Quick timeline so this all makes sense:
Got let go from Place A
While job hunting, I was talking with a bro who was also let go from A. I put him in touch with a recruiter I was working with from Place B.
I landed the job at Place B through that recruiter.
My old senior manager from Place A hits me up for a role in a different department/team than I was on before. This is when I had the idea to OE.
Bro ends up landing a different role also at Place A (separate team from mine but under the same senior manager)
I start ghosting bro.
Why ghost him? He and I share the recruiting contact at Place B. One text to the recruiter to see if I’m still at Place B and it would completely ruin my OE. It just feels safer to go quiet than risk further convo.
Problem is, he just won’t take the hint. It’s been 5 texts over 6 weeks without a reply from me but he just keeps at it with checkins, memes, asking to catch up, etc.
What would you do? I’m not even sure he’s aware I am working at Place A rn. Should I keep ghosting and hope he just gives up? Send a vague “sorry man, life’s been crazy” message to buy some goodwill without opening the door too much? Maybe I’m just being paranoid and overthinking it?