Referral Request Letter

References do work in many situations, and in some situations, it is mandatory to get a reference letter. Asking someone to write a reference letter for you could be simple at times, if the person is your close friend or relative. However, at times, when the relationship is formal, asking someone for a reference might require you to formally request the person. In such cases, you need to write a referral request letter. Just as the name suggests, this letter is written to request a person to recommend someone for a job, admission to some school or college, for some project, etc. Usually the person referring someone, has a good repute in the society, and is capable enough as well as authorized to recommend someone. You cannot get a person with a criminal record to refer you for a job; such a reference will not work, in fact, might cause serious trouble for you.

What is a referral request letter, and who can recommend you?

As explained above, a letter written to request someone to recommend you for a job, project, promotion, etc., is known as a reference or a referral request letter. When you need a reference, you must know whom you should approach. It depends on the kind of reference you want Reference for admission to a school or college can be given by the trustee, some political figure, some famous donor of the school, etc. Similarly, when you want someone to recommend you for a job, you must see to it that the particular person whom you are approaching for reference, is at a good position, and has a good reputation in the organization, etc. Someone with a bad repute in the workplace, recommending you will not work, and might even lead to you losing the opportunity.

What information the person recommending you will need?

The person recommending you would need your complete information. Suppose you want him/her to recommend you for a job, he/she must know about your qualification, the position you wish to apply for, any work experience and awards or achievements, etc. The person recommending you must do so by concretely putting forth, that you are the best, and thus will need all such information about you.

Another important point is that you must have a good rapport with the person who would recommend you. No one would recommend a person just for the sake of it. He/she will do so only if you have a good rapport with him/her. Thus, before requesting someone to recommend you, you must be sure that the person would be interested in doing so.

Getting a reference might look simple, but is not easy in the real world. Making someone else do something for you is not very easy we can make this simple for you by putting forth some essential points required for writing this request letter -

1. Highlight your capabilities:

Keeping in mind the 'rapport' condition, when you ask someone to recommend you, you must make sure that he/she is quite confident about your capabilities. Highlight your qualifications, achievements, capabilities, skills, etc.

2. Make it easy for them:

You want a favor, thus make it simple for the person doing so. Provide a template, wherein he/she can just fill in the required information or using it as a reference draft a referral letter for you at the earliest. Don't make him/her take efforts to write the perfect letter for you. Besides, it might not confer to the rules of the referral letter needed by you.

For further clarification on the same, read the sample referral request letter given below -

Sample referral request letter

Charles S. McHugh
4804 Jehovah Drive
Woodstock, VA 22664
Phone: 540-459-3878
Email Address: CharlesSMcHugh@teleworm.com

To,
The Congressional Representative,
Mr. Hussey
Woodstock, VA 22664

Subject: Requesting for a reference letter for my daughter's scholarship

Dear Mr. Hussey,

I am Charles McHugh, and this is with reference to the scholarship program that your charity house organizes in St. John's School. Every year the school sends you a list of students who get scholarship, and can pursue their studies free of cost. I request you to write a recommendation letter for my daughter Pearl McHugh, studying in the Grade 5.

I am unemployed since the past six months, and am striving hard to get a job. It is difficult to support my family, and my daughter's education at the same time. We are finding it very difficult to pay the school fees, and thus I request you to recommend her for the school scholarships.

Pearl is a bright student, and is very sincere in her studies. I have enclosed a copy of her grade card to help you judge her performance. I have also enclosed the referral letter template to be used for scholarship referrals in school. Kindly fill in the same, and I would come and collect it from your office.

Hoping to get a positive response from you.

Thank you.

Regards,
Charles S. McHugh
540-459-3878
CharlesSMcHugh@teleworm.com

The sample referral request letter given above serves as a ready example for anyone willing to request for a recommendation from someone. Be careful while writing the letter, and present the required facts to convince the reader to write a referral letter for you. Also, you can look Salary Request Letter and Sample Request Letter for sample letters.