[__sdegutis]

Sometimes all it takes is just emailing a former coworker to say hi and ask what's new, and let them know you're in the market. I think a lot of us are worried about being too intrusive, but I personally would have always been glad to get an email like this from anyone I've ever worked with in the past. So it seems like maybe we're worrying over nothing when we hesitate to reach out and just say hi in a friendly email.

[turnleavesover]

Being direct has not really worked in my experience, and someone even told me that opening with a request for a referral is like asking for sex on the first date.