09/09/2026
"Hope you had a great summer!" is about to flood everyone's inboxes. 🍂☕
Fall is the ultimate networking reset, but reaching out after months of radio silence can easily feel transactional if you only reach out when you need something.
Here’s how to re-engage past colleagues, mentors, and recruiters the right way this season:
Acknowledge the gap directly: Own the silence up front with a simple "I know it’s been a minute!" or "Hope you had a restful summer."
Lead with value or context: Share a relevant article, congratulate them on a recent company win, or reference a project you previously worked on together.
Remove the pressure: Give them an easy exit with a phrase like "No need to reply if you're slammed, just wanted to say hi!"
Keep it short and warm: Keep your note under 4–5 sentences. Focus on rekindling the relationship, not pitching yourself.
What’s your go-to way to reconnect with your network after a lull? 👇
