You’ve just applied to your dream company, and LinkedIn informs you that you have a connection with someone who works there. Should you reach out? How should you start the conversation? We discuss the best ways to request referrals from your existing network and what role new connections can play.
What if you knew you could increase your chances of getting hired for the job application you just submitted?
Well, you can — by way of a job referral.
A job referral, as described by Brittney Swan, LinkedIn strategist, public speaker and career change expert, is when you (the job seeker) are asking someone within a company to tell the hiring manager that they think that you would be a good fit.
It may seem like a bold move and one you aren’t sure how to navigate, but consider these points mentioned by Marc Miller on Career Pivot: Out of every 180 applicants for any job posting, four applicants will be employee referrals. After the applicants are narrowed down by half, two employee-referred candidates will remain. And finally, out of the five candidates that the company chooses to interview — the two referred candidates will be in the running for the position.
Miller’s example leads to the ultimate point that a job referral will increase your chances of getting an interview by 50% and increase your chances of getting the job by 20%.
With the firm knowledge that a job referral can do nothing but help you in your job-search process, the question now is — how do you get one?
The idea of reaching out via LinkedIn message or email to a connection asking for a referral may seem intimidating at first, but Swan assures asking for a job referral doesn’t have to be an unnerving process — and she first recommends looking at your network and evaluating who could speak best to your skills.
“Ask yourself, ‘Who do I know from the past that could speak to my skills and who also works in an environment that I want to join?’” said Swan.
From there, you should initiate a conversation asking how they like their position and company. Take a genuine interest in their role and in learning more about the company as a whole before asking for your referral.
“It's really important to solidify that partnership before you ask your connection for something, such as a job referral,” said Swan.
If you don’t happen to know anyone at the company you are applying for, however, there is a way to work around this — the informal referral.
“There's actually two types of networking,” said Swan. “One is going through your previous channels and having them recommend you as a candidate, and one is adopting new networks and new channels.”
The latter option is a way to gain an informal referral from a new connection and is when someone forwards your information to the person hiring for the job posting.
For example, if you are eager to join a company and apply for jobs on the career page but don’t actually know anyone within the organization, it’s okay to look up active employees on LinkedIn and hit the “connect” button in hopes of a conversation.
But Swan stresses that job seekers should thoroughly understand the “dos” and “don’ts” of messaging strangers in hopes of a referral.
“After you connect, start with that first saying hello, thanking them for connecting and asking them about their current job or role — establish that connection,” said Swan. “Once the conversation is going, then you can express your interest in joining the company and mention a job description and ask them if they know anything about the position and who you can contact.”