I’m sure you’ve heard this many times before – people tell you that getting a referral can open doors and get you into organizations. But you’ve been trying for so long, you’ve reached out to many people asking them if they can refer you, if they become a reference for you, but somehow someway it’s not happening. What can you do about it? Well let me tell you this, there are several factors that come into play when it comes to you asking someone for a referral. There are things that you cannot control and there are things that you can control. Let’s dive into what you can and cannot control in the referral game.
Uncontrollable Factors:
- Relationship Dynamics:
You cannot control the relationship that the individual you know has with the organization or with the person that you are hoping they will connect you with. They could have worked in the organization before and got fired, it didn’t go well, they probably burned bridges, that relationship with that individual is not that tight or some people that I don’t really know on LinkedIn even though we are connected somehow some way. That could be taking place.
- Willingness to risk their relationship account:
What do I mean by that? Basically is this person willing to actually go out of their way and risk their reputation, their credibility, and refer you to someone else? That’s something else that comes into play, they could have been burned before, somethings could have happened before, and they might not be willing to do it for you
- Other Unseen Factors:
Are there other factors that you’re not even aware of? For example, sitting as a councillor in the city of Kitchen, I cannot refer people to positions in the company simply because of my role. Many people don’t know that and still reach out to ask. It’s okay to ask but I always like to remind them of that.
Controllable Factors:
So what are the three things that you can control to increase your chances of securing a referral.
- You can control your credibility:
What do I mean by this? You come to me and say can I refer you? I need to know why I should refer you. What is it about you that should give me the confidence to refer you? Many of us, we go through the basic simplest thing – we talk about our resume, “I have 10 years of this, 5 years of this.” Anybody can make that up, anybody can say anything. My question for you is “What can you do to move up in terms and level of credibility?”
There are some people that I am willing to vouch for because I have seen the work that they’ve done. It’s easier for me to refer them because the level of credibility has gone up. There are some people that I have seen being interviewed or I’ve seen them establish a sense of leadership, thought leadership, and expertise in their field; they post about it regularly online, and they talk about some of their accomplishments. They’re doing those things and it helps to separate them, makes it easier for me to be able to refer them.
- Quality of Relationship:
Another thing that you can do is the quality of the level of the relationship. In the new book that I’m writing, “Dear Immigrant Sore”, which will be coming out soon, there are four levels of relationships.
- There is the level one which I will call “People you don’t even know period.” You might know them but they don’t know you.
- There is level two, which is you’ve probably met or interacted once or twice but they’ve already forgotten you.
- Level three is when you’ve moved to a cordial relationship.
- Level four is when you’ve gotten to a place where there is trust, where you’ve built that relationship really tightly.
It is easier to get a referral when you’re at level four or level three. It is very hard when you’re at level one or level two. So here’s my question for you, “What can you do to get to level three and level four?” We can brainstorm through that in the comment section.
- Top of Mind Activity
Then lastly, what I like to call the “Top of Mind Activity”. This is so crucial. You can have credibility but you have to remind people regularly through your post, through what you share about your credibility, about your accomplishments, about the exams that you’ve taken, about the certifications that you have, about the recent work that you’ve done. LinkedIn is a perfect place to do those things.
Number two top-of-mind activity when it comes to your relationship is how often do you check in with people that you’re looking to move from a level one or two, all the way to a level four? It comes to what I’d like to call that constant drip over time.
In your quest for referrals, remember that you can’t control everything, so sometimes it might not end up working out still. However, by focusing on what you can control – your credibility, relationship levels, and top-of-mind activity – you increase the likelihood of getting that coveted referral. By implementing these strategies, you’ll not only make it easier for others to vouch for you but also increase your chances of success in the competitive job market. Remember, while referrals can open doors, it’s your commitment to building meaningful connections that truly sets you apart.
I hope this adds value. Please like it, comment or share with your colleagues Thank you very very much.
For more insights, check out my new book, “Dear Immigrant Soar.” Interested? Be one of the first to join the mailing list today! https://lnkd.in/giQ7XjcW