A Google techie’s advice to job seekers on LinkedIn about how to request referrals has sparked a heated debate. In a post on X, the software engineer shared that she received “proper” messages from two candidates and promptly gave them referrals because they asked in the “right” way.
“Received proper referral messages from 2 candidates on LinkedIn. Gave them a referral immediately. All you need to do is ask correctly,” she wrote.
The techie also created a video detailing how to request referrals on LinkedIn. She suggested including a job ID, resume, coding profiles, CGPA, projects, and work experience in the message. Additionally, she stressed the importance of a “proper greeting” and advised that the job be a good fit for one’s skills, quoting her mom: “deserve and then desire.”
Her approach divided opinions online. While some supported the need for formal messages, others dismissed it as unnecessary. One user commented, “To all the freshers and engineers looking for a lateral switch, I have the lowest barrier to refer. Ask me anytime, anyhow, and I’ll help you at the earliest. Forget formality and jargon.”
Another user wrote, “Ask me ‘bhaiya referral dedo’ and it’ll be done. Ain’t nobody got time for ‘oh I’m such a cool candidate here’s my SOP.’ People get one achievement and suddenly it’s ego central.”
However, many agreed with the techie’s method, emphasizing that good communication makes a difference. One commenter said, “Good communication makes all the difference. I sometimes wonder why people feel the need to waste others’ time.”
Another added, “People need to put more effort into their referral requests.”