A number of years ago, I was an investment analyst working for a small firm in London. I had a great relationship with my colleagues and worked hard to earn their trust and respect.
Throughout the years that I worked there, I received several requests from friends and acquaintances to put their CV forward. Some of them made it incredibly easy to recommend them and others made it more difficult than necessary.
The current situation with the pandemic has left countless individuals unemployed and struggling to secure new jobs. In an effort to adapt, many people are turning to their network in search of opportunities, whether that’s contacting friends, former colleagues, or turning to your LinkedIn connections. If you find yourself in this position, keep the following pointers in mind to maximize your chances of getting a job referral.
Be Professional
It doesn’t matter what relationship you have with this person. Maybe you’ve known them for years, maybe you’ve just met them. It’s possible that they have never seen you operate in a professional capacity so you’ll need to convince them you can fulfill the role.
It’s important to discuss what you can bring to the table in terms of relevant education, experience or qualifications.
You should prepare for the discussion like you would for an interview. Make sure you conduct adequate research on the company they work for and the role you are pursuing.
Demonstrate your knowledge of the industry and the role involved. Talk about what you feel are the most important aspects of the job and how you can contribute.
- Have your studies given you a better understanding of how the industry works? Did you acquire any technical skills that can be easily transferred to the role?
- Do you have any relevant work or internship experiences? Have you learned any lessons which could help provide a unique perspective in problem-solving or streamlining processes?
- Do you have or are you working towards an industry-recognized qualification? If you are just starting out in the industry, it’s still worth mentioning your intention of attaining specific qualifications.
Motivation Matters
Most jobs in any industry can be done by thousands of candidates. Competition for positions has increased further due to the pandemic; in some instances, over 4000 people are applying for a single entry-level job.
So why you?
Your motivation to be there is often a much bigger factor than you realize.
I appreciate that we don’t always have a choice. Often, we just need a job. But no matter how big or small the opportunity, make sure to show some enthusiasm for it.
It’s worth mentioning some genuine reasons why you want the job so your friend understands it’s about more than just money.
Think about one or two key aspects of the opportunity that appeal to you the most.
It’s worth considering your motivation on these 3 levels and making sure you can demonstrate it.
Why this industry? (If switching industry or starting your career)
- What attracts you to the industry?
- Why is that important to you?
Why this company?
- What positive differences does this company have compared to its competitors?
- Is the company a known leader in the industry? Or, is it a niche/specialist with a unique focus that aligns more with your values and opinions?
Why this job?
- Are there technical aspects of the job that make it interesting to you?
- Is it something that suits your personality? Perhaps you are the type of person that enjoys research and getting into the nitty-gritty details. Maybe you are more focused on company strategy and higher-level decisions. Or, maybe you prefer building and maintaining relationships in client-facing roles.
- Does the job offer you mentorship and guidance within a team or an opportunity for more autonomy working alone?
Be Inquisitive
Nothing shows you are genuinely interested more than asking questions about the role. There is only so much you can understand from the job specification. So, don’t be afraid to ask your friend questions to get a better idea of what should be expected, both from you and the company.
Here are some questions that you should consider asking:
- What are the day to day responsibilities for someone in this role?
- Will there be opportunities to grow or take on more responsibility as you progress?
- What are reasonable goals for someone in this role to aim for in their first year?
In order to understand whether an opportunity is worth pursuing, it’s important to ask a wide variety of questions.
You should ask questions that range from the technical aspects of the job to the culture of the company. This will give you a better picture of the work environment and how well you fit into it.
The better the fit, the longer you’re likely to stay.
Don’t Sell Yourself Short
Some people are afraid to let their friends down. They make a conscious effort to expose all their deficiencies to their friend. Unfortunately, as honest as that might be, it destroys your friend’s confidence in you.
Don’t downplay your abilities and achievements. Just make sure you don’t lie or promise what you can’t deliver.
Most employers don’t expect you to know everything, they know your background and what to expect. They know where your experience doesn’t quite match up.
But they also know that everyone has the capacity to learn and pick up things. You should know that too.
I have seen people that were less “qualified” get the job because they were more suited to the job. They had the right motivation, asked smarter questions, and showed they wanted to stick around long term.
Often, the difference in the background made them a more interesting candidate because they could provide different perspectives to the rest of the team.
Focus on what you can bring to the table rather than what you lack. If they are happy with what you can do, they will care less about what you can’t.
Conclusion
It’s great if you have connections that can potentially help you. Whether these are lifelong friends or contacts you developed through networking, please do your best to make it easy for them to recommend you.
To recap:
- Be professional
- Be motivated
- Be inquisitive
- Be confident in your abilities
Having connections doesn’t automatically get you a job but it can give you a better chance of getting an interview. Given how competitive things are, that is already significant advantage.
If you follow the tips outlined above, you stand to make the most out of the opportunities you have.
Good luck.