Reconnect With Old Colleagues Without Being Awkward: 6 Networking Email Templates

Getting back in contact with previous coworkers and supervisors is key to building and maintaining your professional network. However, reaching out to someone after a long silence can feel awkward. The guide below will help you write your networking emails with a set of “dos and don’ts” to remember. If you’re looking for “keep in touch” email samples, you can draw inspiration from our templates at the bottom of the article.

Dos and Don’ts

Do: Acknowledge that you’ve fallen out of contact. You don’t need to make excuses for why you haven’t stayed in touch, but completely overlooking a time gap in your communication isn’t an option, either. Pretending you never lost touch may come across as insincere, as though you are only getting back in contact to use them for job search help.

Do: Keep it short and sweet. It’s a good idea to start slow when rekindling your professional relationship with someone. If they haven’t heard from you in a while, they’re unlikely to want to spend half an hour reading your life story of the past five years. Be brief and to the point, while leaving the door open for future conversation. Make sure you’re also using a concise, clear, and friendly subject line, such as “Coffee next week?” or “Would love to catch up.” 

Do: Consider your tone. The purpose of your networking email is to convince people to want to get back in touch with you, so you should make sure the tone of your writing rings true. An email to catch up with your old boss, for example, should sound more formal than an email to an old colleague.

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Don’t: Assume anything. When composing your opening, reference your relationship with your contact without asking whether they remember you. Using the phrases “Remember me?” or “You probably don’t remember me, but…” devalues your connection with that person by suggesting you may not have been important enough to be memorable. On the other hand, if you assume they recognize your name without further context and they don’t, the situation may become awkward.

Don’t: Make it all about you. A networking email needs to recognize that professional connections are a two-way street, so make sure the email to your old colleague or boss does more than request job search help for yourself. You might congratulate them on a new promotion or invite them to lunch or a virtual meetup, but make sure you’re not just asking for favors without offering something in return.

Don’t: Neglect the relationship. Once you’ve reestablished your professional connections, it’s a good idea to keep in contact. Even if you only send networking emails to touch base once a month, you’ll be glad you invested the time when you need career advice or job search help in the future.

Networking Email Templates

The best way to write your networking email depends on a number of factors, including your connection to the contact and purpose for writing. Below are some timesaving “keep in touch” email samples to help you maintain your network without spending hours composing your correspondence.

To Catch Up With an Old Boss

To Reconnect With an Old Colleague

To Follow Up With Someone You Met Once or Twice

To Recognize a Recent Achievement

To Keep in Touch

To Reach Out During a Holiday 

The most important point to remember when sending emails to old colleagues and catching up with old bosses is to sound genuine. Don’t under- or overestimate your professional relationship with that person. Simply remind them who you are, and open the door to future interaction.

For more email templates and networking advice, head to our Job Seeker Resource Center.