By: Christina Van Dewater
You logged off from the virtual fair with a few recruiter conversations and maybe some new LinkedIn connections. That’s a good start. What you do next matters just as much, and it’s where a lot of job seekers drop the ball. If you know how to follow up after a virtual fair, you give recruiters a reason to remember you after a long day of chats.
Write Down Your Notes Right Away
First, write things down the same day as the virtual fair, ideally within the hour. Note each recruiter’s name, their company, the role you discussed and anything they asked you to do next. After five or six conversations, the details start to run together, and those details are exactly what you’ll use in your follow-up.
Send a Thank-You Message Within 24 Hours
Next, send a quick note the following day. It doesn’t need to be long. In fact, three or four sentences is plenty:
- Thank them and name the event
- Mention something specific you talked about
- Say again that you’re interested in the role
- Include your resume if they asked for it
No email address? Instead, send a LinkedIn connection request with a short note so they know where you met.
Apply Where You Were Asked To
If a recruiter sent you to a specific posting, apply soon and use that exact link or job number. That way, it’s much easier for them to match your application to your conversation. It also doesn’t hurt to mention in your cover letter that you met the team at the virtual fair.
Tailor Your Resume to What You Learned
Recruiters often tell you what they’re looking for, so use it. For example, if someone kept coming back to teamwork or customer service, make sure your resume shows that experience, in words close to the ones they used. That will land better than sending the same resume everywhere.
Follow Up Again Two Weeks After the Virtual Fair
Heard nothing after two weeks? Then one short check-in is fine. Let them know you’re still interested, share any update (maybe you finished the application or earned a certification) and ask if they need anything else from you. If there’s still no reply after that, move on and put your energy into other leads.
Keep Track of Every Connection
Finally, keep a simple spreadsheet: name, company, date and what you agreed to do next. It keeps you organized when you attend more than one virtual fair, and it also makes reaching back out months later a lot less awkward. Getting ready for your next event? Read our tips for standing out at a virtual event.
Conclusion
Showing up to the virtual fair gets you noticed. However, following up is what gets you the interview. So take a few minutes after each event to send those messages, and you’ll already be ahead of many of the other candidates you met there.
Before the event, take time to write an elevator pitch for a virtual fair so you can introduce yourself with confidence.
Related reading
- Job Searching Tips for Recent Grads
- How to Negotiate Your Salary
- You Can’t Beat the Personal Connection!
- How to Write an Elevator Pitch for a Virtual Fair
CareerEco virtual fairs and admissions events are free to attend for job seekers and students. Browse upcoming CareerEco events.