7 Things to Consider Before You Ask a Friend for a Job Referral

7 Things to Consider Before You Ask a Friend for a Job Referral 7 Things to Consider Before You Ask a Friend for a Job Referral But before you  make such a big ask of this person- no matter how close of a friend they are to you- there are a few things you should consider before. Heres what to ask yourself before you ask a friend for a job referral: 1. Do I  really want the job? If you plan to ask a friend to put in a good word, or take the time to formally refer you, you should be sure youre truly interested in the opportunity. You shouldnt  waste your time or theirs- and you dont want them to go out of their way to sing your praises, only to look like a fool when you turn down the invitation to come in for a  job interview. If your friend fires off a job referral for you- and then you decline the job offer- it could put you on shaky ground with your buddy. Not to mention, if you do find a flexible job that you love in the future, your friend might not be so quick to make a second (or third) referral for you. So make sure that the job is really one that you want before enlisting others to help you close the deal and get hired. 2. Will this even help me, or them? Find out how this company treats referrals. Maybe they have an incentive program (e.g., any employee who refers someone who is hired gets a $500 referral bonus), or maybe HR doesnt treat referred candidates any differently than non-referred candidates. If its the latter, you may not want to bother your friend with this request. But if its the former, it can be a win-win for both of you. 3. Is this an appropriate request? How comfortable are you asking for this favor? How comfortable- or uncomfortable- do you think this friend would be? Consider feelings before you make the request. Also consider other factors, like how long this friend has worked for the company, the position they hold, whether youd asked them for this type of favor in the past, etc. If you feel confident that you wouldnt be putting them on the spot or in an uncomfortable situation, it may be fine. Otherwise, dont ask them for a referral. 4. Are we  on good professional and personal terms? Sure, you thought that the little tiff you had with your friend was squashed, but he might not think so. If your friend is still harboring a grudge for something that you thought was water under the bridge, try to clear the air- and salvage the friendship- before you ask for a job referral. 5. What if they say no? Have you considered what would happen if your friend  said no? How would you feel? How would this affect your relationship? If you feel that he could possibly say no, rethink your request. 6. Would I actually want to work with this person? And what would our working relationship be? If you were to land the job, this friend would become your coworker! How do you feel about this? How does he feel about it? How would it impact your friendship? Before you proceed, find out how closely youd be working togetherand have an open conversation about whether youd both be comfortable with it. This person may be your friend, but that doesnt mean you want him to be your boss. 7. Does he know my  work ethic? Yes, you’ve been friends since college, but that doesn’t mean that your friend has a clue as to who you are professionally. When you ask your friend for a recommendation, sit down for a phone chat or coffee and offer some information about your professional background, your work ethic, and anything else you think  he should know. Make sure to give him a debriefing on all of your professional accomplishments and accolades. If he were to go to HR to put in a good word and they ask him questions about your experience or background, youll want him to be prepared to answer them. It’s true that asking for a job referral can be tricky. So before you text your friend asking for one, consider these seven questions to make sure that you don’t put either of you in an awkward situation, and that you receive the job referral that you deserve.