How to ask for a job referral
A referral is a current employee telling the recruiter that you are worth a look. Many companies have a referral process because it saves them time. You do not need to know the person well, but you do need to make the request easy.
Before you write
- Find a specific role first. Use the job search and copy the link to the posting.
- Find people at the company who share something with you: a school, a past employer, a community, or the same role.
- Read the company's referral policy if it is public. Some companies pay a bonus, so the employee has a reason to say yes.
What to include in the message
- Who you are in one line, and how you found them.
- The exact role, with the link.
- Two sentences on why you fit, using facts from your experience.
- A clear, small ask: a referral, or a short chat first.
- Your resume attached or linked, and a thank you whether or not they can help.
A template you can adapt
Hi [Name], I am a [role] with [X years] in [area]. I found the [Job title] opening at [Company] ([link]) and it matches my work on [one concrete example]. Would you be open to referring me, or to a ten-minute chat about the team? I have attached my resume. Thank you either way.
Rules of good manners
- Ask once, then follow up once after about a week. Do not chase.
- Accept a no politely. People often cannot refer outside their team or before a probation period.
- Never ask someone to vouch for skills they have not seen. Offer your work samples instead.
- Tell them the outcome, and thank them.
If you know nobody there
Look for authors of the company's engineering or product blog, speakers at its events, and people who post about their work. Comment on something specific before you message. A short, relevant note beats a generic one.