Reconnect With a Former Colleague: Message Examples
To reconnect with a former colleague, send a short message that explains why you thought of them and gives them an easy way to respond.
- Time:
- 30 min
- Cost:
- free
- Difficulty:
- moderate
- Where:
- Indoors
- Best:
- With others
To reconnect with a former colleague, send a short message that explains why you thought of them and gives them an easy way to respond. Mention a shared project or an update, then offer a brief catch-up if you want one. Keep the invitation low pressure and avoid making your first message a list of requests.
A message you can adapt
Try: “Hi Sam, I saw something that reminded me of the launch we worked on together. How have you been? I have moved into a new role and would enjoy hearing what you are working on. Would you fancy a short catch-up sometime?” Replace the details with something true and use an existing contact channel.
If you need advice, say so clearly rather than hiding the request in small talk. Suggest a couple of times only after they show interest. One polite follow-up can be reasonable, but let silence stand. Avoid sharing confidential details from your old workplace or using contact information you are not entitled to use.
Why reconnect with a former colleague is worth an hour
Dormant connections are unusually valuable precisely because you have drifted into different circles. Your close network mostly knows what you know; someone you worked with five years ago has since moved through companies and roles you have no visibility into. Reactivating that link costs one message and reopens a channel that took years to build.
How to reconnect with a former colleague step by step
- 1
Pick someone you genuinely liked
Not the most senior person you can think of. Warmth carries a reconnection message; strategic value does not.
- 2
Lead with a specific memory
The project, the disastrous launch, the thing they taught you. Specificity proves this is not a mass message.
- 3
Say why you thought of them now
An article, a company in the news, a problem you are working on. A reason makes the timing feel natural rather than random.
- 4
Ask nothing on the first message
No favour, no introduction, no job enquiry. Let the first exchange be genuinely about catching up.
- 5
Offer something if you can
An introduction, a relevant link, an answer to a problem they mentioned publicly. Giving first is not a tactic; it just works.
Tips to get more out of it
- Keep it under six sentences. Long reconnection messages read as effortful in a way that creates obligation.
- Email or LinkedIn message rather than a connection request with no note. The note is the entire thing.
- If they do not reply, let it go gracefully. People are busy and a non-reply is rarely about you.
Ways to mix it up
If you are actively job hunting, reconnect with several people over a few weeks and mention your search only once the conversation is genuinely running. If you want to make this a habit, schedule one reconnection message per month; twelve a year quietly rebuilds a network.
For more ideas, browse career development activities.
Another activity to try is call an old friend you haven't spoken to in a while.
Reconnect with a former colleague: frequently asked questions
What if a former colleague does not reply?
They may be busy or prefer not to reconnect. You can send one brief follow-up after a reasonable interval, then leave the invitation open without repeatedly chasing.
Is it too late to reach out after years of silence?
Almost never. Professional relationships tolerate long gaps far better than people expect, particularly when the message is warm and specific.
What if I only want to ask them for something?
Then be direct about it rather than staging a fake catch-up. A straightforward, respectful ask lands better than transparent throat-clearing.
What should the message actually say?
A shared memory, why they came to mind now, a question about what they are doing. Six sentences at most, no request attached.
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