Changing jobs
Reconnect with five people before you need them
A simple exercise to warm up your network over a month, so it's there when you need it
Over a month, send a short, warm note to five people from past jobs, one at a time, asking for nothing.
- 8 steps
- You and five people
- Once a year
- Sequence
Why this can work
The time to reconnect with people is when you don't need anything, because that's when a note is simply nice to get. Former colleagues who've moved on see openings, teams and changes you can't see from where you sit. Five notes over a month means that if you ever do need help, you're picking up a conversation rather than starting one.
Read moreHow to reconnect with former coworkers
You’ll come away with five relationships warmer than they were, and a few conversations started.
- Pick a day to start.
The dates below are counted from your start date.
Set the date and every step below gets a real day.
- Your start date · 10 minWrite down five people from past jobs you'd be glad to hear from.
- Two days in · 5 minSend the first note, to whoever feels easiest to write to.
- About a week in · 5 minWrite to the person you've been out of touch with longest.
- About two weeks in · 5 minWrite to someone who's moved to a different company or industry.
- About three weeks in · 5 minWrite to someone more senior you learned from.
- A month in · 5 minWrite to the person you'd most like to work with again.
- As replies come in · 5 minReply warmly, say yes to the catch-ups, and ask how you could help them.
Making it work for you
Every workplace is different. Here’s what to think about before you start, and what might get in the way.
Things to think about
Ask what they're working on and whether there's anything you could help with. The relationships that last are the ones where both people give.
What might make this harder
Skip those people this round. Start with people who'd be glad to hear from you; there's no prize for difficulty.
Questions people ask
How do I reconnect with former coworkers?
Send a short note that mentions something you shared, asks what they're up to, and asks for nothing.
What should I say to someone I haven't talked to in years?
Acknowledge the gap, mention a specific memory or something that made you think of them, and ask how they're doing. Keep it short enough to answer easily.
Why do weak ties matter for finding a job?
Acquaintances tend to move in different circles than your close friends, so they hear about openings and ideas you wouldn't. That's the idea behind the phrase the strength of weak ties.
Is it okay to reconnect with people because I might need them later?
Yes, as long as the note itself asks for nothing and the interest is real. Wanting a warm network is sensible, and the other person still gets a genuine hello.
Why this works, and where it comes from
Networks cool down quietly. You change jobs, people scatter, and colleagues you once saw every day become names you mean to write to. A network is much easier to use when it's already warm. A note to someone you've kept in touch with starts a conversation; a note after five silent years reads as a request.
Former colleagues matter for a reason that's been studied. In a well-known 1973 paper, The Strength of Weak Ties, the sociologist Mark Granovetter argued that acquaintances are often more useful than close friends for hearing about new jobs and ideas, because they move in different circles and know things your inner circle doesn't. People from past jobs are exactly those ties: scattered across companies, teams and industries, each with a view you can't get from where you sit.
Truest's version turns that idea into a month with a shape. Five people, one at a time, chosen for range rather than importance, each note asking for nothing. Spacing them out keeps it light enough to finish. Choosing for range is what makes weak ties worth having.
If you've just lost your job and need work now, skip the slow warm-up. Write to people directly, say what happened and what you're looking for, and ask for specific help. People tend to respond well to a clear, honest ask from someone they remember kindly, and a month of gentle notes is a luxury you can skip.
Other simple things to consider
What to do next
More in Changing jobs
A few minutes that compound
Do it with Truest and it goes on your permanent record, in a Career Vault your employer doesn’t own.
See how Truest worksAlready a member? Log in- A reminder beforePut it on your calendar and Truest reminds you before it starts.
- It comes back if it slipsA missed one comes back around instead of disappearing.
- On your recordWhen it's done, it goes on your record with your priorities and progress.
Read this alongside your role page
Tell Truest what you’re dealing with
We read every one, and we write guides for the things that come up most. Leave your email if you’d like to hear when we do.
Written by Truest, based on The Strength of Weak Ties (Mark Granovetter). Last updated September 25, 2026. We sell a career membership; where that’s relevant above, we say so.