7 types of coworkers who simply aren’t worth keeping in touch with when you leave a job

When you leave a job, it’s tempting to try to stay connected with everyone you worked with. After all, networking is important, right?

But let’s be honest—not every coworker is worth the effort. Some people were great to work alongside but aren’t going to add any real value to your life or career after you move on. And that’s okay.

The truth is, your time and energy are limited.

Maintaining relationships with the wrong people can hold you back when you should be focusing on building connections that truly matter for your growth—both personally and professionally.

In this article, we’ll break down the types of coworkers who, while they may have been fine in the workplace, just aren’t worth keeping in touch with once you’ve said your goodbyes.

It’s not about burning bridges—it’s about being intentional with your relationships so you can thrive in the next chapter of your journey. Let’s dive in.

1) The constant complainer

We’ve all worked with someone who just couldn’t stop complaining.

Whether it was about the boss, the workload, or the office coffee machine, they always had something negative to say. Sure, venting once in a while is normal, but when it becomes their entire personality, it’s draining.

Constant complainers rarely bring anything constructive to the table. They focus on problems without ever offering solutions, and that kind of energy can weigh you down—even after you’ve moved on to bigger and better things.

When you leave a job, ask yourself: Did this person add value to your life, or were they just someone to gripe with during tough days?

If it’s the latter, you’re probably better off letting that connection fade. Your time is better spent building relationships with people who inspire and support you, not those who drag you back into negativity.

2) The office gossip

I’ll never forget one coworker I had early in my career. Let’s call her Sarah. Sarah always seemed to know everything about everyone in the office—who was unhappy, who was dating, who might be getting fired.

At first, I thought it was entertaining. She had this way of pulling you in with juicy details and making you feel like you were part of some exclusive club.

But over time, I realized something: if she was talking about everyone else behind their backs, what were the chances she was doing the same to me?

Spoiler alert: pretty high. The more I interacted with her, the more paranoid I became about what she might be saying after I walked away. It wasn’t worth it.

When I left that job, Sarah reached out a few times to catch up. But I knew staying connected would just be a repeat of the same old drama.

Cutting ties wasn’t just a relief—it made room for more trustworthy relationships in my life.

Lesson learned: if someone thrives on gossip, they’re not the kind of person you want to take with you into your next chapter.

3) The credit stealer

There’s nothing more frustrating than working hard on a project, only to have someone else swoop in and take all the credit.

These coworkers are easy to spot—they’re the ones who conveniently forget to mention your contributions during meetings or subtly reframe your ideas as their own.

Research shows that people who consistently take credit for others’ work tend to rise faster in organizations, but they also breed resentment and distrust among their peers.

That’s not exactly the kind of person you want in your corner after you leave.

When you move on, staying in touch with someone like this won’t likely benefit you.

They’ve already shown they prioritize their success over acknowledging others, and that behavior doesn’t stop just because you no longer share an office.

Focus instead on maintaining relationships with people who celebrate your wins, not those who try to claim them for themselves.

4) The overly competitive coworker

Competition in the workplace can be healthy—it pushes everyone to do their best. But some coworkers take it too far.

You know the type: they treat every task like it’s a zero-sum game, where your success automatically threatens theirs. Instead of collaborating, they’re constantly trying to one-up you or position themselves as the star of the team.

These kinds of relationships rarely translate well outside the office.

Overly competitive people often struggle to form genuine connections because they’re too focused on winning. When you leave a job, ask yourself if this person ever truly supported you or just saw you as an obstacle.

The truth is, building a network of people who genuinely want to see you succeed is way more valuable than staying connected with someone who sees you as competition.

Let them chase their next win while you invest in relationships built on mutual respect and encouragement.

5) The ghost when you need them

There’s always that coworker who seems friendly enough during the good times—you share laughs over coffee breaks, collaborate on projects, and maybe even vent about a tough day.

But the moment you actually need their help, they’re nowhere to be found.

I remember working on a high-stakes project where I was completely overwhelmed and could’ve used even a little support from someone I had thought was a close colleague.

Instead, they avoided stepping in, claiming they were too busy or just staying quiet when it mattered most. It stung more than I expected because I’d been there for them plenty of times before.

When you leave a job, you start to realize which relationships had real substance and which ones were just surface-level.

People who only stick around when it’s convenient for them aren’t the ones who’ll have your back in the long run. And honestly? That’s okay—pour your energy into friendships where the support goes both ways.

6) The energy drainer

Some coworkers just have a way of sucking all the energy out of the room.

They’re constantly negative, overly dramatic, or perpetually in crisis mode. Every conversation with them feels like an emotional marathon, leaving you exhausted by the time it’s over.

While you may have tolerated (or even felt obligated to engage with) this kind of person in the office, maintaining that dynamic after you leave isn’t doing you any favors.

Relationships should be uplifting and energizing, not something that drains your mental bandwidth.

When you step into a new chapter of your career, you need people who fuel your momentum, not those who weigh you down with their never-ending emotional baggage.

It’s not about being unkind—it’s about protecting your own headspace so you can focus on what really matters.

7) The one who only calls when they need something

We’ve all encountered that coworker who seems friendly enough, but their friendliness always comes with strings attached.

They reach out only when they need a favor—help with a reference, advice on a project, or a connection to someone in your network. And once you’ve helped them, they disappear until the next time they need something.

Relationships like this are transactional, not genuine. When you leave a job, it’s important to prioritize connections that are built on mutual respect and care, not just convenience.

Someone who only sees you as a resource will never truly value you as a person. Your energy is better spent nurturing relationships that are authentic and reciprocal.

Bottom line: Relationships shape your path

The connections you carry with you after leaving a job have the power to influence your personal growth, professional opportunities, and emotional well-being.

While it’s natural to want to hold on to the comfort of familiar faces, not every relationship is meant to last beyond the workplace.

Psychologists often emphasize the importance of surrounding yourself with people who align with your values and goals.

Relationships thrive when there’s mutual respect, trust, and genuine support—not when they’re built on negativity, competition, or convenience.

When you let go of the coworkers who don’t bring out the best in you, you create space for meaningful connections that do.

And in the end, it’s those authentic relationships—whether personal or professional—that truly shape the path forward.

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Picture of Ethan Sterling

Ethan Sterling

Ethan Sterling has a background in entrepreneurship, having started and managed several small businesses. His journey through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship provides him with practical insights into personal resilience, strategic thinking, and the value of persistence. Ethan’s articles offer real-world advice for those looking to grow personally and professionally.

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