Referral Cover Letter

You can make the most of them with these referral cover letter tips:

• The most important thing to remember when writing this type of cover letter is to include the name of the person who referred you to the job. Employers like to hire people they know. It will be easier to build trust with the employer in this situation because he or she knows that you've been pre-screened by the person who referred you to the job. So, if you have some kind of connection to someone within the company, mention it in the first sentence of your cover letter.
  
• If the referrer is someone you know well, mentioning his or her name is simple, just note something like, "My colleague (or friend), John Smith, has mentioned that he feels I'd be a great fit for the current opening in your accounting department?"
  
• It's a little bit trickier to mention the referrer's name if someone who you don't really know has provided you with a job lead. After you get this person's permission, you could write something like, "I recently met your customer service representative, Jane Somebody, at the Financial Industry Conference; she mentioned that you are currently seeking an accountant at XYZ Company."
  
• Before you include that person's name on your cover letter, be sure to get their permission to do so. Usually, if someone is willing to refer you to a job, they will be willing to allow you to include their name in your cover letter.
  
• Sometimes a referrer would prefer that you do not include a name in your cover letter. Perhaps they have some inside information that has not yet been made public, and they are taking a chance by passing the lead on to you. In that case, always respect that person's wishes and do not include their name on your cover letter.
  
• Often the referral cover letter is the easiest cover letter to write because you have access to the most information. Ask the person who has given you the job lead as much as you can about the company, the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job. That way you'll be able to write a highly targeted referral cover letter.

As with all other cover letters, be specific and research and target the needs of the employer. Take full advantage of this "inside track" job lead by noting the name of the referrer whenever possible, and gathering as much information as possible from the person who has provided you with the job lead.