HOW TO ASK FOR A JOB REFERRAL (+7 EXAMPLES)
Are you looking for a new role? Don't expect to fill the position by posting your resume online and waiting for the job to come to you. 'Hoping' that someone will refer a qualified professional to the job will not cut it.
Recent stats indicate those job referrals are as or more effective. And yet… it's surprising how many job search don't leverage this powerful strategy in their job search efforts.
We'll tell you why: Asking for a referral seems daunting and fraught with uncertainty. This is especially true if you've never done it before or don't have a well-established relationship with the individual to whom you are asking for help.
Asking someone for a referral can be challenging, but it can also put your company at an advantage over the competition when you prepare correctly and ask. Here are seven tips to help you make the most of this strategy:
1. Identify your referral sources
A critical first step is to identify who are potential referral sources. This includes both individuals and companies and can consist of customers and vendors in addition to internal people at your company. Among the list, think about which would be most appropriate given your relationship, your recent interactions with them, and the type of job you are looking for. For example, suppose you want to be referred to a sales position at a large customer company. In that case, it's best to ask another employee at that organisation who has a relationship with the decision-maker. If it's a colleague in your own company hiring for a position, it's OK to ask your boss or even the executive team.
2. Do some research on the person you're considering asking for a referral
This should be completed before contacting them so that you understand their interests and challenges regarding open roles at their company. To make an effective request for a referral, you must know as much as possible about the role and what is important to them.
3. Use the right tone in your request
In a job search, you want to build relationships with people and demonstrate that you have qualities they would like to see in a colleague. The best way to do this is through thoughtfulness – if they're willing to provide you information on great candidates, you need to make sure they're going to feel that their time has been well-spent and that you will follow through.
4. Give them a compelling reason why they should take the time to help you out
Use your research about their interests and challenges as a guide here – if there is an opening in their team that would be of interest to them, use this as evidence of how your request aligns with each others' needs. If there aren't any immediately relevant positions at their company, consider other relevant factors: Is there another open role in the company which might create opportunities for collaboration between your two organisations? Can you help them solve some problems or provide insights that would be helpful to them personally?
E-mail subject lines are the first thing a reader sees when you hit send, making your request for help stand out by sending perfect ones.
5. Be sure and ask
Ask early on in the process, ideally before your resume or cover letter is submitted. This allows references time to do some digging and think about who they want to refer you to. But don't forget! If you're not asking directly for a referral right then, what are you asking for? And why should anyone care?
6. Be respectful of their time
Make it easy for contacts at companies with no immediate opportunities by providing links that allow them to find information about you more easily. Provide a compelling reason for them to take the time to contact you - this could be something as simple as saying that they are the best person for you to talk with about your career search and that it will mean a lot if they can help out by referring you on. One good tactic is attaching your resume or CV, which allows the recipient to find information relevant to their needs at a glance easily.
7. Revisit your request periodically
Ask again! Some people are better at remembering these things than others, so keep asking once every month or two until someone gets back in touch with you – it shows persistence and initiative on your end!
Final Thoughts
As a job seeker, it is essential to ask for referrals to help your job search. It is a good way for you to stand out from others in front of your potential employers. In general, asking for referrals works well only when all the above tips are followed. Also, make sure that you select people who can give you a good referral. Good luck!
In case you are looking for jobs, this article might be beneficial for you!
How has networking helped you land your job? Have you asked someone for a referral yet, and if so, how did it go?
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