I am relaxing on the patio of my apartment overlooking the beach. The surfers are out as the waves are rather large for this time of year. Perhaps it is because of a storm in nearby Japan. Anyway, the surf is up and everyone appears to be having a good time.
Though I am relaxing, I’ve been contacted by friends in the legal industry looking to fill in-house positions. I haven’t been that active in the in-house world as of late. But because of old contacts, I do hear things. You would think I would have a list of potential candidates to recommend but of course not really. How many colleagues and acquaintances have stayed in touch with me. Not many. The reason is of course simple, out of sight out of mind.
Once you retire you are no longer seen in the business world. You are no longer seen at seminars or even on the street. Colleagues stop calling. This is natural. It actually takes a little getting used to, as almost everyone who retires drops out of the workforce. Once they do, those still in the workforce stop thinking about them.
What those still working forget, is that their colleagues or friends who have retired still maintain some of their connections. And on occasion, like the situation I currently find myself in, we are asked to provide recommendations if we can. Do I know of potential candidates to fill a senior position?
What I find rather amusing or even perplexing is that a number of colleagues and even those I have mentored over the years have stopped staying in touch once I have retired. Perhaps they figure I am not too interested in their careers anymore. Some of course have stayed in touch and are now benefiting from what contacts I still have. I think people should understand that just because you retire does not mean the connections you have built up over a lifetime goes away automatically. I still hear things.
So for those still working who have mentors or colleagues that have retired I recommend the following:
