Did you know that referrals account for up to 40% of hires—but only 7% of applicants come through referrals? That means referred candidates have a massive advantage in the job search game. They’re 4x more likely to get hired, interviewed faster, and onboarded more smoothly than cold applicants.

If you’re not tapping into your network for referrals, you’re leaving one of your strongest job search strategies on the table.

Here’s how to find the right connection and ask for a referral—without being awkward.

🤝 Step 1: Use LinkedIn to Surface Mutual Connections

1. Go to the Job Posting or Company Page
   
   
   • Click “See who you know at [Company]” near the job posting or on the company’s LinkedIn page.
     
   • LinkedIn will show you 1st- and 2nd-degree connections who work there.
     
     
2. Search Your Network by Company
   
   
   • In the LinkedIn search bar, type the company name.
     
   • Filter by “Connections” to see your mutuals or direct contacts.
     
   • Prioritize people who:
     
     
     • Work in the same department as the job you’re applying for
       
     • Have been there 6+ months (they’ll likely understand the team)
       
     • Are alumni from your school or past companies
       
       

🧭 Step 2: Prioritize Who to Reach Out To

• Direct connections (1st-degree): Great! You can message them right away.
  
  
• Mutual connections (2nd-degree): See if a mutual contact can introduce you.
  
  
• Alumni or past colleagues: People who know your work ethic are often happy to help if asked respectfully.
  
  
• Team members in the same role: Even if you don’t know them, they’re often open to helping a future teammate.
  
  

✉️ Step 3: Ask for a Referral the Right Way

Here’s a winning script you can personalize:

Subject: Quick favor re: [Job Title] role at [Company]

Hey [Name],

I hope you’re doing well! I came across an exciting [Job Title] role at [Company] and noticed you're currently there. I'm really impressed by the company’s work in [something specific].

I’d love to throw my hat in the ring for this role and was wondering if you'd feel comfortable referring me, or pointing me in the direction of the right person to connect with. I’ve attached a short blurb and my resume to make things easy.

Really appreciate your time either way—and hope all is well with you!

Best,
[Your Name]

‍

✅ Make it easy: Attach your resume and a 2–3 sentence “elevator pitch” they can copy into the referral portal.

✅ Keep it short: Respect their time.

✅ Don’t take it personally if they say no. You only need one “yes.”

‍

📈 Bonus: Why Referrals Work So Well

• Referred hires stay 70% longer than non-referred hires (Jobvite).
  
• Companies are 4x more likely to hire someone through referral.
  
• Many employers even have employee referral bonuses—so it can benefit both you and your contact.
  
  

Final Thought

You don’t need to be best friends to ask for a referral. You just need to be respectful, specific, and easy to help. Tap into your network—you’re closer to your next opportunity than you think. Let Odyseek help you build that winning referral request. Create your job in the tracker and let our AI generator help you.