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While a great recommendation might not be the most critical factor in landing a new role, a strong endorsement can give you an edge of the competition. And beyond impressing potential employers, a good reference can remind you of your own strengths and be a confidence boost when you need it most. At Career Sandwich, we believe asking for recommendations should be a natural - and ongoing - part of your professional journey.
This playbook will help you ask for a reference or recommendation with clarity and confidence when it really counts.
Today’s mission is to secure three rock-solid references that truly reflect your strengths. Now this isn’t just about lining up people to vouch for you — it’s about curating a network that amplifies your career story, boosts your confidence, and sets you up for future success.
Think of three people from different stages of your career who can each highlight unique aspects of your work. Here’s some ideas:
Make a quick note about why each of these people would make a great reference and what specific traits or achievements you’d like them to mention. Aim for diversity in perspectives.
Consider what type of reference will best serve you right now.
Deciding which option fits your needs helps tee you up for success.
For each person, write down a quick recap of what you worked on together, why it was significant, and how it connects to where you are now. Mention specific skills or projects that highlight your growth and impact. This will help your reference see how they can frame their feedback.
Don’t Forget! Start with a Genuine Connection
How can you check in with your potential reference in a way that feels genuine? Take a moment to say hello, ask how they’re doing, and show interest in what they’re up to before diving into your request. A thoughtful greeting sets the tone for a more comfortable, natural conversation.
For each person who agrees to be your reference, consider offering to be one for them as well. Even better: proactively think about someone in your network—someone who’s impacted your career—and write a LinkedIn recommendation for them unprompted!
In some cases, references appreciate a little help in drafting their recommendation. As a final step, try writing a short, 3-4 sentence self-endorsement that highlights the key points you want covered and share it as a starting point for someone to personalize.
Alright, that’s a wrap. You’ve done the prep—now go put it into action and start building up your reference roster.
And don’t forget: Save your reference request drafts under Communications in your Organizer for easy access down the road!
We’re glad that you’re not only cold-applying to roles. Using a variety of application strategies, like getting referred by a former colleague or attending a job fair, can help you break through.
Cold-applying for roles is one of many ways that you can land your next gig, but it should never be your only strategy. You can also try:
Staying focused on the roles that are really aligned to your skills and ambitions is a great way to make sure that you’re not wasting your efforts on activities with little to no return. Stay focused here!
We get it: the job hunt can be exhausting and it can be tempting to start mass applying to roles. Unfortunately, doing so will likely only make your situation more frustrating: the more times you are declined for a role, it will inevitably make you feel even more burnt out and discouraged.
Instead, focus your energy on the roles that are truly interesting to you and make sure your application is as strong as it can be. Always consider tailoring your resume for the role and add a strong cover letter to help you stand out.
Whether you’re sending a thank you note or checking in after a few days of no response, it’s smart to be proactive and reach out to hiring managers and recruiters to keep your name in sight and in mind. Keep it up!
There are few things more impactful than a great thank you note after an interview. Be sure to always send one to folks you interview with, and be specific as to why you enjoyed the conversation. If they don’t get back to you with next steps by the expected date, reach out directly to check in.
We’re glad that you’re not reinventing the wheel when writing cover letters. While it’s always smart to repurpose some of your cover letter, remember to customize a few details to help align your letter to the role you’re applying for.
Great cover letters can be really impactful, but they can also take a lot of time. We recommend having a “default” cover letter that outlines who you are, what you’ve done, and where you want to go next. From there, you can make small tweaks to the cover letter based on what role you’re applying for.
Staying connected with your current network is a great way to learn about new opportunities that you may not have found on your own. As you’re connecting with folks, remember to be open about the fact that you’re looking for a new opportunity and you’d appreciate any connections or introduction they can offer.
Your network is probably one of your most underutilized resources. The more people you connect with, the more people can advocate for you and connect you to new opportunities.
Your friends and family can be some of your most trusted advocates. Keep sharing with them to help keep your job search on track and aligned to the things that make you, you.
Your friends and family are likely some of your biggest supporters. Even if you’ve never talked to them about your professional ambitions before, it’s never too late to share what you’re interested in and the types of roles you’re looking for. You’ll be surprised by how much insight, support, and ideas they’ll have to help.
Feeling confident reaching out to new folks is a great advantage on the quest of landing an interview. When you’re reaching out, be sure to include a specific reason why you’re interested in connecting.
We get it: reaching out to new connections on LinkedIn can be intimidating.
If you’re mostly afraid of rejection (aka: not hearing back from someone or being told no to a meeting), don’t let that deter you. Hearing “No” is part of the process of landing a job, but the key is to let others tell you no vs. telling yourself no before you even try.
If you’re unsure what to say: remember that specificity is key. Include details about why you’re reaching out to this individual in particular and avoid generic reasons for connecting.
Hi [Name],
Hope you’re doing well! How’s everything going with [mention the person’s company, organization, or personal interest]?
I’m reaching out because I’ve been interviewing for a [position name] role at [company], and I’d love to have you as a reference. I thought of you since we [ways in which you’ve worked together], and I think you’d be able to speak to my [mention key skills or abilities relevant to the position].
To make things easy, I’ve attached my current resume along with the job description. The hiring team is especially interested in someone who [brief description of what they’re looking for]. If you’re able to help, it would be fantastic if you could highlight:
If you’re able to do this, just let me know the best contact info to share and if there’s anything else I can provide on my end. I expect they’ll reach out around [time frame], so I wanted to give you a heads up!
And of course, if now isn’t a good time or if you’re not comfortable, no worries at all—I completely understand. Thank you so much for considering, and let me know if I can return the favor anytime!
Thanks and look forward to catching up soon!
[Your Name]
“Hi [Name], it’s been a while! I hope things are going well for you. I was thinking back to our time on [mention project or role] and how much I learned working together. I’m actually applying for a new role in [industry/position] and would be honored if you’d be open to being a reference. I’d be happy to share a quick update on what I’ve been up to if that would be helpful!”
“If you’re comfortable being a reference, I’d be glad to put together a few points or even a draft for you to review and tweak. I know you’re super busy, and I’d love to make this as simple as possible for you!”
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