We get a lot of those requests.

Let’s say you come to know of an opportunity that you would like to apply to. You see the job online, shared in a group chat or someone tells you about it. what should you do?

Let’s start from the most basic to the best shall we?

Basic - Send an email to the address mentioned in the job post, with your resume attached, without as much as a note or cover letter. Assume your profile is the best in the world and they need you more than you need them.

Intermediate - Send a nicely worded professional email, sharing the details of the position you are interested in and why you think you are a good fit. Make sure the resume attached has your full professional name as the name of the file. Make sure the resume is word or better still pdf with limited graphics etc to make sure it can be read by an ATS*

Advanced - Get a referral.

Send an email as above but crucially, do the additional bit of work:

Go to linkedin and see if you have any connections in common with the recruiting manager.

Why are referrals crucial?

A resume can only tell the recruiter so much about a candidate. An interview a little bit more. A personal meeting, a lot more, but an insight into the candidate from someone who has worked with them or better still managed them, is worth it's weight in gold.

If the recruiter values the individual referring you, it can make the process much faster and smoother.

How to ask for a referral?

The best people to reach out to, are the ones you have in common with the recruiter. See e.g. below. Let's say Deepshikha is the recruitment lead for a position and I would like to make sure she hears good things about me.

If I visit her Linkedin profile, I can see all the connections we have in common.

Now scan these connections and find the ones that know you best and start writing to them to see if they would put in a good word for you.

Here are three versions of the messaging you can use:

Formal

Dear Mr. Bedi,

I hope this message finds you well. I recently came across a job opportunity within your network that aligns perfectly with my skills and career aspirations. Upon reviewing the job description, I noticed that Deepshikha is the lead recruiter for this position. Given your connection to her, I wanted to inquire if you would be willing to advocate on my behalf or provide a referral for this role. I am confident that my background and experiences make me a strong fit for the position, and I would greatly appreciate any assistance you could provide in this regard.

Thank you for considering my request.

Best regards, [Your Name]

Friendly

Hey Prabhjot!

I hope you're doing well. I came across a job opening that I'm really excited about, and I noticed that you're connected to Deepshikha, who's the lead recruiter for the role. I was wondering if you could do me a huge favor and put in a good word for me? I genuinely believe I'd be a great fit for the position, and any help you could offer would mean the world to me.

Thanks a bunch!

Warm regards, [Your Name]

Emotional

Hello Prabhjot,

I hope this message finds you in good spirits. I'm reaching out to you with a mix of excitement and nervousness. I stumbled upon a job opportunity that feels like the perfect next step for me, and I couldn't help but notice that you're connected to Deepshikha, the lead recruiter for the role. The thought of you possibly putting in a good word for me fills me with hope and gratitude. This opportunity means a lot to me, and your support would truly make a world of difference.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering my request.

Warmest regards, [Your Name]

How to make this amazing?

If you can find commonality between the two, you are golden.

e.g. Imagine adding the phrase 'I noticed both of you worked together at the Taj. I am sure a word from you would make a difference'

Do not send out incomplete, non actionable messages. Let’s say you want to apply for a position. You write to someone in your circle, saying hello, help me get this job. How should that person get you the job?

Your message should answer the question the person is thinking: How do I get you this job?

Notes:

*ATS - Application Tracking Systems. ATS is a huge time saver for HR teams, as the software reads(scans) the resume and inputs all relevant details into the proper fields. If you resume is not ATS compatible, someone will have to feed all the details manually. If you resume is not worth the effort, some might make that effort. And if you are in the system, you will cannot be hired.