Following Up After a Virtual Career Fair Without Being Awkward
You attended a virtual career fair, spoke with a few recruiters, and found an employer or role that genuinely interested you. Now comes the part many job seekers overthink: following up.
Should you send an email? Connect on LinkedIn? Mention the job you applied for? What happens if the recruiter does not remember you?
A follow-up does not need to feel forced. Recruiters meet many candidates during a career fair, so a brief message can help them remember your conversation and connect your name with your resume. CareerOneStop recommends following up by email, reminding the contact who you are, and referencing something specific you discussed.
The goal is to continue the conversation without placing pressure on the recruiter.
Follow Up While the Conversation Is Still Fresh
Try to send your first message within 24 to 48 hours of the event. This gives you enough time to write a thoughtful note while making it more likely that the recruiter will remember speaking with you.
You do not need to send the message five minutes after the event ends. Take a moment to review your notes, check the employer’s open positions, and confirm the spelling of the recruiter’s name.
Before writing, identify:
- The recruiter or company representative you spoke with
- The position, team, or career area you discussed
- One memorable detail from the conversation
- The next step the recruiter recommended
These details make your message feel personal without making it long.
Remind Them Who You Are
A recruiter may have spoken with dozens of candidates during the event. Do not begin your message as though they automatically remember your name and background.
Briefly reintroduce yourself and mention the virtual career fair.
For example:
It was great speaking with you during the TalentAlly Virtual Career Fair yesterday. I’m the marketing coordinator who asked about the content strategist position and the team’s approach to campaign planning.
That one sentence gives the recruiter enough context to place the conversation.
Keep your introduction brief. Mention one or two details that help the recruiter remember your conversation, then move on to your interest in the role.
Mention Something Specific
Generic messages are easy to ignore:
Thank you for speaking with me. I am interested in opportunities at your company.
A specific message feels much more natural:
I appreciated learning that the customer success team works closely with product and sales. That kind of cross-functional environment is one of the reasons I’m interested in the Customer Success Associate role.
Indeed recommends mentioning a specific position and connecting your experience to what the employer is seeking.
You can reference:
- A role the recruiter recommended
- A skill the team needs
- Something you learned about the hiring process
- A project or department discussed during the conversation
- A question the recruiter answered
Specificity shows that you were paying attention. It also gives the recruiter a clear reason to respond.
Make One Clear Ask
Your message does not need to end with a major request. Asking a recruiter to schedule a call, review your resume, refer you internally, and provide an application update in the same email creates unnecessary pressure.
Choose one simple next step.
You might say:
I applied for the position this morning and wanted to reiterate my interest.
I would be glad to provide any additional information that would be helpful.
Is there anything you recommend highlighting in my application?
I would appreciate staying connected as the team continues hiring.
A clear, low-pressure question makes the message easier to answer.
Keep the Message Short
Recruiters often scan follow-up emails between other responsibilities. A message of approximately 100 to 150 words is usually enough to thank them, provide context, express interest, and mention a next step.
Harvard’s virtual career fair guidance recommends sending a thank-you email, restating how your background fits the employer’s needs, and considering a LinkedIn connection with the contacts you met.
Here is a simple email example:
Subject: Great Speaking With You at the Virtual Career Fair
Hi Jordan,
It was great speaking with you during yesterday’s virtual career fair. I appreciated learning more about the Operations Analyst position, especially the team’s focus on improving internal processes.
My experience tracking project data and coordinating across departments appears closely aligned with the role. I submitted my application this morning and wanted to reiterate my interest.
Thank you again for your time. I would be happy to provide any additional information that would be helpful.
Best,
Taylor Morgan
Connecting on LinkedIn
LinkedIn can be useful when you do not have the recruiter’s email address or when you want to maintain a professional connection after the event.
Add a short note to your connection request:
Hi Jordan, it was great speaking with you during the virtual career fair today. I enjoyed learning more about the operations team and would be glad to stay connected.
Do not paste your entire email into the connection request. Once they accept, you can send a slightly longer message if there is a relevant update, such as submitting an application.
What If They Do Not Respond?
A missing response may simply mean the recruiter is busy with applications, interviews, or internal hiring updates.
When you have already applied, wait about one to two weeks before sending one additional message unless the recruiter provided a specific timeline. Your second follow-up can be brief:
Hi Jordan, I wanted to follow up on my application for the Operations Analyst role. I remain very interested in the opportunity and would be glad to provide any additional information. Thank you again for speaking with me at the virtual career fair.
After that, continue applying and exploring other opportunities. Repeated messages every few days are unlikely to improve your chances.
Final Thoughts
A strong career fair follow-up is brief, specific, and easy to answer. Remind the recruiter where you met, reference the conversation, express interest in a relevant opportunity, and suggest one reasonable next step.
TalentAlly helps job seekers explore opportunities, connect with employers, and access career resources.
