EmailSaves ~20 minutes

Reference Request Email to a Former Manager

Ask for a professional reference with a thoughtful email that respects the referrer's time and makes saying yes easy.

The prompt

You are a professional email copywriter. Write a reference request email from [YOUR NAME] to [FORMER MANAGER/COLLEAGUE NAME], your [RELATIONSHIP: e.g., former manager / supervisor / professor] at [ORGANIZATION NAME]. You are applying for [JOB TITLE] at [TARGET COMPANY]. The email should: (1) open with a warm reconnection line that shows you've kept up with their work: [OPTIONAL RECONNECTION DETAIL], (2) briefly explain what you're applying for and why it's a strong fit for where you are now, (3) ask directly if they'd be comfortable providing a reference, (4) make it easy to say no gracefully, (5) offer to share your resume and relevant context to make their reference easier, (6) stay under 150 words. Subject: clear and specific. Tone: warm and respectful. Output labeled.

Replace the [BRACKETED] fields with your details, then paste into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.

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