Best examples of introduction email examples to former colleagues

Real examples of introduction email examples to former colleagues

Let’s skip the theory and go straight into real examples. You can tweak any of these to fit your voice, industry, and relationship with the person.

Each example of an introduction email is written for a specific situation you’re likely to face in 2024–2025.

1. Reconnecting after a long time apart

Use this when: You haven’t spoken in a year or more and want to restart the relationship without sounding random.

Subject: Long time no talk – quick hello

Email body:

Hi Jordan,

It’s been a while since our days on the product team at Brightline, and I was thinking of you this week when someone mentioned that launch we pulled off in 2021. I still remember your calm during those late-night releases.

I’d love to reconnect and hear what you’ve been working on lately. I’m now a Senior Product Manager at NorthPeak, focusing on B2B tools, and I’m always interested in what smart people I’ve worked with are doing.

If you’re open to it, would you be up for a quick 20–30 minute virtual coffee sometime in the next few weeks?

Either way, I hope things are going well on your end.

Best,
Alex

This is one of the best examples of a simple, low-pressure reintroduction: you share a memory, give a quick update, and make a clear but optional ask.

2. Introduction email to a former colleague after a layoff

Use this when: You’ve been laid off and want to tap your old network without sounding desperate.

Subject: Quick update and a favor to ask

Email body:

Hi Priya,

I hope you’re doing well. I’ve been thinking about our time on the analytics team at Horizon and how much I learned from your approach to stakeholder communication.

I wanted to share a quick update: my role at Vertex was recently impacted by a company-wide layoff. I’m taking a short breather and starting to explore Senior Data Analyst roles in the New York area (remote-friendly is a plus).

If you happen to hear of any teams looking for someone with SQL, Python, and dashboarding experience (Looker/Tableau), I’d really appreciate it if you kept me in mind. I’ve attached my resume in case it’s helpful.

No pressure at all—just wanted to reconnect and let you know what I’m up to. I’d also love to hear how things are going for you at Nova.

Thanks so much,
Daniel

This is a strong example of an introduction email that balances honesty and professionalism. In 2024–2025, with layoffs still common in tech and other industries, having several examples of introduction email examples to former colleagues like this can make job searching feel less isolating.

3. Moving to a new city and reintroducing yourself

Use this when: You’re relocating and want to tap into your former colleague’s local knowledge or network.

Subject: Moving to Austin – would love your advice

Email body:

Hi Maria,

I hope things are going well at Ridgeway. I still remember our late afternoons trying to fix that reporting pipeline—your patience saved us more than once.

I’m reaching out with a quick update: I’m moving to Austin next month and starting to explore marketing roles there, especially in B2C tech.

I know you’ve been in Austin for a while now. If you’re open to it, I’d really value your perspective on the local market—companies you respect, meetups worth attending, or anything you wish you’d known when you first moved.

If you have time for a quick coffee or video chat in the next few weeks, I’d love to catch up.

Thanks in advance,
Taylor

This is a good example of an introduction email that makes a specific, reasonable ask and gives your former colleague a clear way to help.

4. Changing careers and reintroducing yourself

Use this when: You’re pivoting into a new field and want your former colleague’s insight or referrals.

Subject: Career pivot update – could I get your perspective?

Email body:

Hi Sam,

I was just telling someone about the UX research project we worked on at Lumen and how much I appreciated your thoughtful approach to interviews.

I wanted to share a quick update: after several years in customer support, I’m transitioning into UX research. I’ve completed a certificate program through Coursera and built a small portfolio of projects.

Since you’ve been in this field for a while, I’d really value your take on my portfolio and how I’m positioning myself. If you’d be open to a 20-minute call or even a quick email review, I’d be grateful for any feedback.

Either way, I hope things are going well on your end.

Best,
Maya

This is one of the best examples of introduction email examples to former colleagues when you’re changing directions. You’re not asking them to “get you a job”; you’re asking for insight, which is more respectful of their time and influence.

5. Reintroducing yourself to a former manager

Use this when: You had a good relationship with a past manager and want to keep that connection alive.

Subject: Quick hello from a former team member

Email body:

Hi Chris,

I hope you’re doing well and that the new fiscal year is off to a strong start for your team.

I’ve been thinking about my time on your team at Harbor, especially how much I learned from your approach to one-on-ones and feedback. A lot of what I do with my current team traces back to those conversations.

I’m now leading a small group of three engineers at Summit, and I’d love to stay in touch as I continue to grow as a manager. If you’re open to it, I’d really appreciate staying on your radar for occasional advice or perspective.

No need to respond in detail—I just wanted to say thank you again and let you know how much your mentorship has influenced my career.

Warmly,
Jordan

This is a subtle example of an introduction email that keeps the door open for future references, recommendations, or even rehiring, without directly asking for anything right now.

6. Reaching out to a former colleague for a referral

Use this when: You’ve spotted a specific role at their company and want to ask for a referral without being pushy.

Subject: Quick question about [Company] and a role I saw

Email body:

Hi Elena,

It’s been a while since our time together on the finance team at Redwood—hope you’re doing well.

I saw a posting for a Senior Financial Analyst role at your company that looks like a strong match for my background in FP&A and forecasting. Before I apply, I wanted to ask if you’d be comfortable sharing what it’s been like working there and whether you think my experience might be a fit.

If it seems aligned and you feel comfortable, I’d be grateful for a referral through your internal system. I’ve attached my resume and the job link below for quick reference.

Totally understand if that’s not possible or if timing is tricky right now—either way, it would be great to reconnect.

Thanks so much,
Avery

This is a very practical example of an introduction email that respects boundaries. You give them a graceful way to decline while still maintaining the relationship.

7. Reintroducing yourself to a former colleague you only knew briefly

Use this when: You worked together, but not closely, and you want to acknowledge that.

Subject: Quick hello from a fellow [Company] alum

Email body:

Hi Devon,

We overlapped briefly at Clearview in 2022—I was on the operations team while you were leading projects on the sales side. We only worked together on a couple of cross-functional meetings, but I remember being impressed by how you kept everyone aligned.

I’m reaching out because I’ve recently moved into a sales operations role and noticed you’ve built a strong career path in that direction.

If you have time, I’d really appreciate a 15–20 minute chat sometime this month to learn how you approached your transition and any advice you might have for someone earlier in the journey.

Either way, I hope things are going well and that Q1 is treating you kindly.

Best,
Riley

This is an example of introduction email examples to former colleagues where the relationship is light. You acknowledge that, instead of pretending you were best friends at work.

8. Keeping the relationship warm when you don’t need anything

Use this when: You just want to stay in touch because it’s smart networking.

Subject: Thought of you when I saw this

Email body:

Hi Nina,

I hope you’re doing well. I came across this article on remote team communication from Harvard Business Review and immediately thought of the work you were doing at Atlas on distributed teams.

Things on my end are going well—I’m still at Meridian, recently moved into a lead role, and learning a lot.

No ask here; just wanted to say hello and share something I thought you might appreciate. If you ever want a sounding board on anything marketing/remote-work related, I’m always happy to return the favor.

Take care,
Morgan

This might be one of the best examples of introduction email examples to former colleagues for long-term networking. You’re giving, not just asking.

How to write your own introduction email to a former colleague

Once you’ve seen several examples of introduction email examples to former colleagues, patterns start to appear. You can build your own email by thinking in four simple parts:

Opening:
Make it personal and specific. Reference a project, a shared memory, or how you know each other. This signals you’re not sending a mass email.

Update:
Give a short, one- or two-sentence update on what you’re doing now. Think of it as a quick LinkedIn headline in sentence form.

Ask (if any):
Be clear and modest. Instead of “Can you help me find a job?” try “If you hear of roles that need X and Y, I’d appreciate you keeping me in mind.” Research on networking from places like Harvard University and MIT consistently shows that specific, respectful asks work better than vague ones.

Close:
End warmly, with low pressure. Phrases like “either way, I hope you’re doing well” or “no pressure at all” help people feel safe responding honestly.

If you’re worried about timing, remember that people reconnect all the time—especially in a job market that still feels uncertain in 2024–2025. A short, thoughtful email is rarely unwelcome.

Common mistakes (and how these examples avoid them)

Looking at real examples of introduction email examples to former colleagues also helps you avoid classic missteps:

Being too vague
“Just wanted to connect” gives your former colleague nothing to respond to. Instead, tie your message to a specific life event, job change, or memory.

Writing a wall of text
In 2024–2025, everyone is skimming on their phone. Keep paragraphs short, sentences clear, and your ask easy to spot.

Sounding transactional
If the first time you reach out in five years is to ask for a big favor, it can feel off. Soften it by acknowledging the gap and giving them an easy out.

Over-apologizing
You don’t need to write, “I’m so sorry for bothering you” three times. A simple “I know you’re busy, so no pressure to respond in detail” is enough.

Each example of an introduction email above shows you can be direct and respectful at the same time.

Quick personalization tips for these templates

To turn these from generic templates into real examples that sound like you:

• Mention something only the two of you would remember: a big deadline, a funny meeting, a shared client.
• Adjust the tone to match your relationship. If you joked a lot at work, your email can be a bit lighter. If it was formal, keep it polished.
• Match their likely schedule. Senior leaders might prefer short, to-the-point notes. Peers might welcome a slightly longer catch-up.
• Double-check names, titles, and company details on LinkedIn before you hit send. Outdated information is an easy way to make the email feel off.

If you’re unsure about tone, aim for “friendly professional”—exactly how you’d talk in a good one-on-one meeting.

FAQ: examples of introduction email examples to former colleagues

Q: Can you give a shorter example of an introduction email to a former colleague?
Yes. Here’s a very short version you can adapt:

Subject: Quick hello

Hi Jamie,

I hope you’re doing well. I was thinking about our time at Skyline and wanted to say a quick hello. I’m now a project manager at Northbridge and really enjoying it.

If you’re up for it, I’d love to catch up for a quick virtual coffee sometime this month.

Best,
Chris

Q: How often should I email former colleagues to keep in touch?
A good rule of thumb is one to three times a year, depending on how close you were. You might send a quick note when you change jobs, when you see an article that reminds you of their work, or at the end of the year with a short update.

Q: Is it okay to ask for a referral in the first email after years of no contact?
It’s okay, but you should handle it carefully. A better approach is to combine a genuine reconnection with a specific, low-pressure referral ask, like in the referral example above. Always give them a comfortable way to say no.

Q: Are there best examples to follow for senior executives versus peers?
For senior executives, keep it shorter and more focused. Lead with a clear reason for reaching out and a concise ask (or no ask at all). For peers, you can be a bit more conversational and include more personal updates.

Q: Do I need to mention the layoff or job loss directly?
You don’t have to, but many people appreciate the honesty. A short, factual line like in the layoff example above is usually enough. You don’t need to go into emotional detail.

The more you read and adapt these examples of introduction email examples to former colleagues, the easier it becomes to write your own. Start with one template that feels close to your situation, personalize three or four details, and hit send before you talk yourself out of it. Your future self (and future career) will thank you.