Job referral
A job referral happens when someone introduces or recommends a candidate to an employer for a particular opportunity.
The person may be an employee using an internal referral process or a professional contact making an introduction. A referral can give the hiring team context about your work. You may still need to submit an application and complete the employer's usual selection process. A reference has a different purpose: it supplies information about your suitability when the employer asks for it.
Ask your contact whether they feel able to refer you, and send the vacancy link with a short explanation of your relevant experience. Avoid asking them to claim knowledge they do not have. Check the employer's process before applying because timing can matter. Harvard's own recruitment guidance, for instance, says its employee referral must happen before the candidate submits an application. Other employers set their own procedures.
Example
A former colleague shares a referral link for an analyst vacancy after working with the candidate on reporting projects. The candidate then submits the required application.
What to check
- Ask permission before naming your contact.
- Check whether referral must precede application.
- Provide accurate, relevant experience for the introduction.