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Most workmates are instantly forgettable

Apr 30 2004 by Brian Amble
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Thanks to recruitment consultancy Office Angels who have won our ‘gratuitous statistics of the week’ award.

We meet about 830 colleagues during our careers, but only five ever become friends, they have discovered.

Of all the people we work with, two will be dates, five true friends, one an employee and at least five will be colleagues at more than one job

Most workmates are instantly forgettable and, in years to come, only 40 (about 20 per cent) will be remembered if bumped into.

But kudos to Office Angle’s Paul Jacobs for making a useful connection from all this: “It's important to leave a job on good terms as you never know who could ask the questions at a future interview,” he said.

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