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Unlock the Secrets to Referrals
5 proven steps to land your dream interview
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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')
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Send a personalized connection.
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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 ✌️
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Abbhi Sekar 🤝
Lastly... here are 3 ways I can help you:
Steal my free resume template to get your next interview
If you're struggling with your job search, request a free discovery call with me.
Fill out this 20-second anonymous survey so I can create more relevant content for you
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