How to Ask for a Reference & Who to Turn to When Need Be.
Ask for a Reference: You can ask for a reference with a phone call or through a written email or a hard-copy letter, but either way, you’ll want to write your request carefully. Here on this spot, I will give you tips as well as a sample template of asking for a reference.
How to Ask for a Reference Letter
“You want them to feel like you’re asking them because you truly want them to be a reference, not just because you have to have three,” says Kapit, underscoring the importance of tailoring each request to the person you’re reaching out to.
To get an idea of what personalized email requests for would look like, these tips will give a full idea.
Ask Nicely. Former co-workers and managers are under no obligation to serve as a reference. You are asking for a favor, so be polite and warm in your request. You can also mention why you thought the person would be an ideal reference.
Give Your Reference a Heads-Up. Do not give out anyone’s name as a reference without their permission and without knowing what they are going to say about you.
The individual who is giving you a reference needs to know ahead of time that they may be contacted regarding a reference for you. Once you have their permission, let your reference providers know as soon as you share their names with prospective employers.
How to Submit a Written Reference Letter
Unless you work daily with a potential reference, it may be more efficient to ask them for a letter of reference in a letter or an email rather than a phone call. If there are specific forms the recommender needs to complete, you may want to send an email message asking for the , then follow up with a written letter and the forms.
Tips: In your letter requesting a reference, it can be helpful to provide the potential recommender with background information, including your current resume and a link to the job description (or a summary).
You can also briefly mention the specific qualities and skills of yours that you would like your reference to mention. If you have any information about how the company will be reaching out to the recommender — phone, email, etc. — you can include those details as well.
It’s a good idea to review sample letters asking for a reference to get ideas for your letters. These samples, both written and email, include the best ways to phrase your request and how to ask someone to be your reference.
Types of Professional References
Sometimes the trickiest thing about professional references is knowing who to contact. Here are five common types of references — in the next section, we’ll address who yours should be.
Former Employer. A previous employer can provide the best insight into your work ethic, successes, and how well you collaborate with a team. They can also describe your responsibilities and how adept you are (or were) at handling them — info a potential employer will want.
Colleague. Someone you worked alongside at a previous job — a coworker who wasn’t your boss — can be an excellent reference. They will be able to speak about things you worked on together and what you achieved as a team. (Teamwork is one of the most important soft skills an employer looks for, so having someone to vouch for your teamwork skills is vital.)
Teacher. If you’re a recent or soon-to-be graduate, a teacher or professor can provide a strong reference — especially if they taught a course that is pertinent to your major. They will be able to talk about the skills you picked up during their course, as well as your personal character and even your schoolwork ethic.
Advisor. An academic college advisor is another great option for a reference. They can talk about who you were as a student and how you’ve become the professional you are today.
Supervisor. Someone who supervised you could be another excellent reference to include. A supervisor doesn’t have to be someone you worked with — they could be a supervisor from a volunteer project, an internship, or another extracurricular activity. Any of these people have spent enough time working with you to get a sense of your character and passions.
How to Ask Someone to Be A Reference
1. Choose the right people
Make a list of people who could be potential references. These can include direct supervisors from jobs or , coworkers who understood the value of your accomplishments, or people you’ve supervised. If you don’t have much work experience, you can also consider people you know from volunteer activities and teachers or professors.
In general, the more recently you worked with a potential reference, the better. But you can make exceptions for individuals employed at the company you are applying to, well-respected community members, or a supervisor you worked for at a past job who especially respected your work.
Start your initial list with everyone you can think of, then narrow it down based on your priorities, the nature of the relationship, and the position you’re applying for. Typically, companies ask for no more than three references, but it’s a good idea to have four or even five in case one becomes unavailable.
2. Notify your references in advance
The person giving you a reference may need to write a letter, fill out a questionnaire, or speak to someone from human resources on the phone. Providing this favor is no small task. Give your reference plenty of time to consider the request, and be sure to thank them for their time and efforts.
3. Ask nicely and be aware of how you’re being received
If it’s been a while since you’ve communicated with a potential reference, connect the dots between the past and the present: what you worked on together and where you are in your current career path.
Providing your resume is an easy way to do this. Always give your potential reference an option to decline. If they show any hesitation, gracefully back out of the invitation and move down your list to the next option. It’s better to preserve the relationship in the long run.
4. Follow up, both before and after
Once you’ve provided your list of references to your potential employer, send a quick follow-up email to let each reference know which company will be calling and, if you know the details, what information the company will be requesting.
Then, if you are hired for the position, take a moment to celebrate by sending a quick email to your references to let them know you’ve accepted a position and that you’re grateful for their help on your behalf.
Sample Letter Asking for a Reference
This is a reference letter . Take your time and go through to understand the whole structure while writing yours.
Ashton Zimmers
123 Main Street
Anytown, CA 12345
555-555-5555
[email protected]May 6, 2020
John Rogers
Office Manager
Acme Corporation
680 Main Boulevard, Ste. 300
Ocean City, CA 93650Dear Ms. Rogers,
I am reaching out to ask you to provide me a reference for a new opportunity I am seeking with CBI Industries. Of course, I completely understand if you are unable to commit to this. Please just let me know as soon as possible.
I learned a lot about the industry while working for you at Acme Corporation, and I think you would be able to provide the kind of insight into my skills that would increase my chances of landing this new position. As you know, I have recently been employed at VBN Industries, heading their research and development division. The opportunity at CBI Industries is related but would also require many of the sales and marketing techniques I developed while working for you.
Thank you very much for considering my request. I have attached a copy of my updated resume and the job posting for your review. Gary Smith from Human Resources will be the contact person at CBI who will be in touch if you agree to provide the reference for me.
If you have any questions or need any further information, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Sincerely,
Ashton Zimmer
Sample Email Message Asking for a Reference
Subject line: Reference for
Dear Ms. Rogers,
I am reaching out to ask you to provide me a reference for a new opportunity I am seeking with CBI Industries. Of course, I completely understand if you are unable to commit to this. Please just let me know as soon as possible.
I learned a lot about the industry while working for you at Acme Corporation, and I think you would be able to provide the kind of insight into my skills that would increase my chances of landing this new position.
As you know, I have recently been employed at VBN Industries, heading their research and development division. The opportunity at CBI Industries is related but would also require many of the sales and marketing techniques I developed while working for you.
Thank you very much for considering my request. I have attached a copy of my updated resume and the job posting for your review. from Human Resources will be the contact person at CBI who will be in touch if you agree to provide the reference for me.
If you have any questions or need any further information, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Best Regards,
Ashton Zimmer
(555) 234-5678
[email protected]
Sometimes a phone call or in-person meeting is a good idea for requesting a personal reference, but you can also start with an email. The above example email template you can easily adapt, depending on the position you’re applying for and the relationship you have with your potential reference.
Now that you know how to identify and approach the best references, kindly share this with your friends and loved ones so they can be far away from mistakes when choosing a reference.
StudentsandScholarship Team.
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