4 Mistakes To Avoid When Asking for a Job Referral

This week we’re focusing on Habit #3 of our series on the “Five Habits of Effective Job Seekers”: They get referred.

As we mentioned yesterday, a referral can increase your chances of getting hired by up to 300% – that’s an easy way to increase your odds of having a shorter job search. You’re also more likely to have a happier landing: On average, people who are referred for positions through employee referral programs stay longer in the job once they are hired – in fact they are 3.5 times less likely to be terminated.

Just as you can exponentially increase your chances of getting a job with a referral, you can kill your chances if you play your cards wrong. Here are four common mistakes job seekers make when asking for a referral – and how to avoid them.

1.    Asking someone you don’t know to refer you – without introducing yourself or establishing common ground.

Ever gotten a message that says “Because you are a person I trust, I’d like to add you to my LinkedIn network” from a person you’ve never met?

Don’t ask to be referred into any job this way: it will likely only result in a weak recommendation. Many years ago, a private citizen asked U.S. President ______________ if he could recommend him. The result, a short letter that essentially said nothing at all: “I recommend this young man for whatever job YOU think he is qualified for.”

A better approach? Express interest in the other person. Get to know them. Share interests. Ask later – when you have a relationship.

2.    Not letting a referral know you are using their name. Many job applications have a referral box you can select if you have an inside connection.

If you check the box but don’t let your connection know you’ve applied, they may be caught off guard – and may not be able to speak to your strengths.  They may also be annoyed with you for not sharing information.

Bottom line: Tell anyone who has offered to help you in a job search that you’ve applied – before you give their name out as a referral and point of contact.

3.    Not educating the person who’s offered to help you.

While getting a referral can help ensure your resume gets read, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll make the interview list. If someone’s offered to vouch for you by serving as a referral, make sure they have a copy of your most recent resume – and know why you’d be a good fit for the job you’ve applied for.

4.    Asking for a referral from someone who would not recommend you.

Never list anyone as a source of referral if you’re unsure as to whether they would actually recommend you.

As the late Ambassador – and founder of TV Guide – Walter Annenberg once said, “It’s not who you know…it’s who knows you back that matters.”