How to Include Job Recommendations in a Cover Letter
- 1). Name drop briefly in your cover letter if you have a reference working at the company who's in good standing with management. For example, you can state your excitement when "John Smith," manager of public relations at the organization, informed you of the opening position. Showing that you have an internal connection can help get your cover letter read.
- 2). Review the job description and note whether you need to provide references. If references aren't explicitly requested, make no mention of them in your cover letter.
- 3). Enclose letters of recommendation separately with your application if requested; don't include quotations from references directly in your cover letter. Briefly mention that you included the letters, but don't go into too much detail about how your references know you. For example, simply say you've enclosed a reference letter from your professor or other professional contact. Only mention a reference by name if you think the recruiter knows her.
- 4). Avoid statements like "references available upon request." Employers expect you to have professional references ready if they ask, so mentioning them only takes up space that you don't need to use.
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