How to Reconnect with Past Colleagues and Classmates

Reaching out to people from your past can feel daunting, but it’s one of the most effective tools to supercharge your career's growth. Whether it’s former colleagues, classmates, or mentors, these connections already have an understanding of your professional background, making them more likely to help.

Why Past Connections Matter

Past connections often know you in a work or educational context, which can make them powerful allies during a job search. They can vouch for your skills and work ethic in ways that your family or friends might not be able to. According to April Little , an executive career coach, maintaining professional relationships over time is essential for long-term career success.

Reaching out to someone you haven’t spoken to in years can feel awkward, but it doesn’t have to be. A simple message acknowledging the time that has passed is often enough to restart the conversation. From there, you can transition into your career goals and ask if they know of any opportunities that could be a good fit for you.

How to Reconnect

When reaching out to a former coworker or classmate, make it personal. Start by referencing your shared experiences — maybe a project you worked on together or a class you took. Then, share what you’ve been up to professionally and mention your current job search.

For example, you could say something like: “It’s been a while! I’ve been working in [industry], but I’m now looking for new opportunities. I really enjoyed working with you at [company/school], and I’d love to catch up to see how you’ve been and talk about what’s next for me.”?

This approach is genuine and low-pressure, giving the other person an easy way to respond.

Rebuild and Maintain the Relationship

Once you’ve reconnected, it’s important to maintain the relationship. You don’t want to only reach out when you need something. April suggests creating a check-in schedule to keep your professional network warm. A quick message or email every few months can help ensure you stay on their radar.

Keep in mind that networking is a two-way street. As you reconnect with old colleagues and classmates, think about how you can offer value to them. Whether it’s sending an article that might interest them or making an introduction, these small gestures can strengthen your relationship and make future requests easier.

(This article was compiled by Andrew Seaman , using previous reporting from his weekly Get Hired newsletter .)