Land Referrals to Your Target Company

Welcome to High Speed Dreams—where every week, you gain one powerful strategy to speed up your job search and land a dream role.

Today, I’m sharing how I landed 10X more referrals than my peers in my job search 🙌

You have a 13X increased chance of landing a job offer if you are referred by a current employee (Forbes).

You can spend months applying, tailoring your resume for each role, and proving yourself over and over again…

Or someone can say your name in the right room, and just like that, you’re hired in a week.

Here's how I landed 10X more referrals than my competition👇

Most people don't know how to approach asking for a referral.

They reach out and ask for something and make the whole thing feel transactional.

That’s why they get ignored.

If you want someone to refer you, build a real connection first.

Here’s how:

Step 1: Give First (Without Expectation)

→ People are happy to help when they feel valued—not used.

→ Instead of immediately asking for something, start by showing real interest in their journey.

You could say something like:

“Hey [Name], I saw you work at [Company]. I’m exploring some roles there and figured I’d go straight to the source instead of trusting Google (or worse, Reddit). Would love to connect!

✔ Recognizes their experience without being over the top

✔ Frames them as a trusted source of insight

Step 2: Follow Up When Connected. Ask Something Easy to Answer

→ Don’t jump to “Can I get a referral?”

Example:

“Appreciate the connect! Quick question—what’s something about working at [Company] that most people don’t realize until they’re inside?”

✔ Shows curiosity and respect for their experience

✔ Gives them a chance to share something valuable

✔ Builds rapport without asking for anything

This step alone sets you apart. Most people only reach out when they need something—you’re creating an actual conversation.

Step 3: Ask For a Call and Let the Referral Happen Naturally

"If you have a few minutes to chat, I’d love to buy you a virtual coffee. No pressure—would love to learn from your experience!"

→ People refer others when they feel connected (not when they’re pressured).

→ Toward the end, steer the conversation naturally:

“This has been so helpful! I’ve been exploring [specific role]—based on what you’ve seen, does my background make sense for it?”

✔ Not a favor, just an opinion

✔ Helps them visualize how you fit into the company

If they say YES, follow up with:

“That makes a ton of sense. If you were me, how would you get on [Company]’s radar for this role?”

✔ Puts them in problem-solving mode

✔ Now they’re thinking about how to get you noticed

✔ Often leads them to mention a hiring manager, referral process, or even offer to refer you

If they don’t bring up a referral themself, then you can initiate a low-pressure ask:

“This conversation has been amazing. Would you feel comfortable referring me to anyone at the company who may be able to connect me to the hiring manager?"

Step 4: Keep the Relationship Alive

→ Even if they don’t refer you now, they might later.

✔ Send a quick thank you for their time

✔ If another opportunity pops up, it’s easy to reconnect

Remember, people refer those they respect and want to support—or simply someone who makes them look good to the hiring manager!

The key is to build real relationships and give first without expectation.

Neil Bhatt, Senior Recruiter, CEO @ ResumeWizard101.com

P.S. I started a 100% free job search platform to give you the tools, strategy, and resources to help you end to end in your search. You can find it here: resources.resumewizard101.com 

Feel free to share it with any job seekers in your network who could use a boost.