While many of us would want to believe that we are capable of handling everything on our own, but a little help can help you go a long way. For instance, a job reference, can be one of the most effective strategies to give your CV a proper update. When someone recommends you for a job, you have a far better chance of being called in for an interview. Getting a personal recommendation for a job is extremely beneficial and may considerably boost your chances of getting past the resume screening. If you are one of those who are looking to give your CV a suitable upgrade then this is the right place for you.
Who Do I Ask For a Job Referral?
You have this question in mind and how you do you find people you can provide you with the referral?
The answer to this lies with your present and past connections. When you are looking for work, you should look everywhere. Make contact with former friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and even relatives. Get in touch with your previous college classmates as well–and if you don’t know how to find them, call your former school or university to get in touch. Make a list of potential referral sources, and then reconnect with them via email or LinkedIn. Then, ask for the recommendations you require. If You have got a built-in recommendation for the job in the first paragraph and are suggested for a position by someone at a firm or by a connection you have a common relation with the hiring manager which increases your chances of getting hired.
Places Where You Can Ask For Reference
- LinkedIn- LinkedIn is the most common place to meet and connect with people for professional purposes. Begin by searching LinkedIn for contacts at the firm. Search for a firm by name, then click on the one you want to learn more about. A list of contacts in your network who may be able to help will appear.
- University’s Office of Career/Alumni- If you are a recent college graduate, investigate if your university’s career services office or alumni office can connect you with graduates who work at the firm you are interested in or can they themselves provide with relevant referral.
- Personal Connection- Reach out to your friends, family and other connections and seek if they know anyone from the firm that you seeking to apply in then their help can prove to be very beneficial.
How Do I Ask For A Referral?
What is the most effective way to request a referral? You can send an old-fashioned letter, an email, or a message on a networking site like LinkedIn or Facebook all these ways can be used for asking a recommendation. But whatever mode you use, always keep in mind to keep your tone professional. In any case, it’s preferable to ask in writing rather than calling over the phone. The possible referrer will have more time to consider whether and how they can recommend you for a job. It’s also easier to say no in writing than it is over the phone.
Formulating Your Request
“Could you write a reference letter for me?” or “Can you refer me?” are not appropriate questions to ask when requesting a referral. Rather, ask, “Do you think you know enough about my work to recommend me for a position at your company?” or “Do you think you could provide a recommendation for me?” That way, if your referrer is hesitant to provide you with a reference, you’ll have an option, and those who say “yes” will be thrilled about your work and post a great review. Offer to give them an updated copy of your resume and information about your talents and experiences, especially if you don’t know the person very well well or if they are unfamiliar with your current job history.
Keep In Mind
Here are a few tips that can help you get better job referrals
Grow Your Network– The larger your network, the better will be your chances of getting a job referral. Always try yo grow and connect with new people who can help you grow in your career both personally and virtually on various platforms like LinkedIn. If you are connected with many people on a professional level, your reputation automatically increases in the job market.
Use Varies Approaches– While asking for a job referral you need to have varied approaches depending on the relation you have with the one you are reaching out to. If the person is a close family member or friend, then you can use a casual approach or oral request. While you need to use more structured approach when seeking referral from an acquaintance by using proper methods like using e-mails and LinkedIn profile.
Improve Your Resume– Always put in efforts to improve your resume and make it look eye catchy. If you have good skills and experiences then it becomes easier for the person to refer you to a company/firm rather than someone who has no work experience at all.
Never Directly Ask For Job– Never ask for a job directly. This may put the individual on the position and make the situation awkward. Instead, inquire whether they would be able to suggest you or if they are familiar enough with your work history to feel comfortable suggesting you for a position. If the individual isn’t interested, change your request to ask for someone’s contact information, a possible introduction, or an informative interview to learn more about their company.
Prove Your Worth– Always offer to send the referral text to the referrer. If they agree to offer the reference, it will make their work simpler! It’s far easier to alter a message you’ve already written than it is to compose something up on the spot. Remember, the easier you make it for someone to do you a favor, the more likely it is that your request will be granted!
Benefits Of a Job Referral
You might be thinking what are the benefits of having a job referral if you already have an impressive CV with loads of work experience. Why can’t you simply reach out to a firm directly? Although there are no doubts that you can directly reach to a firm for a job, but having a referral only adds up to your chances of getting selected. Here are a few facts that might help you understand the benefits of having a job referral.
- Referred applicants have a 50% better chance of getting an interview.
- Almost 40% of suggested prospects are recruited.
- Those who were employed after being suggested for a job have a greater level of work satisfaction and are more likely to stay in their new jobs for longer periods of time.
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Sandeep Bhandari is the founder of PrepMyCareer.com website.
I am a full-time professional blogger, a digital marketer, and a trainer. I love anything related to the Web, and I try to learn new technologies every day.
All the team management, content creation, and monetization tasks are handled by me. Together with the team at PrepMyCareer, the aim is to provide useful and engaging content to our readers.