Christmas is the perfect excuse

Posted by Sarah Hobbs

You can probably think of at least half a dozen people in your network who you wish you were still current. For example, our career research shows that past managers you’ve worked for are a great source of information and support about future jobs. However, with the day-to-day pressures of your current role it can be all too easy to lose contact with them.

The good news is Christmas is the perfect excuse to get back in touch and rekindle lost relationships within your network!

Here are four practical steps you can take to get back in touch –

1. Add them to your Christmas card list. I know lots of people who’ve got jobs and received offers of work because a Christmas card has landed in someone’s in-tray at the right time. Christmas is when a lot of people plan for the coming year, take the chance to refresh their memory and become a part of their plans.
   
   
2. Make time for serendipity. Set up a meeting at your nearest office or HQ with plenty of free time whilst you are there to bump into or drop in on people you haven’t seen for a while.
   
   
3. Pick up the phone. Make a list of people you haven’t spoken with in a while and carry it around with you, together with their phone number. When you get a free moment give the next person on your list a call to find out how they are and to wish them a Merry Christmas.
   
   
4. Connect with them on LinkedIn. If you’re not already connected on LinkedIn, send them a connect request which wishes them a Merry Christmas (don’t just send the default LinkedIn message!) Once they accept, drop them a message letting them know what you’ve been up to and asking how they are.
   
   

TAKE AWAY
Once you lose the relationship with somebody, resuming contact can feel a little awkward or difficult. Christmas is an accepted time to catch up with people and re-establish old relationships – so make use of the next few weeks!