When meeting with students after the Career Fair, I hear this complaint far too often: "They told me to apply online anyway, what was the point of attending the fair?" The point was that you made a connection with another human being who has the ability to pass along your resume to the hiring manager. 

A common mistake students make is not following up with employers after the fair. But maybe you did follow-up with them to no avail. And now, 2-3 weeks have gone by, and you still haven't heard anything. Not even a rejection email. I know what you are thinking...

"Have I been ghosted?"

Maybe. But probably not. Here's why:

• Recruiters who attend fairs are constantly on the road talking to thousands of students. So, sometimes it takes more than one follow-up to get a reply. 
• Maybe they forgot to respond because...they are human beings who forget things! 
• Sometimes, people just aren't going to write you back. But by following up initially, you have established a line of communication which is key.

Here's what you can do to keep the conversation going

Follow-up with employers regarding your application after two weeks via email or LinkedIn

• State that you recently applied.
• Reiterate your interest in the position.
• Highlight one or two skills that make you the right fit.
• Do not be demanding.

For a sample follow-up email check out the Professional Communications handout on TuPortal. And on the off chance that you have been ghosted, come chat with Mike and I about what you can do differently next time!