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How to Turn a Work Friend Into a Real Friend, According to an Expert

Work friends can make adult life easier. A career expert explains how to develop a friendship that survives a change of jobs.

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Work friends hold a special place in our hearts. Typically, they endure the same stressors, spend the same hours in the office, and share the same grievances. When you spend most of your time working, it helps to lean on a friend in the same boat.

In fact, a 2021 YouGov study found that 44% of respondents met their close friends through work. 

But while work friends are certainly needed, are they actually friends by choice or by proximity? How can we tell whether a work friend could transition into a weekend friend?

The ‘Adult Friend’ Dilemma—and the ‘Work Friend’ Solution

Making new friends and maintaining existing friendships as an adult is no easy feat. Many of us spend much of our time working, taking care of our health, and tending to our homes, leaving our very limited free time to squeeze in friend dates or social gatherings.

This makes work friends all that more appealing: you can sustain your connection while working,........

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