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How To Mention A Referral In Your Cover Letter (With Examples)

  • How To Sign A Cover Letter
  • Salary Requirements In Cover Letter
  • Referral In Cover Letter
  • Cover Letter Body
  • Use Dear Sir Or Madam?
  • Use Mrs. Or Ms.?

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Having a referral by someone who is already employed at the company you’re applying to can be an excellent way to get your foot in the door. Mentioning a referral in your cover letter is one of the ways to do this. To help you write the best referral in your cover letter, we’ll go over how to include a reference in a cover letter, provide some referral cover letter examples, and some benefits to being referred. Key Takeaways: Make sure you have a reliable referral that is in good standing with a company, and that they know they are being included before putting down a referral. Candidates that are referred also tend to feel more of an obligation to the company, their reference, and their team, allowing them to get up to speed more quickly and adapt to the new culture and workplace more efficiently. Writing a cover letter with referral will allow you to highlight the key skills you can bring to the position and provide specific examples of why you are the best fit for this job. In This Article    Skip to section What is a referral cover letter? How to mention a referral in your cover letter Referral cover letter examples Who to ask for a referral The benefits of being referred Referral in your cover letter FAQ Final thoughts Expert Opinion References Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More What is a referral cover letter?

A referral cover letter is an application document for a potential job opportunity that mentions a mutual contact you may share with the hiring manager or someone in the company. This connection can be an old colleague, a friend, or a networking acquaintance who likely works at the company you are applying to.

When done effectively, you can drop their name in your cover letter to emphasize how your skills and abilities align with the job and how you’ve worked with your referral in the past. You can mention specific projects and details that you know this person may be able to vouch for.

Your cover letter is the first thing your employer or hiring manager is likely to see, so use it as your moment to shine. This document will allow you to provide additional details about your education, qualifications, skills, and work ethic. You can point to specific projects and challenges you may have experienced and discuss how you overcame them and how those abilities translate to the job you are applying for.

How to mention a referral in your cover letter

When mentioning a referral in your cover letter, make sure your referral knows you are including them before, and then mention their name in the letter and explain why they are recommending you. Here is a more detailed list of how to add reference in cover letter:

Make sure your referral knows. Mentioning a referral in your cover letter is appropriate when you have directly contacted the person you’re planning to mention as your referral. This could be someone you contacted or someone that contacted you. It can even be someone who is not your contact on LinkedIn or other networks, but you’ve reached out to them, and they’ve agreed to be a referral.

However, in instances where you have not asked for explicit permission from the person you’re planning to use as your referral or this person is not in good standing with their employer, you should stay clear of mentioning them in your cover letter .

Mention who is referring you. The purpose of the cover letter is to impress from the start . Mention your referral within the first paragraph of your note. To do this effectively, include:

The person’s name

How you know them

How they are familiar with your skills and qualifications

Explain why they are recommending you. You can give the hiring manager a quick summary of why they are recommending you and how your past experience gives you the skills required to do the job well.

Keep it short. Try to keep your referral to one single paragraph in your cover letter. The rest of your letter should expand more on you and your skills, including how the things you have learned in previous work environments are transferable to your new role .

Send a copy of your cover letter to your referral. The last thing you should do is send a copy of your cover letter to your referral so they can read it over. Doing this is a nice gesture and allows them to know what you are saying about them. Be sure to also thank them for their help.

Referral cover letter examples

We’ve included some examples of how it may look to include a referral in your cover letter.

Cover letter with referral example

Dear Angela Morris, I am writing to inquire about the Marketing Director position, which came highly recommended to me by Bill Jeffries, Vice President of Marketing at Apple, Inc. Bill and I worked closely together for several years at Nabisco, where we tackled a variety of event coordination and digital lead generation efforts. Bill believes my marketing experience and skill for developing memorable events can have a profound impact on the marketing team and organization as a whole.
Dear Larry Smith, Bill Jeffries suggested I reach out to you regarding the Marketing Director position at Apple, Inc. I met Bill while coordinating a conference at the end of last year. We worked closely together with vendors, contracts, and design. He was able to see my ability to bring booths to life, develop innovative ideas to capture new leads, and drive to continually improve marketing programs, which is why he’s referred me to this role on your team.
Dear John Riley, Tom Johnson suggested I contact you regarding the Customer Representative Position at XYZ Company. I worked with Tom last year when we worked together at ABC Corp. Working closely together allowed him to see my ability to connect with others and drive sales. This is why he referred me to this role and your team.

Who to ask for a referral

Getting a referral when you don’t know someone well can sometimes be tricky. But there are a variety of ways to be referred for a job . A connection at the company you’re applying for might inquire whether you’re interested in exploring new job opportunities. You may have an old connection on LinkedIn that you forgot about.

LinkedIn is a great tool to explore whether you know anyone at the company you are applying to. You can easily see if you know an existing connection or if one of your contacts knows someone at the company currently.

Once you choose someone to provide a referral , be sure to reach out to them before applying for the job. Ask if they are willing to give you a referral for the job. Even if you assume this person will build your credibility with the hiring manager, it’s important to check with them first. You don’t want to bombard someone at the last minute, and you certainly don’t want to tell the hiring manager that a person has vouched for you when they actually haven’t.

To do this, you can send them an email or a letter asking them for a referral. Similar to a reference letter , this will give the person you are asking a chance to look over the requirements and think about how they can best help you. This also gives them an opportunity to opt out of a referral in case they don’t feel comfortable.

The benefits of being referred

Being a candidate who is referred by someone respected in the company is a tremendous benefit for you as a job seeker such as an expedited hiring process or the ability to highlight key skills. Here are some more benefits of being referred.

It can quicken the hiring process. Even if a company doesn’t have a formal employee referral program , the human resources (HR) department typically welcomes referrals. They help to expedite the hiring process and ensure that strong candidates fill open spots on teams.

Allows the interviewer to see you in a different light. When you are referred for a job, it might feel like a lot to live up to. However, if you view it as a step up during your interview process , you will be better suited for your interview. Ultimately, having a candidate referred gives the hiring manager an authentic glimpse into the kind of employee you will be and will help them relate your experience to the position.

A better understanding of the company culture. The person who referred you will likely be asked to provide insights into how you will fit into their company culture . However, there is no need to worry because the person who referred you would not have vouched for you if they didn’t think you were the right fit for this job.

Being able to highlight key skills. Putting this referral in your cover letter will allow you to highlight the key skills you can bring to the position and provide specific examples of why you are the best fit for this job. Cover letters give you another area to share additional details that your resume may not include.

Referral in your cover letter FAQ

Should you mention a referral in a cover letter?

Yes, you should mention a referral in your cover letter. Mentioning a referral in a cover letter helps to emphasize how your skills and abilities align with the job and how you’ve worked with your referral in the past. The best way to do this is to mention specific projects and details how you know the person and how they can vouch for you.

Who should be a referral for a job?

A referral should be someone you know such as an old colleague, former classmate, or someone from your network who works at the company you are applying for. The person who is referring you should be a current employee and someone you trust. They should be able to help highlight your strengths and abilities.

How do you mention a referral in your cover letter?

To mention a referral in your cover letter be sure to mention by name the person who referred you and your relationship to the. This should be a person who is a current employee who can highlight your skills and abilities. Your referral in your cover letter should be kept short and to the point.

Final thoughts

If you come into a company with the right type of referral and a person who can actively vouch for your work ethic, you’ll already place yourself ahead of the competition. Even if you have a vast network and land your dream job, continue to network . Ensure that you always depart work environments on good terms with colleagues and managers. You never know who you will cross paths with later in your career journey: the broader your network, the better chance you will have to name-drop in the future.

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Expert Opinion

How To Mention A Referral In Your Cover Letter

Martha Nicks Career Services Provider

“My colleague XXX recommended that I contact you directly about this position ” is an easy way to name drop your referral in the cover letter. To strengthen the statement, add something about the relationship of the referral to the company.

University of South Florida – Cover Letter Do’s & Don’ts

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Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.

Matt Warzel a President of a resume writing firm (MJW Careers, LLC) with 15+ years of recruitment, outplacement, career coaching and resume writing experience. Matt is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Focus) from John Carroll University.

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How to put a referral in your cover letter (with examples)

Paul Drury

Do: use networking

Don’t: use cold messaging, get express permission, ask the referral for advice, share your cover letter, mention them early in the letter, be specific: why would the referral vouch for you, 1. if you have worked with the person previously, 2. if you know the referral personally .

When you consider all the levers that you could pull in your job search , mentioning that you have a contact at your target employer who feels that you could be a good fit for the role is a powerful one indeed. Putting such a glowing referral from an influential individual in your cover letter is a power move that not all candidates can manage.

It might genuinely be the case that someone told you about the role, but it is not so hard to find a contact or manufacture a relationship for the sake of getting an inside track on your dream job . At the very least, it shows a decent degree of commitment and passion.

The cover letter is the ideal place to mention a referral—after all, it is hard to tell such a story in your factual resume. But how do you integrate the referral into your career story? What does it fit in with your tale of motivation and promise? In this blog, we explore what you might consider when it comes to including a referral in the cover letter:

  • How does a referral help you to get a job?
  • How to find a referee

How to put a referral in a cover letter

Example referral cover letters, how does a referral help you get the job.

The secret to getting a job is convincing the hiring manager that you have what it takes. Credibility is hard to come by when you are blowing your own trumpet, so having someone from the company vouch for your competence is an excellent way of elevating your candidacy above your competition. Referrals add that personal touch to an application.

Obviously, you should check that the referral gets on with the hiring manager first. Such small moments can obviously make or break a referral. If the referral comes from someone the hiring manager doesn’t know, that may be a problem. Also, the referral should be sufficiently senior in the company to give the recommendation enough gravitas. 

When you have a referral , a hiring manager will also assume that you understand the company culture and the challenges that the company is facing. They want to find talent that will stay with them for a long time. The main reason why people leave employers early is because jobs are not what they were expecting. Your referee can be someone who can give you the lay of the land.

referral cover letter

How to find someone to give you a referral?

Finding someone to vouch for you at a company where you do not yet work is no simple matter. You may be lucky enough to know someone. If you do not, all is not lost.

For the referral to be credible, they should ideally be someone that knows you reasonably well. Former colleagues or industry partners are ideal as that implies a level of professional objectivity. If the referral comes from a family friend, it can still give you an advantage, but maybe don’t mention the relationship in the cover letter. You can then be honest about the friendship during an interview. The key is to secure the interview in the first place.

If you don’t have an obvious person available and want to look for someone, consider this:

Social media is a fertile ground for job search referrals. It is likely that you will share several common interests with your connections, so search through the employee lists in relevant departments at your target employer. Maybe a name or two will stand out to you? Approach them on socials and ask if you could have a chat to get to know a bit more about the company and whether they think you would be a good fit. People are more willing to help than you might think. The law of reciprocity rules.

Cold messaging total strangers is the worst idea and could be utterly counter-productive. They might even know the hiring manager and this could backfire. People tend to be annoyed when they are approached by someone that they do not know. If you are keen to get on someone’s radar for a referral, at least warm them up by engaging with their content for a few months before you ask them for a favor.

Things to consider before putting a referral in a cover letter

Before you assume that someone would be happy to vouch for you, make sure that you ask whether they would feel comfortable with you mentioning their name in a cover letter. It is one thing for them to casually say “hey, you should come and join us,” another thing entirely if their judgment is put on the line with a formal referral in a cover letter.

If you have a close enough relationship with the person referring you, don’t hesitate to ask their advice about how to approach the job search and cover letter itself. If the hiring manager knows them, they might sense some of their knowledge seeping through the application. Doing your homework in such a way displays dedication and curiosity.

Sharing your cover letter and resume with the referee before they agree to refer you will give them an idea of how you are pitching your talents. If they feel comfortable that you are a good fit for the role in question, their recommendation will be that bit more genuine. If you are going to mention their name, they may well have a conversation with the hiring manager at some point. Give them some ammunition to help your cause.

There are several things that you should consider when putting a referral in a cover letter. You need the cover letter to be all about you, but mentioning the opinion of an insider in the right way can elevate the content to a whole new level.

If a hiring manager notices the name of the referral early in the cover letter, they will be far more likely to read on. If they feel that you already have a connection to the company, the rest of your application will feel that bit more closer to home.

You are missing an opportunity if you mention the name of the referral and say that they “think you would be a good fit for the role.” That is worryingly vague and would surely create some doubts in a hiring manager’s mind. Make sure to hint at the close nature of your relationship and expand on why they think that you should get the job.

The whole cover letter cannot be about your relationship with the referral. You have plenty of other things to talk about (motivations, accomplishments , and personality), so keep the referral to a brief paragraph at the beginning of the cover letter.

Make sure to get the name and position of the referral right. Any mistake here would be disastrous. Also, if possible, mention why the referral thinks that you would be a good fit for the role. Their opinion adds that extra bit of credibility to your job application and you can be sure the hiring manager will talk to them about you if your application moves forward.

  • I am excited to apply for the Marketing Assistant position at Hedges. Your current Brand Manager, Gill Hammond, felt that my expertise in executing innovative digital marketing strategies would be an ideal fit for your needs. We worked together on the Indus campaign, which resulted in a 30% increase in online engagement and a 25% boost in sales over six months.
  • I am writing to express my keen interest in the Registered Nurse position at St. John's, a role brought to my attention through a personal referral by Kate Lambert, a Senior Nurse at your facility. I trained with Kate a few years ago and we have kept in touch over the years. She feels that now is the perfect time to bring my focus on holistic patient care and passion for patient advocacy to your medical center.

Key takeaways

Referrals are a great way to warm up the hiring manager. Reducing the level of uncertainty will make a decision about an interview invite that little bit easier. Of course, a referral will only help you to get your foot in the door. You need to make a compelling case once you have secured that initial opportunity. 

  • Realize the genuine power of a professional referral.
  • Make sure that you know the person well enough.
  • Prepare them for detailed conversations about your candidature.
  • Mention the referral at the beginning of the cover letter.

How to start a cover letter (2024)

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Cover Letter Referred by a Contact Examples

Cover Letters and Email Samples to Use for a Referral

referral cover letter

One of the surest ways to grab an employer’s attention is to  get a referral for the job . In fact, PayScale research shows that one-third of workers received a referral for their current position. And no wonder—if you were a hiring manager, wouldn’t you rather hire someone who comes recommended than take a chance on a stranger?  

But simply getting a referral isn’t enough.

To maximize the benefits, you have to make sure that the hiring manager knows that you’ve been referred.

The best way to do that is to mention it in your cover letter. It’s the ideal place to share your referral’s name and the context you know them in.

Tips for Cover Letters That Get the Hiring Manager’s Attention

  • Be professional.  Your cover letter should be written as a formal business letter, whether it’s sent as an attachment, via mail, or email. An attachment or mailed letter should begin with your contact information, the date, and the hiring manager’s contact information. An  email cover letter  should include the referral in the subject line of the message.
  • Start on the right foot.  Begin your letter with a  salutation  followed by the hiring manager’s name. Mention your referral in the first paragraph of your cover letter, with a brief explanation of your connection.
  • Show your interest.  Next, mention what interests you about the position, and why you’re qualified for the job. Let your passion show. Employers want to hire candidates who are enthusiastic about the job.
  • Say thank you.  Make sure you thank the person for their time and consideration, and use an appropriate  cover letter closing , followed by your signature (for a printed letter) and typed full name. In an email, your contact information would follow your typed name.
  • Use cover letter samples.  Your cover letter may be the first thing the hiring manager sees so you need to make a good impression.  Review these cover letter samples  for a variety of scenarios including a follow-up letter, inquiry letters, job/industry specific sample cover letters, cold contact, and referral letter samples. Be sure to customize your letter for every job application.
  • Proofread, edit, and test before sending.  Your final product should be typo-free and professionally formatted before you send it to the hiring team.

If you’re sending your cover letter via email, send yourself a test message before you email the employer.

That way, you can be sure that your formatting holds up in transmission and that there are no funny gaps or missing words in the final copy.

Cover Letter Example With a Referral

This is an example of a cover letter with a referral. Download the referral cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Cover Letter Example With a Referral (Text Version)

June Amour 123 Main Street Anytown, CA 12345 555-555-5555 june.armour@email.com

September 1, 2018

Raymond Maximillian Sales Director Rubymax, Inc. 123 Business Rd. Business City, NY 54321

Dear Mr. Maximillian,

I am writing to express my interest in the International Sales position open at Rubymax, Inc. I am very familiar with your products and would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about how I could help increase your International presence.

My colleague Joe Smith recommended that I contact you directly about this position. Joe and I have worked closely in the industry for many years, and he thought that I would be a good match for Rubymax.

My ten years of experience marketing widgets internationally have given me an overall knowledge of the business, directly applicable to your interest in increasing sales abroad.

In my previous position as International Sales Rep with ZQR Company, I successfully increased our revenue in each of my territories by over 50 percent within my first year. In the five years I spent at ZQR, I helped to establish sales bases in an additional five countries, while continuing to increase revenue in all.

Please take the time to review my resume. I believe that I am an excellent candidate for the position you have advertised, and would very much like the opportunity to meet with you discuss what I have to offer Rubymax, Inc. I truly appreciate your consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Signature  (hard copy letter)

June Armour

Email Cover Letter With a Referral

Subject: Referred by Sloane Greene

Dear Ms. Future,

I am writing to you in regard to the position of billing manager that you have posted on your company website. I worked with Sloane Greene in the billing department of XYZ Enterprises for several years before taking a hiatus to raise my children.

When I mentioned I was returning to the workforce, she recommended I contact you about this position, as she felt that I would be an excellent fit for your organization.

At XYZ, I worked closely with Sloane to convert our billing system to handle the increase in sales volume the company was experiencing. I oversaw the seamless transition when our deliverables doubled in less than 6 months. I have successfully managed both small and large billing departments but am most comfortable in an environment like that at your company. I feel that my experience would be an asset to Bright Enterprises and would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you regarding the open position.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Beth Maple bethmaple@email.com 123-456-7890

Key Takeaways

If You Have a Referral, Say So Right Up Front: Include it in your cover letter and be sure to feature it in the first paragraph.

Use Cover Letters Samples to Guide Your Writing: But be sure to customize your cover letter for the specific job.

Be Professional: Use business-letter format and be sure to proofread your final draft before sending.

Say Thank You: Thank the hiring manager for their time and be sure to send thank-you notes to people who give you a referral, as well as to interviewers once you’ve met with them. 

PayScale. " The Impact of Job Referrals ." Accessed Feb. 25, 2020.

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referral cover letter

Dive Into Expert Guides to Enhance your Resume

How to Mention Referrals in Cover Letters: What to Do and What Not to Do

RC Team

Referrals on a resume are quite often  limited to a few words  at the end of the document. However, when considering how to mention referrals in cover letters you need to take a quite different approach.

A compelling  cover letter  is just as important as a  carefully crafted resume  and a good referral can make the difference in both cases. However, due to the nature of a cover letter as a flowing text, the way you  weave a professional connection into your prose  can be quite distinct.

In this article, we explain a few of the  most important dos and a don’ts  to consider when approaching cover letter referrals. Find out how to successfully mention referrals in cover letters and how these might appear in the final draft.

Do: Highlight Your Referral in the First Paragraph

Unlike on the resume, your referral needs to be  mentioned upfront . Your first paragraph normally needs to make it clear quickly that you’ve been recommended by someone before moving on to your achievements.

This is not only useful in  getting the recruiter’s attention  from the start. It also gives them extra incentive to keep reading further. Alternatively, If it’s not in the very first paragraph, it needs to be mentioned as soon as possible in the text.

Don’t: Use a Referral That Doesn’t Make Sense

A referral is only valuable if it can provide a  clear connection between yourself and the open position . Therefore, using a referee who is unrecognizable to anyone in the company is not going to get you very far.

If you have a referee but they can’t help provide a useful introduction to a job in the sector or industry you want to get hired in, it’s better to leave them off the page.

The referral always needs to act as a bridge  between you and the company to create a soft establishment of contact. If it doesn’t serve, cut it.

Do: Be Professional When You Namedrop

As with the rest of your cover letter, it’s important to be professional in the way that you  name and explain your connection  to the referee. This is shown in the sample text below:

I am writing to you to express my interest in the Sales Representative position available at Entertech Inc as recommended to me by Joe Smith. Joe and I have worked closely together for a number of years and he made me aware I could be a good fit for this position given my experience and record in sales.

As you can see from this simple example, the reference  doesn’t need to be long or wordy  to be formal and professional. It focuses on an indirect way of selling yourself that addresses the needs of the role whilst giving you the best introduction possible.

Don’t: Name Someone Without Getting Permission First

It’s very bad business etiquette to namedrop someone in a cover letter without asking them first.  Always get permission  before sending out a document with a named professional in case the recruiter contacts them regarding your application.

Not getting permission upfront can have negative consequences for a couple of reasons. First and foremost it  could burn your bridges  with the referee in question.

Secondly, it might undermine your chances of getting picked if the recruiter notices some unfamiliarity between yourself and the referee.  Honesty is highly valued in companies  and if you state that someone has recommended a position to you when they haven’t, it could lead to you losing out on the role.

Ideally, you should  send a copy of your draft cover letter to the person  you’re naming before submitting it. That way you’ll be able to ensure they are happy with the information about them you’ve provided.

Do: Explain Your Connection to the Referee

The recruiter needs to be able to understand  why your referee might have recommended you  and how this might connect to your eligibility for the job. Therefore always make it clear whether they have referred you for any of the following reasons:

  • You work with them
  • They work in the company you’re targeting
  • You’ve worked with them previously
  • They know you personally

Don’t: Forget to Explain Why They Are Recommending You

Along with the details of how you know your referee, you also need to give an indication as to why they have recommended you.

As shown in our example previously, it’s important to state  why they have told you about the opportunity with the company.  This can normally be demonstrated by noting a few achievements, types of experience, or working styles that could make you a good candidate.

There can be no doubt that a referral for a job can  accelerate your chances  of getting hired . Trust and relationships play a big role in professional development. By getting the recommendation of someone known to the company or who can vouch for you can go a long way in making your cover letter pack a punch.

Organizing and designing your cover letter isn’t as tricky as it might seem. ResumeCoach’s  resume and cover letter building tools  can help take some of the time and effort out of crafting the perfect application documents. Try it now to enjoy professional, stylish templates, guidance, and easy to edit sections.

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