Member Questions

This is very difficult subject in today's society b/c we are taught in the work environment to be careful of mixing friends and business. Also depending on the circumstances surrounding your departure that could also affect your outside ability to network with former co-workers and bosses. We are taught to keep work relationships in perspective at all times and so they tend to die off once your gone or disconnected from the office "culture."

If you tend to call or keep reaching out via company email with a former colleague, you may be jeopardizing or calling into question the association you have with that person by others who still work at your former place of businesss unless you email privately to a home email address and call the person's cell or home phone outside of work hours.

Most people I know don't get that close to the people they worked with and if they move on to something else they tend to keep moving forward for fear of the negative reception you may receive if there is a "perceived" conflict of interest in what you are currently doing. Although I tend to keep pretty good connections and can call back for references if I need them, I tend to let sleeping dogs lye.

I have stayed in touch with some people after leaving a job and shared information about other job openings in our field if I had it, but it usually wasn't a long standing relationship. I've also stopped to talk to former co-workers if I saw them in the community just to touch basis, but people are generally cautious if you are not a really close friend and just a former co-worker. I keep business - business and personal life - personal. You'd have to be a really good friend/co-worker for me to stay in touch and then I would only send a note once in a while or drop a call. Relationships are so hard to maintain anymore when you move around and change careers. It's difficult.

After I resigned from a position my boss coached the girls cheerleading squad in my township. My daughter cheered for them for 1 season. We didn't talk much about the old job and when the subject came up she ususally shied away from the conversation outside of telling me she got promoted to VP and things were still "hectic" as usual.

I respected her space and usually we didn't talk about it much again. We kept things very superficial and it worked for both of us.

So, in conclusion, I'd suggest an occassional personal email, letter, or phone call during "off hours" only if your were really close with any former colleague and felt there would be a mutual appreciation for open dialogue. Otherwise, it may make for an awkward situation where people are wondering if you're trying to "peddle" something. That makes people suspicious and uncomfortable in the work place.

Email and a call here and there. I try not to engage in much conversation so it doesn't lead to business.