Published: Jun 12th, 2023

Job fairs are great opportunities for job seekers, recruiters, and employers to explore their options. These events can help you make connections in your industry, lock down interviews with sought-after companies, and ultimately, get hired.

While shaking hands and making small talk is an essential first step, what you do afterward is arguably the most crucial: send a career fair follow-up email.

Does sending a thank-you email after a job fair really make a difference? And if so, what's the best way to go about it? Read on for answers, along with tips and best practices for crafting follow-up career fair emails.

Career fair follow-up email example

Knowing the right job fair follow-up steps and best practices is undoubtedly helpful, but sometimes, you just need to look at a good example. Here's what a solid follow-up email looks like.

Subject: Following up on our chat at the JobFairX event

Hi Dr. Meyers,

I'm Marie Yun, a recent University of Oregon magna cum laude graduate.

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me at yesterday's JobFairX job fair. It was exciting to hear what's ahead for OHSU Research and Innovation, and I'd be thrilled to be considered for a career opportunity at the academic health center.

Please see my attached resume, along with a list of professional references.

Thanks again for your time.

Best,

Marie Yun

Medical Research Assistant

555-555-5555

That’s a clean, perfect job fair follow-up email sample. Now that you’ve seen it, here’s how to make it yours:

How to write a career fair follow-up email

Here’s how to follow up with a recruiter after a career fair.

When sending follow-up emails after a career fair, be sure to:

See a detailed breakdown of each point below.

1. Make sure you're emailing the right person

Before drafting the note, make sure you're emailing the correct person. Ideally, the recruiter or hiring manager gave you a business card with their email address at the job fair. If not, you might have to dig around on the company website.

2. Get their title and name right

Misspelling someone's name is an honest mistake, but it's not one you want to make when sending a thank-you email after a job fair. Double-check the spelling on their business card, the company website, or potentially their LinkedIn profile. If they hold a specific title or credentials, be sure to address them as such (Dr., Professor, etc.).

3. Craft a solid subject line

What should your thank-you email after a career fair subject line say? In addition to proper spelling and grammar, the most important thing is that it's simple and straightforward.

For instance, "Thanks for connecting at the job fair" or "Following up on our chat at the JobFairX Job Fair."

4. Remind them who you are

After addressing the recruiter in the email, start by reminding them who you are. Hiring managers meet lots of potential candidates at these types of events, and you can assume they had several conversations similar to yours.

State your full name and your current position or educational enrollment. For example, you might say, "I'm Sarah Evans, a graduate student at Georgia Tech."

5. Thank them for their time at the job fair

Now to the primary purpose of the email: saying thank you. After addressing the recruiter and reintroducing yourself, you'll want to express your gratitude for connecting.

For example, you could say, "It was great connecting with you at the event. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat."

6. Show your interest in working for the company

Next, communicate your interest in working for the organization. While you want to be earnest and express enthusiasm, it's best to keep this part short. One to two sentences should be plenty.

For instance, you might say, "I'd love to learn more about the openings at [company name] and would be thrilled to be considered.” Or you could say, "It was great learning about the innovations [company name] is contributing to the industry. I think I'd be an excellent fit and would love to set up a time to chat more about the position."

7. Close with another thank you

Before signing off, close your thank-you email after a job fair with one more thank you. This can be something as simple as "Thanks again for your time" or "Thank you for your consideration."

8. Make sure they have your contact details

If your email account doesn't automatically display your contact information in the signature line, include it at the bottom after signing off. Provide your full name, email address, phone number, and potentially a link to your portfolio.

How to follow up after a career fair: best practices

Now that you know the general steps and primary components of writing a job fair follow-up email, let's go over a few best practices.

Email within 24 hours of the event

First, we strongly recommend following up within 24 hours of the career fair. Why? It's safe to assume hiring managers receive dozens or even hundreds of emails after events. You'll stand out from other candidates by being one of the first to show up in their inbox. Being first shows initiative and genuine interest.

Keep it short and to the point

You might think showering the recruiter with ample praise about the company or going into detail about your credentials will boost your chances of getting a response. But a shorter thank-you email after a job fair is best.

Remember that recruiters are busy and likely inundated with emails, especially in the days following a career fair. Don't make their job harder by writing a lengthy letter with drawn-out paragraphs. Be direct but polite, and keep it short and to the point.

Use professional language

Brief doesn't mean casual when it comes to sending thank-you emails after a job fair. Use professional language, write in complete sentences, and avoid slang words at all costs.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Some startups and millennial-run companies are a bit more laid-back and may welcome casual jargon. It's good to know your audience, but when in doubt, always err on the formal side.

Read it over a few times

Before hitting the send button, make sure to proofread the email multiple times. It can help to read it aloud. Or come back to the draft after a few hours to look over it again with fresh eyes. You might also consider running it through proofreading software like Grammarly.

The importance of sending a thank-you email after a job fair

Now that you know how to write a follow-up email after a career fair, let's touch on the importance of sending one.

If you ask us, thank-you letters are supremely underrated in the modern world — and not just in professional settings. Whether for attending an event, offering assistance, giving a gift, or meeting for a job interview, stating your appreciation is classy, gracious, and won't go unnoticed.

Boost your hiring odds

Recruiters go to job fairs looking for candidates to fill open positions. However, that doesn't mean you're a shoo-in just for attending — even if you had a great conversation with a potential employer.

These events are more like introductions, offering a way for company representatives to mingle with candidates and for job seekers to explore various career paths. While it's possible a hiring manager will reach out on their own, you shouldn't bet on it.

Stay top of mind

Sending a thank-you email after a job fair not only shows courtesy and professionalism, but it also helps jog the recruiter's memory. (Like you, they probably connected with dozens of people at the event and may not have everyone's faces and names down.)

Writing a follow-up email after a job fair also gives you an opportunity to link your portfolio or attach your resume. It provides the company with a way to contact you directly. Additionally, it allows you to reiterate your interest in working for them, which is vital for landing a job.

Take your professional future into your own hands, starting with a career fair thank-you letter.

What to do if you don't get a response

So, what if you don't hear back from the recruiter? If you don't get a response within a couple of days or even a week, don't sweat it. Not only are hiring managers often very busy, but they're also probably sifting through mounds of emails. And in some cases, it can take several weeks to fill an open position.

Generally speaking, you'll want to avoid following up again too soon. But if it's been two or more weeks since you sent the initial email, you can send a short message to get back to the top of their inbox.

JobFairX is here for your next career move

Sending a thank-you email after a job fair might be one of the most critical career moves you make. But crafting a straightforward, earnest, and prompt message takes relatively little effort and can have a big payoff.

Want to network with more potential employers in your city? Check out the job fairs near you.