How to Refer a Friend for a Job in the Philippines
Have you ever wondered how to recommend someone for a job? With the Philippines’ growing job market, there’s a growing abundance of jobs. However, we all know that it’ll take time for these vacancies to be filled because applicants are looking for something specific in the culture, compensation, and job requirements before they click “Apply.”
Finding a good job can be difficult, so if you find one that’s perfect for your friend, you should consider referring them to the opportunity.
Referring a friend for a job can be a great way to lend them a helping hand. It can also be a rewarding experience for you both that can lead to strengthening your professional networks and personal relationships.
Not all referrals are the same. Some job referrals may not yield anything for you, but others may have job referral commissions ready to compensate you for your initiative. But the job market is competitive, and just because you refer someone to a job doesn’t mean they’ll get it. This is why in this article, we’ll teach you some of our tips and tricks for referring someone to a job, as well as giving you employee referral examples.
What’s the Difference Between Friend Referrals and Employee Referrals?
The key difference between these two types of referrals is in the position of who’s initiating the recommendation.
Employee referrals are initiated by people who are existing employees at the company where they’re recommending the candidate.
A friend referral, on the other hand, happens when someone refers anyone to a job opening at the company. Regardless of their connection to the company.
How to Refer a Friend for a Job
Whether you’re trying to learn how to refer a friend for a job via email or in-person, you’ll need to brush up on how to do so. This will help strengthen your friend’s application for the job.
Aside from strengthening your friend’s application, sending a referral email on behalf of your friend can also give them the moral support they need for this process. Job hunting is stressful enough and knowing that someone’s on their corner believing in them can be enough for them to keep going.
Here are some of our tips on how to refer a friend for a job:
Find the Right Opportunity
Just because there’s an opportunity on a job board doesn’t mean you should immediately refer your friend. Take the time to read through the job posting to see if it’s the right opportunity for your friend. Go through the job description, list of desired skills, and years of experience. If your friend ticks all of the boxes, then you should refer them to the job.
If you currently work at the company that you’ll be referring your friend to, consider the company’s culture as well. Do you think that your friend will fit the company’s culture? If yes, it’s time to start gathering facts for your referral.
Ask About the Job
Whether you’re an employee at the company you’re referring your friend to or not, make sure you ask about the job first.
Read through the job description posted and list any concerns you may have. Afterward, you can reach out to the hiring manager to get some clarifications on your questions.
Additionally, you should also confirm if the company has any referral incentives and if you’re eligible for these incentives.
Prepare Your Friend
The next step is to give your friend a heads-up about the referral you’re planning to send. If they agree, it’s time for you to prepare your friend for the opportunity. Talk to your friend about the job and the research you’ve done on the company. Explain to them why you think they’re a good fit for the job.
While you’re preparing your friend, you can use this time to gather the necessary information about your friend’s professional life for the referral email you’ll be writing on their behalf.
Craft a Referral Email
Writing a referral email for your friend can be a great way to strengthen their application. It also serves as an excellent introduction to the hiring manager.
To craft an effective referral email, you need to make sure that it’s both professional and positive. You should also make sure to include the following details in your email:
- How do you know your friend
- Length of time that you’ve known them
- Skills and traits that are valuable for the company
- Relevant job experiences of your friend
- Why you think they’re a good fit for the job
If you have the job description posted on the hiring board, try to reference it when crafting your email. Usually, hiring managers are looking for specific keywords that will put certain candidates above the rest. Ideally, these are candidates who meet certain requirements that were listed in the job description.
If you’re not sure what technical skills to include in the referral email, call your friend and ask them about the details that you’re missing. This can help you craft a stronger referral email for your friend.
We understand that it can be paralyzing to write an email from scratch. This is why we’ve written a referral template email for you below.
Referral Email Template
Subject: Referral for [Job] at [Company/Department]
Hi [Hiring Manager name],
I hope this email finds you well.
I am [your name], and I have been a [your position] at [your company] for [years worked in the company]. I’m writing to recommend [Friend’s Name] for the [Job Title] position that I saw advertised on [Platform where you saw the job ad].
I’ve known [Friend’s Name] for [Number] years and have always been impressed by their skills and experience in [Mention relevant skills and experience].
Specifically, [Friend’s Name] has a strong track record in [Mention specific achievements or projects related to the job description]. Additionally, they are [Mention positive personality traits relevant to the job, e.g., highly motivated, a team player, excellent communicator].
I’m confident that [Friend’s Name] would be a valuable asset to your team at [Company Name]. They are eager to learn and grow their career, and I believe they would be a great fit for the company culture at [Company Name].
[Friend’s Name] has already expressed interest in the position and is excited about the opportunity to contribute to [Company Name]’s success. Their resume is attached for your review.
Please feel free to reach out to me at [Your Email Address] if you have any questions or would like to discuss [Friend’s Name]’s qualifications further.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Referral Email Sample
Subject: Referral for Graphics Design Artist at Cruz Advertising Agency
Hi Ms. Fedilazo,
I hope this email finds you well.
I am Sarah Dela Cruz, and I have been a Director for Marketing at Liwanag Advertising for 5 years. I’m writing to recommend Thom Garcia for the Graphics Design Artist position that I saw advertised on Pasajob.
I’ve known Thom Garcia for 4 years and have always been impressed by their skills and experience in branding design, typography, and user interface (UI) design.
Specifically, Thom has a strong track record in developing a brand identity that increased brand recognition for our clients by 45% and designing branding collaterals that increased user engagement by 25%. Additionally, Thom is a highly motivated team player with a keen eye for detail.
I’m confident that Thom would be a valuable asset to your team at Cruz Advertising Agency. He is eager to learn and grow their career, and I believe they would be a great fit for the company culture at Cruz Advertising Agency.
Thom has already expressed interest in the position and is excited about the opportunity to contribute to Cruz Advertising Agency’s success. Their resume is attached for your review.
Please feel free to reach out to me at sdelacruz@liwanagadvertising.com.ph if you have any questions or would like to discuss Thom’s qualifications further.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Sarah Marie Dela Cruz
Submit the Referral
Before clicking send, read through the referral email you’ve crafted – and don’t forget to attach your friend’s resume.
Once you’re happy with what you’ve written and you feel like you’ve painted your friend in the best light possible, it’s time to click “Send.”
Support the Hiring Process
Referring your friend to a job doesn’t end once you’ve sent the email. Ideally, you want to be an active contributor to the hiring process by acting as a bridge between your friend and the potential employer. Keep your communication lines open and answer any questions the hiring manager may have about your friend. This can help create a more positive hiring experience for the hiring manager and your friend.
If a certain time has lapsed with no response, you should consider following up. This is a great way to touch base with the hiring team and reaffirm your endorsement for your friend while keeping an eye on their application status. Following up can also demonstrate your interest and commitment to supporting your friend.
Following a Smooth Referral Process
While the hiring journey may not always be smooth sailing, having a smooth referral process is key to helping the right people find the right jobs – especially if they’re someone you care about. We hope that you learned everything you need to know to effectively refer your friend to a job.
If you’re ready to help your friends achieve their goals, but you’re not sure where to start, you can start at Pasajob’s online job referral platform. Our job referral platform makes referring your friends to the right opportunities a breeze.
Start helping your friends build their careers today.
