The Career Fair Is Over. Here’s How Your Student Turns Conversations Into Interviews.
Career fairs often create a false finish line. Your student shows up, talks to recruiters, collects some swag, and comes home exhausted. They feel like the work is done. But for the recruiter, the work is just beginning—and your student is currently just one name in a stack of three hundred.
The Reality: The career fair was the introduction. The follow-up is the conversion.
If your student sends a generic "Thanks for your time" message, they will be forgotten. If they send a High-Signal Follow-Up, they earn the interview.
The 7-Day Conversion Plan
Day 0: The "Memory Dump"
Details fade in hours. Before they go to sleep, your student needs to record four things for every company they liked:
Recruiter Name: (Check LinkedIn or the fair map if they forgot).
The "Hook": One specific thing discussed (a sports team, a specific project, a city).
The Role: The exact title of the internship or program.
The Proof: One specific achievement the student mentioned.
Day 1–2: The "Anchor" Follow-Up
The goal isn't just "staying in touch." It’s providing a mental anchor so the recruiter can place their face.
The Follow-Up Script (Email or LinkedIn):
Subject: [School Name] Career Fair / [Student Name] — [Role Name]
"Hi [Name], I enjoyed speaking with you at the [School] fair about [The Hook]. I am officially applying for the [Role Name] today.
I wanted to highlight one specific fit: [One-sentence proof point with a result].
What is the best next step to ensure my application reaches the right hiring team?"
Day 3–5: The "Referral Anchor" Application
When applying online, your student should never submit "cold." Most applications have a "How did you hear about us?" section.
The Power Move: Select "Career Fair" and, if there is a text box, write: "Met with [Recruiter Name] at [University] Fair on [Date]. Discussed [Specific Team]."
Day 6–7: The "Value-Add" (The Second Touch)
If they haven't heard back, it’s not time to panic—it's time to provide value.
The Script: "Hi [Name], following up on my application for [Role]. I recently [completed a project/read an article about the company/earned a certification] that relates to what we discussed. Thought I'd share!"
3 Mistakes That Kill Traction
The "Vague Thanks": Saying "It was great meeting you" without mentioning a specific role. Recruiters can't help you if they don't know what you want.
Waiting for the Recruiter to Call: Recruiters rarely call first. The student must "push" the process forward.
The "Resume Dump": Attaching a resume without a specific question. Give the recruiter a reason to open the file.
How Parents Help (Without Nagging)
Your role is to remove friction, not to add pressure. When the "No-Response Anxiety" kicks in, offer a "Sprint Session."
The Calm Prompt: "Do you want 20 minutes tonight to knock out three follow-up emails together? I'll help you polish the 'Proof Points' while you find the links."
The Goal of the Session:
3 Messages sent.
3 Proof points polished.
Total time: 20 minutes. Then stop.
This Week’s One Concrete Move
Have your student build a "Proof Point Library"—three bullets that use numbers or tools to show they can do the work.
Low Signal: "I helped with an event."
High Signal: "Managed check-in for 300 attendees, reducing wait times by 40% using a new digital tracker."
These bullets make follow-ups fast, strong, and impossible to ignore.
Is your student stuck in the "Post-Fair Ghosting" phase?
The gap between "We had a great talk" and "Here is your interview invite" is where most candidates fall off. At GradLanding, we specialize in the "Closing" phase of recruitment.
Book a free 20-minute Strategy Call to prep for the Spring Fair