Ask for a referral to a specific open role, and make it easy for the person to decide: explain how you know them, show briefly why your experience fits, and offer your résumé and the job link. If they are comfortable referring you, ask what their employer’s process requires before you apply; referral procedures vary by company.
What to include in a LinkedIn referral request
A strong request gives the recipient enough context to assess the ask without making them do basic research. Include:
- A truthful connection point, such as working together, attending the same school, or sharing a professional event.
- The exact company and role, with the job link or job ID.
- One or two specific qualifications that match the role.
- A polite, low-pressure question about whether they would feel comfortable referring you. Offer advice as an alternative.
- Your résumé and LinkedIn profile, or an offer to send them promptly.
Keep the request respectful: the recipient may not know your work well enough to refer you, or may be unable to do so. UC Davis Career Center’s CRM Networking Guide recommends focusing on a particular opening and providing the details needed to make a referral submission easier.
Adaptable message template
Use this as a starting point, changing the details to fit your relationship and the role:
Hi [Name] — I’m a [shared context: fellow alum / former colleague / person who attended X]. I saw [Company]’s [Role] opening ([link or job ID]) and am interested because [brief fit]. My experience in [relevant skill/result] seems aligned with [role requirement]. Would you feel comfortable referring me, or sharing any advice on the application process? I can send my résumé and any details that would help. Thanks for considering it.
This is an adapted example, not a guarantee of a referral. Make the fit specific rather than claiming you are a strong match without evidence.
Adjust the ask to your relationship
| Contact | How to approach them |
|---|---|
| Former colleague or close contact | Make the request directly, name the role, and give a concise example of relevant work or results. |
| Alum or weaker connection | State the genuine shared context, show that you have reviewed the role, and make the request easy to decline or redirect toward advice. |
| Someone you do not know | Start with a short connection invitation explaining how you found them or what you share. After they accept, send a role-specific request if appropriate. |
There is no established evidence here that one relationship or wording produces more referrals. Choose the approach that honestly reflects what the person knows about you.
Connection note or full message?
LinkedIn’s help page describes this invitation flow: open the person’s profile, select Connect, choose Add a note, enter the note, and send the invitation. LinkedIn currently says personalized notes can be up to 200 characters and can be added to up to three connection requests per month. Premium members may personalize all connection requests, subject to the overall invitation limits. These product limits can change; check LinkedIn’s current invitation guidance.
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Because the note is short, use it to establish context and a reason to connect—not to squeeze in your entire referral case. You can send the role, qualifications, and résumé after the person accepts. LinkedIn says a recipient can reply to a personalized invitation without accepting it.
When to apply
Do not assume every company handles referrals in the same order. UC Davis’s guide advises waiting until the employee agrees to refer you and then applying through the specific link they provide. Some employers may instead require an application first. Ask your contact what their employer’s process requires and follow the company’s current instructions; if they share a referral link, use it as directed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Referral, reference, and recommendation are different
A job referral is an employee’s action in support of your application through an employer’s process. A reference is someone who can speak about your experience or qualifications. A LinkedIn recommendation is a statement about your work displayed on your profile, requested through a separate LinkedIn workflow. The two LinkedIn actions should not be confused: LinkedIn’s recommendation instructions describe asking a connection to write a profile recommendation, not to submit an internal job referral.
LinkedIn announced an “Ask for a Referral” feature for LinkedIn Jobs on March 20, 2018, but that announcement does not establish that the feature or its workflow is currently available. Do not rely on finding a particular button; ask the employee how referrals work at their company.
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