How to Secure a Job Referral

A job referral is a prime way to ensure you stand out to the hiring manager among other candidates. After all, who doesn’t take a personal recommendation seriously?

Referrals still rank as one of the top sources of hires, and there’s good reasoning behind those numbers. Research indicates that referrals stay longer and perform better over the long-term. So, how can you secure a job referral for a job you’re interested in?

Check for connections on LinkedIn. You can easily search for the company page to see if you have any connections who work there. You can also see if you have any second- or third-degree connections in common with the organization.

Search Facebook friends. Perhaps your classmate from high school now works at the company you’re applying at, or maybe a family friend can provide a referral because their company does business with the organization.
Reach out to your network. Most people like to help others when they can. Simply updating your network on your job search could be beneficial in securing a referral or learning about other unadvertised job openings.

How to Ask for a Job Referral

It’s recommended to ask for a referral in writing. This way, the person has time to think it over. You can send an email or message on LinkedIn or Facebook, or go the old-fashioned route by writing a letter.

Provide your contact with an up-to-date resume. It’s likely that the person referring you isn’t entirely familiar with your past experience or qualifications, so make the process easy for them by providing your resume. This helps them write a detailed referral letter or tell their employer why you would be a good fit.

Ask the right way. Don’t ask “Could you write a referral letter for me?” Instead, give them an out in case they don’t feel comfortable by saying, “Do you feel you could give me a referral?” This also ensures that you’ll get a positive referral from the individual since they believe you’re a good match.

What else should job candidates know about securing a job referral?

Kat Krull is the Marketing Manager of Resunate, the world’s only automatic resume tailoring tool. You can find Kat and Resunate on Facebook and Twitter.

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