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name: referral-request description: "Write a short message asking someone at a target company for a referral or a conversation, sized to how well the person knows them, with an easy way to say no. Use when asked how do I ask for a referral, message someone at Google about a job, ask a former colleague to refer me, or write a LinkedIn message to an employee. Produces the message for the right channel and relationship strength, a ready-to-forward blurb the referrer can paste, and a single follow-up. For general networking, see networking-outreach." version: 1.0.0

Referral Request

A referral often beats any CV improvement, and the ask is small if it is easy to say yes to. This skill writes a short message sized to the relationship, attaches a blurb the referrer can forward without rewriting, and makes saying no painless.

Part of the pm-cv bundle. For broader networking messages, see networking-outreach.

What This Skill Produces

• The message, for the channel (email, LinkedIn, WeChat, text) and the relationship
• A forwardable blurb: three lines the referrer can paste into an internal referral form
• One follow-up, for a week later

Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:

• Who the person is and how well the sender knows them: close, former colleague, alumni or loose connection, or stranger
• The role, with the link or job ID
• The sender's one-line fit: why they are a strong candidate
• The channel

Framework

Size the ask to the relationship:

• Close or former colleague: ask for the referral directly.
• Alumni or loose connection: ask for fifteen minutes about the team first; the referral comes after.
• Stranger: ask one specific question about the role or team. Do not ask for a referral in the first message.

Every message:

1. One line on the connection ("We worked together on the payments launch at Acme").
2. The role, with the link or ID.
3. One line on fit, with a fact.
4. The ask, sized as above.
5. An easy out ("No worries at all if it's not a good time").

Under 120 words. No CV attached unless it is a close contact; offer it instead.

Output Format

Referral request: [contact], [company], [role]

1. Message ([channel], [relationship]) 2. Forwardable blurb (three lines: who, fit, link) 3. Follow-up (one, a week later, two lines)

Quality Checks

• The ask matches the relationship strength
• Under 120 words
• The role link or ID is included
• The easy out is present
• The blurb can be pasted without editing

Anti-Patterns

• Asking a stranger for a referral in the first message.
• Long life stories. The reader decides in a few seconds.
• Attaching a CV unasked to a loose connection.
• More than one follow-up.

Example Trigger Phrases

• "Help me ask a former colleague at Stripe for a referral."
• "Write a LinkedIn message to someone on the team I'm applying to."
• "How do I ask my university alumni at Tencent for a referral?"
• "帮我写一条内推请求的微信消息。"