- Links: Use hyperlinked text rather than long URLs for portfolio or LinkedIn
What to Do After Sending Your Follow-Up Letter
- Mark your calendar to follow up again if you haven't heard back in 1-2 weeks
- Continue applying to other positions and companies while waiting for responses
- Connect with the recruiter on LinkedIn with a brief, personalized message
- Complete any formal application processes that were discussed
- Prepare for potential phone screens or interviews by researching common questions
- Keep your email notifications on so you can respond quickly if they reply
- Update your tracking spreadsheet with the date you sent the follow-up
- Resist the urge to send multiple follow-ups within the first week
- Continue networking and attending other career events
- If you receive a positive response, reply promptly and professionally
- If you don't hear back after 2 weeks, send one polite follow-up email
- After a second follow-up with no response, move on and focus on other opportunities
- Stay positive and don't take silence personally—recruiters manage high volumes of candidates
Pros and Cons of Sending Career Fair Follow-Up Letters
Advantages:
- Significantly increases your chances of being remembered among hundreds of candidates
- Demonstrates professionalism and communication skills
- Provides opportunity to share forgotten information or correct misunderstandings
- Shows genuine interest and initiative
- Creates a written record that can be forwarded to hiring managers
- Allows you to reinforce your qualifications
- Opens the door for continued conversation and relationship building
- Relatively low effort with potentially high return on investment
Disadvantages:
- Takes time to personalize each message for multiple companies
- No guarantee of response even with a well-crafted follow-up
- Risk of typos or errors if rushed
- Can seem overeager if follow-up is poorly timed or too aggressive
- May be ignored if the recruiter doesn't remember the conversation
- Requires accurate contact information which isn't always obtained
- Can create awkwardness if you send to the wrong person
Comparing Career Fair Follow-Ups to Other Networking Methods
Career Fair Follow-Up vs. Cold Email:
- Follow-up leverages an existing conversation; cold emails start from scratch
- Follow-ups have higher response rates due to prior personal interaction
- Cold emails require more research and longer introductions
Career Fair Follow-Up vs. LinkedIn Connection:
- Email follow-up is more direct and action-oriented
- LinkedIn is less formal and better for long-term relationship building
- Best practice is to use both methods in sequence
Career Fair Follow-Up vs. Phone Call:
- Email is less intrusive and allows recruiter to respond on their schedule
- Phone calls can be more personal but risk catching recruiter at bad time
- Email provides written record while phone calls do not
Career Fair Follow-Up vs. In-Person Office Visit:
- Email is appropriate for initial follow-up; office visits are for later stages
- Office visits require invitation; emails can be sent proactively
- Email is less resource-intensive for both parties
Alternatives to Traditional Follow-Up:
- Sending a LinkedIn article relevant to your conversation
- Connecting via company's formal application portal
- Attending company information sessions or webinars
- Requesting informational interviews with company employees
Frequently Asked Questions About Career Fair Follow-Ups
Should I send a follow-up if I didn't get the recruiter's business card? Yes, send an email to the general recruiting address found on the company website and explain the situation.
What if I spoke with multiple recruiters from the same company? Send individual, personalized emails to each recruiter you spoke with.
Is it okay to follow up if the recruiter seemed disinterested? Yes, they may have been tired or busy. Your follow-up might be viewed more favorably.
Should I mention other companies I'm considering? No, focus solely on your interest in their company without mentioning competitors.
What if I realize I gave incorrect information during our conversation? Address it directly and briefly in your follow-up, then move forward positively.
How long should I wait for a response before following up again? Wait 1-2 weeks before sending a second, brief follow-up email.
Should I send my follow-up over the weekend? No, send during business hours Tuesday-Thursday for best visibility.
Is it appropriate to ask about salary or benefits in the follow-up? No, save compensation discussions for later stages of the interview process.
What if the recruiter told everyone at the booth the same information? Find something unique from your conversation or your background to personalize the message.
