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Ask a former manager to be a reference, with what to stress

  • For Job seekers
  • You practice Giving the right context
  • Time about 5 minutes

About this exercise

You're a finalist for a job and need a reference from a former manager who has since changed companies. Get an email under 120 words, plain text: the ask, the job, that the call should come within a week, and exactly 2 bullets starting with "- " on what she could speak to. Use her current company, pick examples that fit this job, and sign off exactly "Thank you, Nora Kim".

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Missing her new job. The AI sees 'Lakeside Catering' first and writes as if she still works there. Try: Add: "She's now catering director at Bellmont Events."
  • Not choosing the examples. The AI lists everything she saw, so your reference may talk about inventory instead of what the job needs. Try: Add: "2 bullets: the wedding vendor timelines and the 300-guest gala."
  • Leaving out the timing. The AI doesn't say when the call is coming, so she isn't ready for it. Try: Add: "Say Harbor View will call within the next week."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total and it often lands 20% over. Try: Cap each part: "4 short sentences under 16 words, then 2 bullets under 12 words."
  • Forgetting where it's going. AI adds bold and headings that show up as stray symbols in an email. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold, no headings."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Uses her current job
  • Picks matching examples
  • Gives the timing
  • Gives the sign-off
  • Sets a length limit

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