The Puzzle: Blog

If you’re in the midst of a job search, you are likely diligent about doing everything you can to help yourself find a job. But there’s more to the job search than perfecting your resume or crafting the perfect cover letter. Something you might not realize could help get you hired? Keeping in touch.

There are several reasons to keep in touch with people from your past and present. Here’s why you shouldn’t neglect sending a quick “how are you” email every once in a while.

1.  Removing Awkwardness

Even if you’re not looking for a job right now, odds are you will be again at some point later in life. When you apply for a new position—whenever that may be—you will need several letters of reference written on your behalf. If the last time you applied for a job was a decade ago, those same letters might not serve you quite as well as new ones.

Keeping in touch with colleagues and managers will remove some of the inherent awkwardness of asking someone to write you a letter of recommendation. Asking someone to do you a favor is always easier when you’re in touch with them—and not just about work-related issues.

2.  Staying Front-of-Mind

Similarly, when you’ve been keeping in touch with a former professor or Head of School, it will be much easier for that person to provide a personal recommendation on your behalf. You will maintain a friendship, and your job search will benefit from a former leader who still knows you and can attest to your personality and career trajectory.

In the same way, keeping an open network of individuals in your field will expose you to opportunities of which you might not be aware on your own. Maybe that former colleague you still meet for coffee will hear of a perfect opportunity for you through the grapevine and pass on the news.

3.  Being in the Know

If you’re not entirely sure what you want to do next or where you passion lies, engaging with others can be one of the best ways to find out. By keeping in touch with other people and tracking their careers, you can imagine yourself following a similar path—and finding out if that’s a path you’d want to take. If your co-coach at a former position began working at a progressive school, ask questions about her experience. Tap into your network to keep learning about the types of positions that are out there, and figure out which ones sound most appealing to you.

4.  Express Your Interests

It’s important to stay in touch with your former colleagues, and it’s essential to keep your CS&A placement team updated about your search. If something changes—you’re newly interested in working in California, for example, or you’ve decided you won’t consider teaching middle school—send a quick email to your Placement Associate and let him or her know. Keeping in touch with CS&A ensures that we can help you find the right match as soon as it arises.

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