How to Ask For a Reference by Email
A great job application is only as good as the references you provide to back it up with. Employers rely on references, as they want to know more information about you and what you’re like in a working environment.
It can be tricky to acquire a reference from a previous employer, but it’s essential you have your sources, as it’s likely that you will be asked for them during the application or interview stage.. Here are some tips for asking for a reference by email.
Why do you need a reference?
Firstly, why is a reference important? The simple answer is that employers use them to get confirmation about your previous working experience. They will want to further verify that the claims you have made are true, and how you conduct yourself in an organization. If you have glowing references this will benefit your job application enormously as it can help to persuade the employer to hire you without hesitation.
Providing a list of credible professional references in your job application gives employers a direct route to confirming your qualifications, work experience and skills. It goes without saying that this helps to streamline the process, and saves the hassle of trying to track down a reference when requested.
If your references please the employer then they will come to a final decision whether you’re suitable for the job or not. However, it’s important to know that although you might have glittering references the employer could still choose not to employ you. This could be due to various reasons, such as your personality or if they think you wouldn’t work well with the other team members in their company.
Who should you ask for a reference?
Now you understand why you need a reference, it’s important that you ask the right person for it. You should aim to ask someone who you can trust to give you a good reference, but they should be as current as possible i.e. from your most recent job. A good place to start is your previous manager or supervisor, as they will have the most up-to-date memories of your employment and will give their most honest opinion of you.
If you struggle to acquire a reference from someone higher up the managerial ladder then you can consider a previous coworker. Try to opt for those who aren’t necessarily close friends, but you have worked closely with them and they can vouch for your work. It appears better if you haven’t got a close relationship with your co-worker as it removes all bias, which is something an employer may look at.
If you’re a university or a college student that has just left education without work experience, then you can still source a credible reference. List professors or teachers who have been impressed with your work in the past, so you can be sure that they’ll offer up a glowing reference.
How to ask for a job reference by email
Once you have decided who to ask for a reference you must decide correctly the best way to approach it. Your email can’t be typed up quickly because it will appear to your previous manager or boss you have not put any effort into it. Even though you might not work there anymore, it’s still important to remain professional and respectful.
We advise you to draft up multiple emails so you can fully refine on what you’re trying to ask. The key to a well received email is to ask politely, as you’re asking quite a large favour of the recipient. Make sure that the email is formatted correctly with good grammar, as this further boosts your chances of gaining a good reference.
It’s essential that you ask for the reference well in advance, so that they have plenty of time to consider the request and possibly prepare their reference.
For bonus points you can help them out by letting them know what points to include in the reference. For example, you could help to refresh their memory of how you were as an employee, such as by including a list of the work you completed for them or any projects you worked on together. Try to persuade them to write as many positives about you as possible, so when a new employer glances at their reference, they will be filled with hope that you’re the right person for the job.
An example of asking for a job reference via email
Good Afternoon Edward,
It’s been a while, and I hope you’re doing great. The reason for my email today is that I’m currently applying for a job at WestCoast Finance and I wondered if it would be possible for you to provide a reference for me. I’m excited to potentially acquire this new job role and I would be more than appreciative to list you as a reference.
I don’t wish to take too much of your time and I would like to make this whole process easy for you, so to begin with, I’ve briefly outlined how my skills and experience match this job. I’ve included a few examples of the work we have completed together as this will further boost my credentials.
[Examples]
Below I have attached my application so you fully understand the job role which I have applied for and the responsibilities it entails. I really appreciate you taking the time to consider this, it means a lot and I hope to hear from you soon. If there is anything I can help with or you need more information, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Many Thanks,
John Routledge
07517083259
JohnBRoutledge@gmail.com
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