How do you ask for a job referral?

In a job search, there are many ways in which you can increase your chances of landing an interview. A job referral is considered the most effective way. A job referral is a request that you make to someone for a target role in a company. 

The power of a job referral cannot be underestimated as according to one study, referrals are 4x more likely to be offered a job than website applicants. In this article, we discuss points you should keep in mind while seeking a job referral.

A referral helps in making your application stand out from other applicants and it can directly be in front of the hiring manager. Below we discuss the steps involved in getting a referral.

1. Ask the right person for the job referral

a. Start scanning the list of your personal and professional contacts. They could be friends, family members, former colleagues, batchmates, or a mutual connection. It is always better to seek help from someone who knows you personally.

b. Referral from the right person can improve your chances. Many times the connection can be working in the same organization but in a different location or team, although they can refer you but it may not be the most valuable one. Thus, ask someone with a similar role or someone directly or indirectly associated with this position for a referral. 

c. Another approach is coldly reaching out to people in the same company or industry on LinkedIn or email. It is the least effective method as the success through this is very low and people often don’t respond to such requests.

d. Building professional connections and maintaining meaningful relationships consumes time. Refermarket.com helps you connect with employees in your target companies and directly request referrals without spending time on networking.

2. What to consider when asking?

a. First of all, be respectful and considerate of the time and effort your connection is putting in for you. The relationship with the connection defines your approach.

b. With professional connections, use a formal tone and reintroduce yourself if you haven’t interacted with them recently. Ask them if they will be willing to refer you. Don’t be pushy about it. And also establish preferred channels of communication. 

c. You can use a casual approach with personal contacts. But it is advisable always to be considerate, polite, respectful, and clear about what you seek from them. 

3. What should be included in a referral letter or message?

a. The message must be concise and written in a positive tone. It should make it easy for someone to refer you.

i. Highlight why you are interested in the job

ii. Include a summary of your relevant qualifications and experience 

b. Attach relevant attachments 

i. Resume or cover letter

ii. Name and contact information

iii. Link to the job posting, if required.

4. Consider these when applying with a referral

a. It varies from company to company in accepting referral applications

b. In most cases, you need to apply just like others, and in the application form, you need to select the source as a referral and provide the details. 

c. But for a few companies, a separate link is generated for referred candidates to apply. It is advisable to always check with your contact before applying.

d. And request your referrer to put in a word directly with the hiring manager if they are comfortable doing so.

5. After you’ve applied

a. Send your regards and appreciate them for the favor. Thank them for extending their support in your job search efforts.   

b. Follow up after some time, normally a week later. Ensure that you are not doing hard follow-ups and doing them through the preferred channel of communication.

6. And lastly reciprocate

a. If someone helped you secure a job fostering a supportive network offering assistance and contributing to the collaborative spirit of the professional community

In conclusion, job referrals are an effective way to land interviews. By following the steps outlined above, you can increase your chances of getting a job referral and ultimately landing your dream job.