What you’ll learn
A referral is a way an employee or other authorised contact may bring a candidate to an employer’s attention through its process. Policies vary. It is not a guarantee of an interview, a job, special treatment, or an exemption from the normal application requirements.
- Decide whether a referral request fits the relationship and vacancy.
- Prepare concise, truthful information that helps a contact make their own decision.
- Use a practical checklist and a pressure-free request template.
Why the relationship matters
Someone who has observed your work may be able to give meaningful context. A former colleague, project collaborator, tutor, or professional contact might know something relevant, but their willingness and the employer’s process still matter.
Do not treat a new connection as someone who owes you a referral. If you have never worked together, ask an appropriate question about the role or process rather than asking them to endorse skills they cannot assess. A genuine information conversation can be useful even when no referral follows.
Referral procedures differ by employer and country. An employee may not be permitted to refer a person for every role, may need consent to share a CV, or may ask you to use a particular sequence. Check the actual process; do not delay a deadline on the assumption that a referral will arrive.
Step by step: prepare before asking
Make it easy for the contact to understand the request without writing an essay or demanding a decision.
- Find a current, verified vacancy and assess whether its important responsibilities and conditions fit your evidence.
- Check whether the employer gives public referral or application instructions. Do not assume a contact can bypass requirements.
- Consider the relationship: what has the person genuinely observed, and is this an appropriate request for them?
- Prepare the title, reference, official link, a short fit summary, and an accurate CV only if appropriate to share.
- Ask whether they would feel comfortable considering a referral or explaining the process. Explicitly leave room to decline.
- Follow the instructions they actually provide, apply officially when required, and thank them whether or not a referral is possible.
Copyable referral request
This is for a genuine contact and a suitable role. Adapt the wording to the relationship; do not pretend a stranger knows your work.
Referral request — genuine professional contact
Hi [Name], I hope you’re well. I’m considering [Job Title / reference] at [Company]. My [genuine experience or Relevant Project] involved [relevant contribution], which appears connected to [specific responsibility]. If you feel comfortable and the process allows it, would you consider a referral or advise me on the application steps? I can share a concise fit summary and CV if useful. No pressure if it isn’t appropriate. Thank you.
Prepare a concise evidence summary
Give the contact information they can evaluate, not an endorsement you expect them to copy. A claim should be backed by something you can discuss.
| Item | Useful content | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Vacancy | Official title, reference, link, and relevant deadline | A vague request for any job at the company. |
| Fit | Two or three truthful links between requirements and your evidence | Claiming every skill from the advert. |
| Relationship | The actual work, learning, or professional context you share | Inventing shared projects or implying an endorsement already exists. |
| Materials | Accurate CV or safe portfolio link when requested and appropriate | Sensitive documents or excessive unsolicited attachments. |
Referral-request checklist
Use these checks before deciding whether to ask. Completing them does not entitle you to a referral or establish that you qualify for the job.
Common mistakes and practice activity
Do not pay for a referral, imply that acceptance is expected, ask someone to invent an endorsement, or repeatedly pursue a declined request. A lack of response is not permission to contact their colleagues about the same favour.
Choose a suitable vacancy and identify whether you have a relevant genuine contact. Draft a short fit summary and the request, or write why a referral is not currently appropriate. If the contact declines, a simple thank-you closes the request. Keep preparing your own application and respect deadlines.
- UC Berkeley Career Engagement — Networking: use career conversations to learn and build relationships (U.S. university context) (opens in a new tab)
- UC Berkeley Career Engagement — Informational Interviews: prepare questions, respect the agreed time, and follow up with appreciation (opens in a new tab)
- Apply strategically — prepare and record the official application