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How to Follow Up With a Recruiter After a Career Fair

By Ellie Grant, founder of GoPassy · Updated September 11, 2026

Follow up within 24 hours with a short LinkedIn message or email that reminds the recruiter who you are, mentions something specific from your conversation, and says what you’ll do next, like applying to a role they mentioned. Keep it under 100 words.

Before you leave the booth

• Get their name and ask how they prefer to be contacted, LinkedIn or email.
• Make it easy for them to find you. Let them scan your LinkedIn QR code, so you’re one tap from a connection request.
• Write down one detail right after you walk away: a role, a team, or something you both laughed about.

A LinkedIn note you can copy

LinkedIn keeps connection notes short, so two sentences is plenty:

Hi [Name], it was great meeting you at the [Event] today and hearing about [detail]. I’m applying to the [Role] and would love to stay in touch!

An email you can copy

Subject: Great meeting you at [Event]

Hi [Name],

Thanks for talking with me at [Event] today. I enjoyed hearing about [detail], and it made me even more excited about [Company]. I’ve applied to the [Role] and attached my resume.

Thanks again,
[Your name]
[LinkedIn or portfolio link]

What makes a follow-up work

• Speed: within 24 hours, while they still remember you.
• One specific detail, which proves you were listening and helps them place you.
• A clear next step, such as the role you applied to or the question you’d like answered.
• Brevity: recruiters meet hundreds of students at a fair, so short messages get read.

If you don’t hear back

Wait about a week, then send one short, friendly nudge that mentions your application. If there’s still no reply, move on. Silence usually means they’re busy, not that you did something wrong.

Getting ready for the next one? Use the career fair checklist.

Questions people ask

How soon should I follow up after a career fair?

Within 24 hours. Recruiters meet a lot of people at a fair, and a quick follow-up keeps you top of mind.

Should I follow up on LinkedIn or by email?

Use whichever the recruiter prefers. If you don’t know, a LinkedIn connection note is a good default, and email works well when you’re attaching a resume.

What if I forgot the recruiter’s name?

Check the career fair’s employer list, then search the company’s LinkedIn page for recruiters. Seeing their photo usually jogs your memory.

How many times should I follow up?

Once right after the fair, and one polite nudge about a week later. More than that can come across as pushy.