When you get recommended for a job by someone at the company, you sometimes bypass the reference requirement: someone has already vouched for you. Here is how to ask for a job referral , including templates to use for emails and LinkedIn messages. Some companies hiring for entry-level jobs understand that entry-level candidates may not have any useful references. Sometimes you can identify these jobs by looking for a "no references required" note on the job description.
Other times, you just won't be asked for references at any point. In either case, it's still a good idea to have a professional reference page available, just in case. Finally, some companies simply don't have the capacity to check references. This might be a startup, or a small business that has one person for hiring, HR, operations, and accounting.
The easiest way to get people to write you a recommendation on LinkedIn is to write them a great recommendation first!
LinkedIn recommendations appear on your profile; both the ones you send and the ones you receive. You should reference specific group projects or skills to give your recommendation context and credibility. Aim to write a few thoughtful recommendations for your coworkers or recent classmates, and then follow up with a message asking for one in return.
Most employers will look for you online before inviting you for an interview, so LinkedIn is a great tool to leverage! LinkedIn recommendations are useful to employers because they often insight to what other people think of you. That's the basic idea of a professional reference, too!
If you have several good recommendations on your LinkedIn, employers may be satisfied with the information and not seek out more. Although not a guarantee, having a well-written resume and cover letter could convince a hiring manager to interview you right away.
If you can wow the hiring manager in the interview as well, asking for references may be redundant. When an employer needs a reference, they will request one or more once they are interested in learning more about you as a potential employee. It's helpful to have a list of references ready to offer the employer as soon as they ask to show your preparedness. Academic institutions might also require references as you apply to a college or graduate program.
They may request different types of references, including both personal and academic contacts. Employers ask for references because they want to gain a larger perspective of who you are and what expertise you bring to the job. They may ask to see references for any of the following reasons:. You may find yourself in a situation where you need to provide references but don't have any professional experience or work contacts.
Here are situations that may mean you have no job references and some ways you can overcome the challenge:. Whether you just graduated high school or college, your only work experience might be through a summer job or a part-time job.
If you're applying for a position and the employer asks for references, find either an academic contact or close character reference outside of a professional setting. Ask your favorite teacher or the coach if they will be a reference as you start your first career move.
Explain what position you are applying for and why you are excited about the job. They will probably be happy to help you by writing a letter or sharing their contact information with your prospective employer. If you decide to make a change and go back to work in a business you don't own, you may feel challenged to find a professional reference. Use your self-employment to your benefit by asking a trusted client or vendor to speak on your behalf as a reference.
It's appropriate to ask someone you've done business with to explain your work ethic and expertise. As long as you can find a trusted contact who will speak positively about your character, you can supply a reference. Even if you've only interacted with someone a few times, they can still act as a reference. Make a list of people you've interacted with besides family. If you decide to choose a close friend, try to pick someone who has seen you in a more serious capacity, such as someone who has worked alongside you in an academic setting.
Download Article Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Instead of providing a person who can talk about your skills and abilities, provide a copy of your actual work which will show your skills and abilities. For job seekers just entering the job market, consider using school work to demonstrate your abilities. Be sure to redact any confidential or proprietary information in the documents.
Show a potential employee your previous evaluations. Most jobs include an evaluation at some point. And most evaluations are shared with you, so you can keep a copy. Use personal professional references instead of a corporate reference. Corporate references are those written by an employee on behalf of an employer. The reference is then officially from the employer.
Instead of asking for a corporate reference on company letterhead , ask for a personal professional reference from a former supervisor or co-worker. Many employers are concerned about lawsuits from providing either positive or negative references for former employees.
Personal professional references are references directly from another person, and not connected to the employer. Personal professional references need to ensure that they are speaking from their own personal experience working with you, and are not speaking as a representative of their employer. Provide reference letters instead of contact information. References do not always have to be verbal e. Written references can include either an employment confirmation or information about your skills and abilities, or both.
This is especially helpful if the company is being reorganized or sold and contacting them will be difficult in the future. Know what types of references are being requested. Potential employers will sometimes ask for references, not to ask questions about your skills and abilities, but to confirm you were actually employed at the companies listed on your resume.
They simply need to be able to confirm you used to work there for a specific period of time. Negotiate your references with a potential employer. You will not be the only applicant who is unable to provide a reference. When a potential employer asks for your references, negotiate what type and the number of references you provide.
If you do not have any professional references, offer to provide twice as many personal references if you can. For example, they could be a friend, a classmate, a teammate, a coach, a teacher, etc. Method 2. Search for previous supervisors and co-workers.
While it may have been several years or more since you last worked with them, it is worth the effort to search for those former managers and co-workers. If you can find them, ask them to be a reference. If they do not understand the importance of references not uncommon or cannot be bothered very common or have no guidance to help regarding references - persist.
Perhaps a heartfelt call or visit may help to override this. Ask supervisors and coworkers for references before you leave. However, keep in mind that written references are not normally considered sufficient. Evaluate and expand your current network. Professional networks are an invaluable resource for job seekers. Take the time to evaluate what your current network looks like, then work to expand your network as needed.
All of these people should be a part of your network. Keep in touch with the people in your network as often as you can. For example, keep track of them on LinkedIn and congratulate them on promotions and other major life events. You'll usually need a reference from your old employer when you're looking for a new job.
The reference has to be accurate. If you think you've had a bad reference It's worth asking either your new or old employer to see a copy of your reference. Asking your old employer to give a good reference next time Think about if you can ask your old employer to give a better reference in future.
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