Make the Referral Easy to Say Yes To
A referral puts your name on an internal form with someone's reputation next to it. A friend will do it without a second thought. Anyone further away needs two things from you: a reason to believe you fit the role, and a task they can finish in five minutes.
Each template below follows the same order: who you are to them, the exact role, why you fit in one sentence, and an easy way out. Send the job link and your resume in the first message so they don't have to ask for them.
Before You Send Anything
Ten minutes of prep turns the ask into something your contact can act on today.
- ✓Find the posting and copy its link and job ID. A referral for "something in engineering" is a favor your contact can't act on.
- ✓Check your mutual connections. A second-degree contact who knows you both can make an introduction, which beats a cold ask.
- ✓Update your LinkedIn headline and About section. The person you ask will look at your profile before they decide.
- ✓Tailor your resume to the posting before you attach it. Your contact may forward it without opening it.
5 Referral Request Templates
Swap the bracketed parts. LinkedIn keeps connection-request notes short, so for someone outside your network, send the short note with the request and the full message after they accept.
A friend or close former colleague
Hi [Name], Hope [something personal]. I'm applying for the [Role] position at [Company], job ID [ID]: [link] It lines up with the [relevant work] I've been doing at [Current company]. Would you be comfortable referring me? My resume is attached, and I can send a two-line summary for the referral form if that helps. No pressure if the timing's bad. [Your name]
A former colleague you haven't talked to in a while
Hi [Name], It's been a while since [shared project / team] at [Company]. I saw you've been at [Their company] for [time], and the [Role] opening there caught my eye: [link] I've spent the last [period] on [relevant work], which maps to what the posting asks for. If you know the team, I'd value your read on it. If you feel comfortable referring me, my resume is attached. Either way, good to reconnect. [Your name]
An alum from your school or bootcamp
Hi [Name], I'm a fellow [School] grad ([year]) and I'm applying for [Role] on the [team] team at [Company]: [link] I've been doing [relevant work] at [Company] for [time]. Would you be open to a 15-minute call about the team? If it looks like a fit after that, I'd be grateful for a referral. Thanks, [Your name]
Someone at the company you've never met
Connection note: Hi [Name], I'm applying for [Role] on your team and have [one-line fit]. Would you be open to a quick question about it? After they accept: Thanks for connecting, [Name]. The role is [Role]: [link]. I've [strongest result that matches the posting]. I know you can't vouch for someone you've never worked with. If you're open to it, I'd value ten minutes on what the team needs, and if we both think I fit after that, a referral would mean a lot. [Your name]
The follow-up, if you hear nothing
Hi [Name], bumping this in case it got buried. The [Role] posting is still open: [link]. If a referral isn't possible, no problem, I'll apply directly. Thanks either way. (Send one follow-up after about a week. After that, apply on your own.)
What to Send With the Ask
Turn the referral into a copy-and-paste job. Put these in the first message, or in your reply the moment they say yes.
Referral pack
Job link and job ID: [link] / [ID] Resume: tailored to this posting, as a PDF Your email and LinkedIn URL Two-line summary for the referral form: "[Your name] has [years] of [relevant work], most recently [strongest result] at [Company]. I know [Your name] through [context]."
Track Each Ask
Referral asks go stale in a week or two. Write down who you asked, for which role, and on what date, so you know when to follow up. When you hear back from the company, tell the person who referred you how it went, rejection included. People who refer you want to know.
Applyvo's contacts CRM links each person to the application they're helping with, and Reply Assistant can draft the ask: leave the incoming message empty, choose Cold intro, and put the role and your angle in the notes. Log to contacts saves what you sent on that person's timeline.
Write the Ask in a Minute
Reply Assistant drafts referral requests and follow-ups grounded in your resume, and logs each one to the contact it went to. Free to start, no credit card.
Common questions
Is it okay to ask a stranger for a referral on LinkedIn?
Yes, if you ask for a conversation first. A stranger can't vouch for your work, so a direct referral request puts them in an awkward spot. Ask for ten minutes on the team, earn the referral in that call, and send the referral pack so it takes them minutes.
Should I ask for a referral before or after I apply?
Before, when you can. At many companies the employee submits the referral through an internal portal, and that submission is what links your application to them. If you've already applied, tell your contact. They can still message the recruiter or hiring manager about you.
How many people at one company should I ask?
One or two at a time. Start with the person closest to you or to the team. If several people at the same company get the same message, they may compare notes.
What if they say no or don't reply?
Thank them and apply through the posting. A no often means they don't know your work well enough to vouch for it, or their company limits referrals. A gracious reply keeps the contact for later.