Need help with referrals.

Hey there :)

Referrals can help, but they’re rarely decisive on their own. Firms mainly rely on your CV, cover letter, and interview performance. If you already have people you can reach out to, that’s good, but the most effective way is to build targeted connections on LinkedIn, have short chats, and then ask for support. That way the referral feels genuine and adds more weight.

best, Alessa :)

Hi there,

A referral is just a door opener such that the recruiting team will look through your application more thoroughly. However, you can't expect someone who doesn't know you to put their name and reputation on the line for a quick referral. It usually takes some time to cultivate this kind of professional relationship. You should have at least an informal "interview" with that person before you can expect something.

Depending on the seniority, tenure and advocacy of the person referring you, you have a better chance of getting a first round interview. The more senior the person referring you is, the better. The longer the tenure of that person with the firm is, the better.

The reason is that such voices carry more weight than referrals coming from super junior or brand new people. They typically know the HR folks better and have been involved in recruiting activities for a while so it is usually assumed that they have a good grasp of what types of candidates with which sets of qualifications the firm needs. However, any referral is ultimately better than no referral. 

Ideally, you get a referral from someone from the same office (or same country) you are applying to. But again, a referral from someone within the same firm but different office or country organization is still better than no referral.

A direct rejection after the CV screening stage can still happen - even with a referral. In that case the recruiting team usually provides some feedback to the person having given the referral. So you should follow up with them to better understand the rationale in case that happens. On the flipside, you can still get an interview invite when you just apply online without a referral - the probability is just lower - particularly when your CV is not “stellar” on a standalone basis.

And as always, factors such as economic conditions and headcount/budget planning of the individual firm also matter significantly in these decisions - but they are not within your control.

Best

Hello there,

This question has happened in the past, the coaches here do not provide this type of assistance, but they can help you navigate the networking process.

Coach Christian has a very nice article about it, I recommend you to read it and apply as described.

Good luck!

Hi there,

If you’re in a hurry to apply, a referral can definitely help speed up the process, but it’s important that your CV is redrafted and polished first so the referral has maximum impact. I can also advise you on how to secure referrals effectively. 

If you’d like, we can work on your CV together so it’s in top shape before being passed along. That way, you’ll be in the best possible position once the referral goes in.

Best,
Evelina

If you don't have a referral... you don't have one. There's no turnaround, don't expect people who don't know you to refer you.

What you can do is to 1) improve your CV as much as you can or 2) network as much as you can (and some coaches may be able to help you with that).