This is the main banner for the blog post, "Career Fair Follow-Up Emails that Impress." On the left side of the banner, there is an image cutout of a hand holding a phone. Above the image cutout is an email icon of an envelope with an "@" sign in the middle of the it. There are subtle triangle design elements behind the photo cutout and icon. On the right side of the banner is the text, "Career Fair Follow-Up Emails that Impress."

Feeling pumped up after talking with recruiters about inspiring opportunities at a career fair? To stay fresh in their mind, it’s important to send a follow-up email.

Why is it Important to Send a Follow-Up Email After a Career Fair?

Sending a message helps us to stay present in the employer's mind while helping them understand our continued interest in the organization. It also helps remind the employers of any open positions we may have applied to and paves the way to keep in touch with those in the organization for networking and future opportunities.

When Should You Send a Follow-Up Message After a Career Fair?

There is often debate about the best timing for sending these emails. Some say it's advisable to follow up sooner rather than later when you're interested in specific job openings. However, others assert there can also be a benefit to waiting a bit longer as it may provide the opportunity for fostering broader networking and potential future opportunities.

Time your follow-up based on the situation; the same day or next day when there is a specific job opportunity involved, but up to one week later if your primary goal is to network.

Tips for Writing a Professional Follow-Up Message After a Career Fair

Collect Recruiter’s Information: Confirm the correct contact details by asking for the recruiter’s business card or contact information.
Confirm Ideal Follow-Up Method: Note the recruiter’s preferred communication channel and contact information.
Professional Tone: When opening the message, keep the salutation professional (avoid “Hey”) and use the correct title (Mr./Ms./Mx.). If their title or preferred pronouns are unknown, use their full name.

Templates for Follow-Up Emails

Please feel free to use these templates accordingly to build strong connections and leverage opportunities that advance your career path!

Template 1: Follow Up Email After a Career Fair – Open Position

Subject Line: [Position Title] Follow Up

Dear Mr./Ms./Mx. Last Name or First Name Last Name,

Mention about the meeting at [Name of Career Fair] and thank them for their time. Mention something that may jog their memory about you specifically.

Mention something you learned about the position you want to apply to and reiterate your interest in the position and how you align to it.

Mention how you would like to stay in touch/hear back from them.

Best,/Regards,/Thank you,
Your First Name Your Last Name

Example:

Dear Sofia Garcia,

I appreciate you spending a few minutes of your time with me at the University of Utah Fall Career Fair on MM/DD/YYYY. It was a pleasure meeting you and realizing we have a common connection, my marketing professor, (name).

When we met, we talked about my interest in the Marketing Internship. After talking with you and learning the hiring team is looking for a marketing student who has a focus on branding, which is what I have been focusing on in my current part time job at (XYZ Company), I updated my resume to focus on those accomplishments aligned with what we talked about and have submitted my application on MM/DD/YYYY through your company platform.

I look forward to staying in touch about this and any other positions that align with my interests and skillsets. I look forward to sharing about how my candidacy aligns with your needs for the Marketing Internship. Feel free to reach out to me at XXX-XXX-XXXX or at email@email.com for scheduling an interview.

Thank you,

[Your First Name] [Your Last Name]

Template 2: Follow Up Email After a Career Fair – No Open Position (For future opportunities and/or networking)

Dear Mr./Ms./Mx. Last Name or First Name Last Name,

Mention about the meeting at [Name of Career Fair] and thank them for their time. Mention something that may jog their memory about you specifically.

Mention something you learned about the company during the discussion and how you resonate with their mission/vision/values, or other points that were discussed during the career fair interaction.

Reiterate your interest in particular kinds of positions and having the opportunity to network with someone in that area if it is possible. Share the best way for the recruiter and/or contact to reach out to you.

Best, /Regards,/Thank you,
[Your First Name] [Your Last Name]

Example:

Dear Ms. Kahele,

It was a pleasure to spend a few minutes with you at the University of Utah Career Fair yesterday. When we met, I was excited to know you were also an alumnus of the U who was a top ranking gymnast during your time here. You are an inspiration to me as I am in my second year as a Red Rock.

As a double major in Criminology and Psychology with a strong ambition to pursue a career as a Criminal Analyst upon graduating in two years, I am actively seeking part-time or internship opportunities that will allow me to further develop my skills in this field. While I understand from our conversation there are no relevant open roles at this time, I hope you will keep me in mind for future opportunities. I am sharing my resume for your reference. I would also be grateful if you would be able to connect me with current team members working for your organization that are Criminal Analysts or in similar positions so I can meet with them to discuss their career pathways and what they may feel I can focus on to be prepared for entering this or a similar role upon graduation.

I look forward to staying in touch. Feel free to reach out to me to share future opportunities or to connect me with your colleagues at email@email.com or XXX-XXX-XXXX. Thank you for your time and support.

Regards,

[Your First Name] [Your Last Name]

To help you get ready for the career fair to feel successful and confident during the event itself, see our blog on how to Maximize Success at Career Fairs or listen to our podcast “Career Fairs — Strategies for Career Fair Success.”

Follow our events on Handshake to see when our next career fair will be held!

Source: Jenna Rein Zipf of the Intern Hustle. “How to build your network through your Career Fair follow up thank you letter.”