Vanth

While I have some savings, I’m not wealthy and I’d rather be employed. The best time for me to look for a better job would be while employed and on ok financial footing.

I’m also in a position where I could insulate myself from a lot of toxic personalities and “quiet quit” to some degree before getting fired. And getting fired would mean unemployment benefits where I live, so I’d be ok with that.

Hindsight is 20:20. Regardless, I think Bob is overreacting, assuming your email to Alice was in the range of what I personally would write and nothing you said was sparking red flags to me l.

Oh, for sure. I guess I assumed Bob made the introduction by email. So OP could reply to that intro email with a “Thanks, Bob! Alice, pleasure to meet you, I’ll send you a separate email to introduce myself and blah de blah”.

Acknowledge the email and thank Bob, then drop him from the convo. Regardless, Bob doesn’t need to see the sausage being made.

Without reading your actual email, this all sounds normal to me. Networking is how people get jobs.

I would have probably thanked Bob and dropped him from the email before asking Alice questions. Bob doesn’t need to be on that email once he’s made the introduction.