How to Get a Job Referral
How can you get a referral for a job? Start by checking for connections at the company onLinkedIn. Search by company name, then click on the company you're interested in. You'll see a list of contacts in your network who may be able to assist.
The best type of referral for a job is an employee referral, however clients, vendors, and other people who are connected with the company may be able to assist, as well.
Where to Find People to Refer You
There are also other websites you can use, in addition to LinkedIn, to easily find your connections at companies:
StartWire helps you tap your professional connections. You can ask your Facebook friends or LinkedIn connections to help you with the job. When you search for jobs, you can see the connections you have at companies, and then send them a message to see if they can help.
Use SimplyHired.com's Who Do I Know? tool and you can see who you are connected with on LinkedIn and Facebook at companies of interest. Those connections may be glad to give you a referral.
BranchOut is a Facebook app that helps you find your friends at companies of interest. Search by company name and you'll see a list of your Facebook friends at the company. Then you can message them to see if they can assist with your applications.
Jibe is a job site that helps you tap your social networking contacts to find a job. Jibe pulls your Facebook or Linkedin connections' work information from their profiles, allowing you to quickly browse the connections you already have through personal contacts to various companies.
How to Ask for a Referral
You can ask for a referral by sending an old-fashioned letter, by sending an email message, or by sending a message on a networking site like LinkedIn or Facebook. It's better to ask in writing, whichever way you choose, instead of over the phone. That way the potential referrer has time to think over if and how they can refer you for a job. It's also easier to decline in writing than during a phone conversation.
When you ask someone to refer you, don't ask "Could you write a reference letter for me?" or "Can you refer me?" Just about anyone can write a letter or say they'll refer you.
The problem can be what they are going say. Rather, ask "Do you feel you know my work well enough to refer me for a job at your company?" or "Do you feel you could give me a referral?" That way, your referrer has an out if they are not comfortable providing a referral for you and you can be assured that those who say "yes" will be enthusiastic about your performance and will write a positive letter or give you a strong endorsement.
Especially when you don't know the person you're asking very well or if they aren't familiar with your current work history, offer to provide an updated copy of your resume and information on your skills and experiences so the reference provider has current information to work with.
Referral Letter Examples
Not sure how to ask for a referral? Review examples of referral letters for suggestions on asking for a referral, using referrals in your cover letters, and saying thank you for a job referral.
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