How to write a cover letter being referred by someone?

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Job referral cover letters are the documents that an employee sends to the HR manager with the reference of someone qualified to suggest him or her for a position. The difference between ordinary cover letters and the referral ones is that the applicants have a strong reference and, therefore, more chances to get a position. The reason for such an increased possibility of approval is a reference, which serves as evidence of employee qualifications, as it is given by a credible specialist.

There is nothing unusual in the structure of this paper, except for a few nuances. You can use the following outline sample while writing:

• Personal information. This part presents basic information about an applicant, which is the first and last name, address, phone number, and email. It is also important to include the highlights about previous job experience.
• Date when the paper will be sent.
• Recipient. This section shows general information of a receiver like a name (or initials), last name, job position, company’s name, and address.
• Referral paragraph, which reveals that you have been referred by a certain person.
• Reasons for applying. In this part, you explain why you want to get this job and why you are qualified for it.
• Request. Here, you express your willingness to come to the job interview.
• Ending, which shows your gratitude and desire to start working in this company.

If you want to practice and write a few drafts, it is better to start by using a template. It will help you to create an outline easily and get your hands on the writing.

How to mention a referral in cover letter?

The previous section is just an example of the structure and the way a cover letter referral paragraph can be placed in the letter as this is quite an important part, which deserves special attention. But before providing the actual tips on how include a referral, let us tell you what else you need to check before writing the letter:

• Determine a person from the company of interest who may know the HR manager who is going to review your application and letter.
• Find out whether your referral has good relationships with hiring manager. Believe us, this is really an important aspect to check out.
• Of course, ask this person whether he or she gives you a permission to mention them in your cover letter.
• It is also a good idea to send the copy of the letter to your referral so that he or she can proofread it and perhaps make some corrections or give useful advice.

And now, how to include a referral in cover letter so that it would look natural? Let’s review the basics:

• Firstly, you need to make sure that your potential employer knows the referrer mentioned in your cover letter, as in another case, your recommendation makes no sense.
• Also, you need to describe your own connection to that person to help an employer understand how good he or she knows you to suggest you apply for the job.
• It is fine to mention why exactly your cover letter referral finds you professional enough to take the position. In general, you can mention your advisor whenever you think it is appropriate. However, it is better to leave a separate paragraph for it, so the manager can easily notice this information while reading.

Tips from experts

Meet our advisors

When asked what an HR professional is really looking for in a cover letter, I always let the person know that all companies are different and criteria varies, but there are some things we all do look for in a standard cover letter.

A cover letter lets you expound on your resume, which is great but one thing we are also looking for is personality within your writing. We will have to make a judgement call based off of one page, so you need to make it count and make your (company fitting) personality shine!

And not to be left out, companies want to hear how great they are too! Nothing impresses HRs more than when someone mentions a facet of the company that might not be well-known or required at least a little bit of research on. This should be one of the things that you LOVE about the company and you can easily relate to or what made you want to join our team!

Hope this helps!

Jeffrey Hopkins

Human Resource Manager and Customer Relations Expert

How to write the best referral cover letter?

Some people who have been referred by an expert tend to think that their acquaintance with that person will say everything for them. Therefore, they do not pay enough attention to the letter they are sending, and it results in rejection in most of the cases.

Hiring managers do trust the references; however, they check referred candidates as thoroughly as they check everyone else. Therefore, it is crucial to know how to use the recommendation you have properly. Here are the best tips on writing a cover letter that would look professional:

• One of the most important things you have to do beforehand is to do some research about the company. The age of the Internet has its benefits, and it is your time to take all of these advantages. Many corporations have their own websites and are often mentioned in articles, journals, and other sources. So it is easy to find interesting and helpful information that you can use while writing.
• The first thing you need to look for is the full name and a job position of a person you are writing to. It will make the letter more personal and appealing to read.
• Afterward, think of something you can include in your paper that will show how interested you are. It may be a certain event or a program a company supported or participated in. You cannot simply throw this information somewhere in the middle of the letter, so it is important to come up with a way to do it gracefully. Mention how you liked actions a corporation has taken in a certain situation or suggest your own decision for a problem your employers have. The goal here is to showcase that you are interested in a position and will bring new perspectives or ideas that will have a great impact on the company’s future.
• Look for the keywords in a job description and use at least two of them to tell about yourself. Make sure that you have clearly stated what position you are applying for.
• And of course, you need to sound professional and polite. Therefore, mind your language while writing. No slang, ambiguous phrases, and even jokes are acceptable.
• Do not forget to proofread the writing in the end and check if you have used the correct format.

We hope that these tips will help you to write the best cover letter with referral. Remember that cover letter is your opportunity to showcase your best sides and skills, and proper mentioning of referral would make your document even better!

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