A referral is when an existing employee at your target company recommends you for a position. This endorsement is a testament to your potential fit within the company and for the role. With their recommendation, your application is prioritized, enhancing its visibility to recruiters.

Who you ask a referral from is another important factor of a strong referral. This person needs to know you to advocate for you, so past coworkers, mentors, or friends are a good place to start. Their personal testimony is invaluable, far more so than a message to a stranger on LinkedIn. Strive to foster genuine relationships that can lead to referrals, as they are rooted in mutual trust and respect.

Building a relationship goes beyond a single meeting at a conference or event. Making an initial connection is just the first step; it’s the ongoing communication that transforms a connection into a relationship. Whether that’s through occasional check-ins, offering or receiving advice, or sharing resources, regularly keep in touch. Real relationships are about giving as much as you receive, so creating a foundation of trust can lead to meaningful referrals when the right opportunity comes along.

Here’s how to approach the process of asking for a referral from a specific company:

1. In the summer before recruitment, make a list of companies you’re targeting and potential contacts you could reach out to. Start with people whom you know well first.
2. Outreach to new contacts working in the industry and continue developing your relationships.
   • Steps for reaching out to new contacts:
3. Before the application opens, reach out to your potential contacts if they’d be willing to refer you. When applications open, you want to be ready to go ASAP.
4. If you can’t find anyone whom you know well who can refer you, try to start with people whom you know well and ask them to turn to their network. Personally, I’ve helped people get referrals, and others have helped me get referrals this way.