Unlock the Secrets to Referrals

Welcome to Career Confidence 🤝 

👋 to everyone reading this newsletter and gaining confidence in your career. 

Today I’ll show you how to always apply with a referral and 10x your interviews. 

Read Time ≈ 3 minutes

🤯 71% of Interviews Come From Referrals 

Have you ever asked for a referral? 

Most people don't know how to.  

Only 7% of candidates apply with a referral. 

Most companies have a system. 

They don't guarantee you an interview... 

But they do guarantee your resume is read. Recruiters get ~30 seconds per resume.

Your resume may not be seen without a referral. 

So who do you ask? 

Hiring managers are usually the best. 

And senior employees have more powerful referrals (e.g., director referral > analyst referral) 

But... 

How do you ask for one? 

Let's break it down 👇

👊 Actionable Steps 

Step 1: Identify Your Target Role and Company 

Create a list of 10-20 companies you love (use company websites and LinkedIn) 

Research roles on LinkedIn. 

Filter down to 1-3 roles you love (what are your interests, skills, experiences, etc.) 

Step 2: Find People Who Do the Job You Want 

Search on LinkedIn.

Filter for your dream role, company, and shared experiences (e.g., growth strategy, Google, 'Your College') 

Send a personalized connection. 

Steal my personalized message 👇

Hey [name], I'm searching for [x role] and would love advice from a fellow [college] alumni. 

Would love to grab 15 min to learn about your experience at [company] and see how I can support your career journey. 

Step 3: Structure Your Conversations to Make a Great First Impression

Structure your conversation. 

Start with this:

I'd love to start with introductions, learn more about your role, then ask a few specific questions. Does that work? 

Don't: 

• Ask for a job

• Lose focus (stay structured)

• Be too informal (be respectful)

Step 4: Keep in Touch to Build Your Relationship 

Send a personal message to keep in touch every 3-6 months. 

• Job updates

• Holiday wishes

• Relevant articles (e.g., relevant industry trends)

Build the relationship. You'll come off as needy otherwise. 

Step 5: Directly Ask for the Referral 

The moment you've all been waiting for... 

Directly message your network for a referral. 

Have 1-2 calls before you ask. 

Be concise. Be direct. Give an 'easy out'. 

Ask for advice on other roles that may be a good fit. 

Send 2-3 sentences on why you're a great fit for the role. 

Steal this message 👇

Hi [name], 

It was great speaking with you about [x role]. I'm applying to [x role]. It's a great fit based on my skills. 

Would you be willing to write me a referral? No problem if you don't feel comfortable doing so. 

I'm a great fit for [x role] because of my skills... I appreciate all your help. 

TL;DR:

• Identify Your Target Company and Role

• Find People Who Do the Job You Want

• Structure Your Conversations

• Directly Ask for the Referral

• Keep in Touch

🙌 Abbhi's Aces: 

Content to consume, Tools to use. Best finds of the week.

📚 This post has 11 common career-limiting mistakes to avoid 

🔗 This website helps you find anyone's email (use for cold outreach) 

And if you missed it, this post has 9 more FREE resources you can use to land your dream job:

Thanks for reading! I hope you gained some confidence in yourself and your career with this week's lesson.

See you next Thursday ✌️ 

Abbhi Sekar 🤝

Lastly... here are 3 ways I can help you: 

1. Steal my free resume template to get your next interview 

2. If you're struggling with your job search, request a free discovery call with me.

3. Fill out this 20-second anonymous survey so I can create more relevant content for you

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