Should I contact my future employer occasionally if I have several months before I start work?

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I am a college student graduating this semester. I was fortunate to be hired by the company that I interned at over the summer.



The thing is that the last contact I had with my HR contact was 2 months ago, and I don't start work for another 4 months. Is it appropriate to contact my HR contact just to keep in touch? Or am I worrying over nothing?







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  • 2




    Have you signed an employment-contract or anything else to that effect to confirm your hiring?
    – pap
    Jan 21 '13 at 12:12










  • Yes - otherwise I would be entertaining other offers right now.
    – Taedrin
    Jan 22 '13 at 15:42
















up vote
10
down vote

favorite
2












I am a college student graduating this semester. I was fortunate to be hired by the company that I interned at over the summer.



The thing is that the last contact I had with my HR contact was 2 months ago, and I don't start work for another 4 months. Is it appropriate to contact my HR contact just to keep in touch? Or am I worrying over nothing?







share|improve this question


















  • 2




    Have you signed an employment-contract or anything else to that effect to confirm your hiring?
    – pap
    Jan 21 '13 at 12:12










  • Yes - otherwise I would be entertaining other offers right now.
    – Taedrin
    Jan 22 '13 at 15:42












up vote
10
down vote

favorite
2









up vote
10
down vote

favorite
2






2





I am a college student graduating this semester. I was fortunate to be hired by the company that I interned at over the summer.



The thing is that the last contact I had with my HR contact was 2 months ago, and I don't start work for another 4 months. Is it appropriate to contact my HR contact just to keep in touch? Or am I worrying over nothing?







share|improve this question














I am a college student graduating this semester. I was fortunate to be hired by the company that I interned at over the summer.



The thing is that the last contact I had with my HR contact was 2 months ago, and I don't start work for another 4 months. Is it appropriate to contact my HR contact just to keep in touch? Or am I worrying over nothing?









share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Sep 14 '13 at 12:04









Rhys

5,73623558




5,73623558










asked Jan 18 '13 at 19:13









Taedrin

5315




5315







  • 2




    Have you signed an employment-contract or anything else to that effect to confirm your hiring?
    – pap
    Jan 21 '13 at 12:12










  • Yes - otherwise I would be entertaining other offers right now.
    – Taedrin
    Jan 22 '13 at 15:42












  • 2




    Have you signed an employment-contract or anything else to that effect to confirm your hiring?
    – pap
    Jan 21 '13 at 12:12










  • Yes - otherwise I would be entertaining other offers right now.
    – Taedrin
    Jan 22 '13 at 15:42







2




2




Have you signed an employment-contract or anything else to that effect to confirm your hiring?
– pap
Jan 21 '13 at 12:12




Have you signed an employment-contract or anything else to that effect to confirm your hiring?
– pap
Jan 21 '13 at 12:12












Yes - otherwise I would be entertaining other offers right now.
– Taedrin
Jan 22 '13 at 15:42




Yes - otherwise I would be entertaining other offers right now.
– Taedrin
Jan 22 '13 at 15:42










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
23
down vote



accepted











The thing is that the last contact I had with my HR contact was 2 months ago and I don't start work for another 4 months. Is it appropriate to contact my HR contact just to keep in touch?




It is definitely appropriate. I suggest having a clear purpose behind the communication though, so something along the lines of:



  • "Hi, I wanted to let you know I am still on pace to complete my degree by MM, YYYY - is there anything I need to do in the meantime?"

  • "Hi, I am going to be starting full-time after this semester and am wondering if I have any paperwork or other documentation you need from me (transcripts, etc) at this point"

  • "Hi, I am an intern-fulltime hire starting in May and have not heard anything for two months - I just want to confirm I have no current actions required of me"

  • "Hi, I just want to confirm the only action required on my part for the next few months is to send my transcript"

Don't just go "hi, I'm freaking out that you haven't been constantly emailing me" because in all honesty it's likely your full-time job got put onto the "deal with closer to spring" pile and probably won't be seriously processed until much closer to the time you are to start.




Or am I worrying over nothing?




Honestly, it's not a big deal to email the HR people. Larger company HR people will probably receive, process, and respond to most of your emails very quickly and unless you bombard them even asking once every few months will probably be unnoticed. This is in a very real sense what they do on a daily basis.



I also would not worry about not having heard anything from them unless you had good reason to suspect the company is having financial difficulties. This exact situation actually happened to me - I had a job starting after spring and emailed the company in about exactly this point (having not heard anything for two months, I emailed them on 1/7..) and they had been in the process of canceling offers, etc. But at the same time, this has also been my exact experience with many other delayed offers due to schoolwork which did not have any problems.



Don't take it to mean something unless you have a good reason to suspect something.




If I were you, I would send a quick, professional email to your HR contact (feel free to use one of the above or something of your own) just to reassure yourself though. As someone who has also gone through the process even a 10 second "Nope, we'll get back to you closer to May!" email back from HR can make you feel a whole lot better about the process.






share|improve this answer




















  • Good practical suggestions.
    – EleventhDoctor
    Jul 22 '15 at 12:58

















up vote
2
down vote













I would definitely keep in touch with your company. The powers at be may change their minds and decide they no longer need more employees and will cancel the positions, sometimes without letting you know. I would email the HR contact about once a month and make sure everything is still okay. Coming up on graduation you probably need to start making money right away to pay your own bills and loans, so it is better to be safe than sorry.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    1
    down vote













    Meaningful contact is certainly a good idea!



    But keep it meaningful, the one line email Just touching base... is a bad idea and could set the wrong tone.



    Having interned there and having had previous direct contact with your manger also opens up the possibility of less formal communications directly. Depends upon your relationship.






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      -1
      down vote













      Consider connecting with your ex-colleagues/managers from your interning time over LinkedIn or similar networks. You can also follow the company on LinkedIn. This will not seem intrusive, and you will also keep yourself updated about the happenings in the company. I know of a person who set up google alerts whenever a company's name came up in news reports, but this might be taking it too far. If the company has any marketing newsletters, sign up for that so you know what they are up to in the delta between interning and joining full time. Other than that, those polite mails to the HR with pertinent communication is quite effective.






      share|improve this answer
















      • 1




        Using LinkedIn doesn't address the question about lack of contact with HR.
        – EleventhDoctor
        Jul 22 '15 at 12:59










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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes








      up vote
      23
      down vote



      accepted











      The thing is that the last contact I had with my HR contact was 2 months ago and I don't start work for another 4 months. Is it appropriate to contact my HR contact just to keep in touch?




      It is definitely appropriate. I suggest having a clear purpose behind the communication though, so something along the lines of:



      • "Hi, I wanted to let you know I am still on pace to complete my degree by MM, YYYY - is there anything I need to do in the meantime?"

      • "Hi, I am going to be starting full-time after this semester and am wondering if I have any paperwork or other documentation you need from me (transcripts, etc) at this point"

      • "Hi, I am an intern-fulltime hire starting in May and have not heard anything for two months - I just want to confirm I have no current actions required of me"

      • "Hi, I just want to confirm the only action required on my part for the next few months is to send my transcript"

      Don't just go "hi, I'm freaking out that you haven't been constantly emailing me" because in all honesty it's likely your full-time job got put onto the "deal with closer to spring" pile and probably won't be seriously processed until much closer to the time you are to start.




      Or am I worrying over nothing?




      Honestly, it's not a big deal to email the HR people. Larger company HR people will probably receive, process, and respond to most of your emails very quickly and unless you bombard them even asking once every few months will probably be unnoticed. This is in a very real sense what they do on a daily basis.



      I also would not worry about not having heard anything from them unless you had good reason to suspect the company is having financial difficulties. This exact situation actually happened to me - I had a job starting after spring and emailed the company in about exactly this point (having not heard anything for two months, I emailed them on 1/7..) and they had been in the process of canceling offers, etc. But at the same time, this has also been my exact experience with many other delayed offers due to schoolwork which did not have any problems.



      Don't take it to mean something unless you have a good reason to suspect something.




      If I were you, I would send a quick, professional email to your HR contact (feel free to use one of the above or something of your own) just to reassure yourself though. As someone who has also gone through the process even a 10 second "Nope, we'll get back to you closer to May!" email back from HR can make you feel a whole lot better about the process.






      share|improve this answer




















      • Good practical suggestions.
        – EleventhDoctor
        Jul 22 '15 at 12:58














      up vote
      23
      down vote



      accepted











      The thing is that the last contact I had with my HR contact was 2 months ago and I don't start work for another 4 months. Is it appropriate to contact my HR contact just to keep in touch?




      It is definitely appropriate. I suggest having a clear purpose behind the communication though, so something along the lines of:



      • "Hi, I wanted to let you know I am still on pace to complete my degree by MM, YYYY - is there anything I need to do in the meantime?"

      • "Hi, I am going to be starting full-time after this semester and am wondering if I have any paperwork or other documentation you need from me (transcripts, etc) at this point"

      • "Hi, I am an intern-fulltime hire starting in May and have not heard anything for two months - I just want to confirm I have no current actions required of me"

      • "Hi, I just want to confirm the only action required on my part for the next few months is to send my transcript"

      Don't just go "hi, I'm freaking out that you haven't been constantly emailing me" because in all honesty it's likely your full-time job got put onto the "deal with closer to spring" pile and probably won't be seriously processed until much closer to the time you are to start.




      Or am I worrying over nothing?




      Honestly, it's not a big deal to email the HR people. Larger company HR people will probably receive, process, and respond to most of your emails very quickly and unless you bombard them even asking once every few months will probably be unnoticed. This is in a very real sense what they do on a daily basis.



      I also would not worry about not having heard anything from them unless you had good reason to suspect the company is having financial difficulties. This exact situation actually happened to me - I had a job starting after spring and emailed the company in about exactly this point (having not heard anything for two months, I emailed them on 1/7..) and they had been in the process of canceling offers, etc. But at the same time, this has also been my exact experience with many other delayed offers due to schoolwork which did not have any problems.



      Don't take it to mean something unless you have a good reason to suspect something.




      If I were you, I would send a quick, professional email to your HR contact (feel free to use one of the above or something of your own) just to reassure yourself though. As someone who has also gone through the process even a 10 second "Nope, we'll get back to you closer to May!" email back from HR can make you feel a whole lot better about the process.






      share|improve this answer




















      • Good practical suggestions.
        – EleventhDoctor
        Jul 22 '15 at 12:58












      up vote
      23
      down vote



      accepted







      up vote
      23
      down vote



      accepted







      The thing is that the last contact I had with my HR contact was 2 months ago and I don't start work for another 4 months. Is it appropriate to contact my HR contact just to keep in touch?




      It is definitely appropriate. I suggest having a clear purpose behind the communication though, so something along the lines of:



      • "Hi, I wanted to let you know I am still on pace to complete my degree by MM, YYYY - is there anything I need to do in the meantime?"

      • "Hi, I am going to be starting full-time after this semester and am wondering if I have any paperwork or other documentation you need from me (transcripts, etc) at this point"

      • "Hi, I am an intern-fulltime hire starting in May and have not heard anything for two months - I just want to confirm I have no current actions required of me"

      • "Hi, I just want to confirm the only action required on my part for the next few months is to send my transcript"

      Don't just go "hi, I'm freaking out that you haven't been constantly emailing me" because in all honesty it's likely your full-time job got put onto the "deal with closer to spring" pile and probably won't be seriously processed until much closer to the time you are to start.




      Or am I worrying over nothing?




      Honestly, it's not a big deal to email the HR people. Larger company HR people will probably receive, process, and respond to most of your emails very quickly and unless you bombard them even asking once every few months will probably be unnoticed. This is in a very real sense what they do on a daily basis.



      I also would not worry about not having heard anything from them unless you had good reason to suspect the company is having financial difficulties. This exact situation actually happened to me - I had a job starting after spring and emailed the company in about exactly this point (having not heard anything for two months, I emailed them on 1/7..) and they had been in the process of canceling offers, etc. But at the same time, this has also been my exact experience with many other delayed offers due to schoolwork which did not have any problems.



      Don't take it to mean something unless you have a good reason to suspect something.




      If I were you, I would send a quick, professional email to your HR contact (feel free to use one of the above or something of your own) just to reassure yourself though. As someone who has also gone through the process even a 10 second "Nope, we'll get back to you closer to May!" email back from HR can make you feel a whole lot better about the process.






      share|improve this answer













      The thing is that the last contact I had with my HR contact was 2 months ago and I don't start work for another 4 months. Is it appropriate to contact my HR contact just to keep in touch?




      It is definitely appropriate. I suggest having a clear purpose behind the communication though, so something along the lines of:



      • "Hi, I wanted to let you know I am still on pace to complete my degree by MM, YYYY - is there anything I need to do in the meantime?"

      • "Hi, I am going to be starting full-time after this semester and am wondering if I have any paperwork or other documentation you need from me (transcripts, etc) at this point"

      • "Hi, I am an intern-fulltime hire starting in May and have not heard anything for two months - I just want to confirm I have no current actions required of me"

      • "Hi, I just want to confirm the only action required on my part for the next few months is to send my transcript"

      Don't just go "hi, I'm freaking out that you haven't been constantly emailing me" because in all honesty it's likely your full-time job got put onto the "deal with closer to spring" pile and probably won't be seriously processed until much closer to the time you are to start.




      Or am I worrying over nothing?




      Honestly, it's not a big deal to email the HR people. Larger company HR people will probably receive, process, and respond to most of your emails very quickly and unless you bombard them even asking once every few months will probably be unnoticed. This is in a very real sense what they do on a daily basis.



      I also would not worry about not having heard anything from them unless you had good reason to suspect the company is having financial difficulties. This exact situation actually happened to me - I had a job starting after spring and emailed the company in about exactly this point (having not heard anything for two months, I emailed them on 1/7..) and they had been in the process of canceling offers, etc. But at the same time, this has also been my exact experience with many other delayed offers due to schoolwork which did not have any problems.



      Don't take it to mean something unless you have a good reason to suspect something.




      If I were you, I would send a quick, professional email to your HR contact (feel free to use one of the above or something of your own) just to reassure yourself though. As someone who has also gone through the process even a 10 second "Nope, we'll get back to you closer to May!" email back from HR can make you feel a whole lot better about the process.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Jan 18 '13 at 19:59









      Elysian Fields♦

      96.9k46292449




      96.9k46292449











      • Good practical suggestions.
        – EleventhDoctor
        Jul 22 '15 at 12:58
















      • Good practical suggestions.
        – EleventhDoctor
        Jul 22 '15 at 12:58















      Good practical suggestions.
      – EleventhDoctor
      Jul 22 '15 at 12:58




      Good practical suggestions.
      – EleventhDoctor
      Jul 22 '15 at 12:58












      up vote
      2
      down vote













      I would definitely keep in touch with your company. The powers at be may change their minds and decide they no longer need more employees and will cancel the positions, sometimes without letting you know. I would email the HR contact about once a month and make sure everything is still okay. Coming up on graduation you probably need to start making money right away to pay your own bills and loans, so it is better to be safe than sorry.






      share|improve this answer
























        up vote
        2
        down vote













        I would definitely keep in touch with your company. The powers at be may change their minds and decide they no longer need more employees and will cancel the positions, sometimes without letting you know. I would email the HR contact about once a month and make sure everything is still okay. Coming up on graduation you probably need to start making money right away to pay your own bills and loans, so it is better to be safe than sorry.






        share|improve this answer






















          up vote
          2
          down vote










          up vote
          2
          down vote









          I would definitely keep in touch with your company. The powers at be may change their minds and decide they no longer need more employees and will cancel the positions, sometimes without letting you know. I would email the HR contact about once a month and make sure everything is still okay. Coming up on graduation you probably need to start making money right away to pay your own bills and loans, so it is better to be safe than sorry.






          share|improve this answer












          I would definitely keep in touch with your company. The powers at be may change their minds and decide they no longer need more employees and will cancel the positions, sometimes without letting you know. I would email the HR contact about once a month and make sure everything is still okay. Coming up on graduation you probably need to start making money right away to pay your own bills and loans, so it is better to be safe than sorry.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Jan 18 '13 at 19:27









          CincinnatiProgrammer

          2,75792862




          2,75792862




















              up vote
              1
              down vote













              Meaningful contact is certainly a good idea!



              But keep it meaningful, the one line email Just touching base... is a bad idea and could set the wrong tone.



              Having interned there and having had previous direct contact with your manger also opens up the possibility of less formal communications directly. Depends upon your relationship.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                1
                down vote













                Meaningful contact is certainly a good idea!



                But keep it meaningful, the one line email Just touching base... is a bad idea and could set the wrong tone.



                Having interned there and having had previous direct contact with your manger also opens up the possibility of less formal communications directly. Depends upon your relationship.






                share|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote









                  Meaningful contact is certainly a good idea!



                  But keep it meaningful, the one line email Just touching base... is a bad idea and could set the wrong tone.



                  Having interned there and having had previous direct contact with your manger also opens up the possibility of less formal communications directly. Depends upon your relationship.






                  share|improve this answer












                  Meaningful contact is certainly a good idea!



                  But keep it meaningful, the one line email Just touching base... is a bad idea and could set the wrong tone.



                  Having interned there and having had previous direct contact with your manger also opens up the possibility of less formal communications directly. Depends upon your relationship.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Jan 18 '13 at 19:27









                  Steve

                  3,70611127




                  3,70611127




















                      up vote
                      -1
                      down vote













                      Consider connecting with your ex-colleagues/managers from your interning time over LinkedIn or similar networks. You can also follow the company on LinkedIn. This will not seem intrusive, and you will also keep yourself updated about the happenings in the company. I know of a person who set up google alerts whenever a company's name came up in news reports, but this might be taking it too far. If the company has any marketing newsletters, sign up for that so you know what they are up to in the delta between interning and joining full time. Other than that, those polite mails to the HR with pertinent communication is quite effective.






                      share|improve this answer
















                      • 1




                        Using LinkedIn doesn't address the question about lack of contact with HR.
                        – EleventhDoctor
                        Jul 22 '15 at 12:59














                      up vote
                      -1
                      down vote













                      Consider connecting with your ex-colleagues/managers from your interning time over LinkedIn or similar networks. You can also follow the company on LinkedIn. This will not seem intrusive, and you will also keep yourself updated about the happenings in the company. I know of a person who set up google alerts whenever a company's name came up in news reports, but this might be taking it too far. If the company has any marketing newsletters, sign up for that so you know what they are up to in the delta between interning and joining full time. Other than that, those polite mails to the HR with pertinent communication is quite effective.






                      share|improve this answer
















                      • 1




                        Using LinkedIn doesn't address the question about lack of contact with HR.
                        – EleventhDoctor
                        Jul 22 '15 at 12:59












                      up vote
                      -1
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      -1
                      down vote









                      Consider connecting with your ex-colleagues/managers from your interning time over LinkedIn or similar networks. You can also follow the company on LinkedIn. This will not seem intrusive, and you will also keep yourself updated about the happenings in the company. I know of a person who set up google alerts whenever a company's name came up in news reports, but this might be taking it too far. If the company has any marketing newsletters, sign up for that so you know what they are up to in the delta between interning and joining full time. Other than that, those polite mails to the HR with pertinent communication is quite effective.






                      share|improve this answer












                      Consider connecting with your ex-colleagues/managers from your interning time over LinkedIn or similar networks. You can also follow the company on LinkedIn. This will not seem intrusive, and you will also keep yourself updated about the happenings in the company. I know of a person who set up google alerts whenever a company's name came up in news reports, but this might be taking it too far. If the company has any marketing newsletters, sign up for that so you know what they are up to in the delta between interning and joining full time. Other than that, those polite mails to the HR with pertinent communication is quite effective.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Jan 22 '13 at 16:00









                      vs vs

                      171




                      171







                      • 1




                        Using LinkedIn doesn't address the question about lack of contact with HR.
                        – EleventhDoctor
                        Jul 22 '15 at 12:59












                      • 1




                        Using LinkedIn doesn't address the question about lack of contact with HR.
                        – EleventhDoctor
                        Jul 22 '15 at 12:59







                      1




                      1




                      Using LinkedIn doesn't address the question about lack of contact with HR.
                      – EleventhDoctor
                      Jul 22 '15 at 12:59




                      Using LinkedIn doesn't address the question about lack of contact with HR.
                      – EleventhDoctor
                      Jul 22 '15 at 12:59












                       

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