When applying for a job in some cases, the interviewer might ask you to provide a reference or recommendation. For that purpose, you will need a reference letter or recommendation, usually written by your ex-boss or manager, a teacher, or anyone that had been related to you professionally in past.
You will have to ask any of them whether or not they agree or feel comfortable writing any such letter for you. You can do so by writing them a reference request email that must be written in such a way that they agree to become your reference.
In this article, we have provided you with a perfect reference request email example and template that you can easily download, edit and use as per your requirement. Moreover, you can also scroll down to check out the tips for writing a perfect reference request email.
What is a Reference Request Email?
As the name suggests, a reference request email is an email that is written to a person with a viewpoint of requesting him/her to become your reference and write a letter of recommendation for you, mostly in case of a job. Even if you already have some experience in the relevant field, some employers still ask you to present them with a reference or recommendation letter, usually from a previous employer. However, in the case of a fresh person, a reference letter is required quite often, and in such a case, a character reference letter from a teacher or professor can work.
A reference letter is a kind of verification that the potential employer makes so as to know what type of an employee you actually are. When someone gives a positive recommendation for you, it leaves a great impression on your potential employer, and hence, it increases your chances of getting the job.
So, it is very important that you contact the correct person to provide a reference or recommendation letter for you. And for that, you should also know how to write a reference request email and convince the person to provide a positive recommendation to your potential employer.
Reference Request Email Sample
Subject: [Your Name in Full] – Reference Request
Dear Mr. / Mrs. [Last Name of the Recipient],
I hope that you will be doing great and that everything at the [mention Company’s Name] will be going perfectly. To tell you the truth, I miss everyone at [mention Company’s Name] and I can’t believe that it has already been two years since I left the organization.
I have really enjoyed my time working with professionals and experts such as yourself at the [mention Company’s Name]. Whatever I learned at the [mention Company’s Name], actually laid the foundation of learning new skills and exploring new things for me. Actually, the main purpose of writing this email is to ask for a small favor from you. If you feel comfortable, can you please write a positive reference letter for me?
I still look forward to pursuing my career in finance but now with more than four years of experience, I want to take on some managerial responsibilities as well. So, I am currently seeking a new job and for that purpose, a positive reference from you will surely be of great help to me and will increase my chances of winning a job position.
Thanks a lot for your precious time. I have also attached my latest resume with this email. Feel free to contact me anytime for any queries or details.
Best Regards,
[Sender Name]
[Sender Contact Details]
Reference Request Email Template
How to Write a Perfect Reference Request Email?
As mentioned earlier, before drafting your reference request email, you should have the person in mind who will provide a positive reference or recommendation for you. A positive recommendation from someone who has already been in a professional relationship with you will add to your credibility.
So after having the person in mind, the next thing is to make sure that you can convince that person to provide his/her positive recommendation for you. For that purpose, you must draft your reference request email in a perfect persuasive manner. If you are wondering how to write a perfect reference request email and ask someone to provide a reference for you, then make sure to keep in mind these given below useful tips:
- Choose the right person i.e., in case you are applying for a job and you have already worked with someone else, then it will be best to contact your ex-employer or your former manager, etc. However, if you are applying for a job for the very first time, you might ask your teacher or professor, or if you have done an internship at someplace, you can ask them to write a character reference letter for you.
- Keep the subject line of your email simple and brief like “[Your Name in Full]-Reference Request”. This will help the reader to quickly get an idea of what the email will be about.
- It is important to communicate your purpose of writing the email in a polite and courteous manner. Don’t just throw off like “Hey! Can you provide a reference or recommendation letter for me?”. It has to be a humble start where you must ask the reader about his/her health and a sentence or two about your past relationship. It is important to do so because obviously, it would definitely be a while since you have communicated with the potential reference, right! So it is important to first develop a connection using some memoirs. However, try not to go for long paragraphs, keep it short and simple.
- Clearly state why you actually want the reader to provide a letter of reference or recommendation for you.
- Don’t forget to thank your potential reference for their valuable time.
- Also, don’t forget to provide the reader with your latest resume and or other details.
- Provide the reader with your contact details so that he/she can easily reach you.
- End the letter with a formal greeting like “Best Regards” or “Sincerely”.
- Make sure to proofread your email before finally sending it.