cover letter name drop

How to Name-Drop in a Cover Letter, with Tips

Referrals are a powerful way to get ahead in the job market. Name-dropping an employee who works at the company you’re applying to, or revealing a mutual associate or acquaintance in your cover letter can help you shoot up the list of viable candidates. But how can you name-drop in your cover letter, while remaining professional? In this article, we discuss the advantages of cover letter name-dropping and provide tips to make your name-dropping more effective.

What is Name-Dropping in a Cover Letter?

Name-dropping in your cover letter is simply the act of mentioning a contact that you share with the hiring manager. It might not be someone who the hiring manager knows personally or works closely with, but it needs to be someone they can easily check in with to verify your credentials. Typically, this will be someone who works at the company you’re applying to. You may also mention someone that you know is a shared connection from outside the organisation, if you know they have a positive relationship with the hiring manager.

Why and When to Name-Drop in a Cover Letter

Name-dropping in a cover letter can be an effective way to boost your chances of job application success. A well-placed name-drop in your cover letter works as an employee referral, which many employers and HR managers value. A recent study shows that employee referrals are one of the most effective tools in recruitment, leading to lower hiring costs and a more efficient process with reduced screening (1) . Another study indicates that referral hires reduce staff turnover by up to 15% (2) .

These benefits can be extremely valuable for employers. The ability to get a second opinion on a candidate before contacting referees can give hiring managers peace of mind about how well they might fit in at the organisation. With employers now routinely checking social media channels to find information about their candidates, being able to gain insights directly from a colleague or associate is highly appealing.

It’s important to only name-drop genuine connections, and to seek their permission before you reference them in your cover letter. The closer your relationship to the person you’re name-dropping, the better. Name-dropping is also more effective if the contact is more relevant to the role you’re applying for. If they work in the same department as you’re applying to, or if they hold a senior position, they’re far more likely to make a positive impact on your chances.

By contrast, if your contact is only an acquaintance, or you don’t have much of a relationship with them, it may not be worth mentioning them in your cover letter. If they work in an entirely different part of the company or they lack relevance to the role you’re applying for, their effectiveness is also likely to be reduced. Additionally, avoid name-dropping in your CV — it works best in your cover letter.

Tactful Techniques for Name-Dropping in a Cover Letter

Name-drops act like references on a cover letter . The key to name-dropping in a cover letter is to do it tactfully, in a way that doesn’t seem forced or unprofessional. It’s important not to over-use the name you’re dropping into your cover letter, but subtle placement can help to catch the attention of the hiring manager. Here’s a guide to where and how to name-drop in your cover letter:

• Opening paragraph: the best place to mention your contact is the opening paragraph of your cover letter. You could mention that you’ve spoken to them about the role, or about working for the company, and decided to apply as a result.
• Middle section of the cover letter: if suitable, you could mention any shared experience with your associate, including jobs you’ve done or projects you’ve worked on together in the past. This could be particularly useful if the contact is in a senior position and can vouch for your impact and value in previous collaborations.
• Closing paragraph: if appropriate, you may briefly refer back to the connection in your concluding sentences. This could act as a call-to-action for the employer to check in with the contact.

Expert tip:

If you’re name-dropping in a cover letter, a subtle, understated approach is best. Reference your contact once or twice, so the reader can understand your relationship and follow up with them if necessary. If you mention your contact too much, the employer may feel you’re relying on your relationship with them, rather than standing as a viable candidate on your own merit.

Choosing the Right Names to Mention in a Cover Letter

The right type of connection can have a strong positive effect on the chances of your job application succeeding. Here’s a guide to the types of contact you can leverage for your job applications by mentioning them in your cover letter:

• Direct referral: a direct referral is typically someone connected to you who’s currently employed within the organisation. This might be a manager from a previous role, a former colleague or someone else you have a shared history with. A direct referral could also be a trusted or reputable industry contact with a similar relationship.
• Mutual contact: name-dropping a mutual contact can help to forge a personal connection with the hiring manager. This is someone known to both you and the employer, such as a mutual friend or colleague.
• Alumni or event connection: you might have met someone at an industry event who passed on a job opportunity to you. Alternatively, you may have a shared educational background, such as someone you studied alongside at university. This is particularly relevant for countries like the UK, where alumni networks can be close-knit.
• High-profile contacts: if you know someone with a particularly high standing in the industry you’re applying to, these contacts can be valuable. Only reference high-profile contacts if you have a genuine and meaningful connection to them, and don’t overstate your relationship or over-emphasise them in your cover letter.

It’s important not to over-use the name you’re dropping into your cover letter, but subtle placement can help to catch the attention of the hiring manager.

Name-Dropping Etiquette and Permissions

It’s always essential to seek the permission of the person before you name-drop them in your cover letter. This could be via email or in-person, but be sure to ask politely and be respectful if your contact declines . It’s probably best to only approach someone if they have a strong connection to you, or if you’re confident they’ll approve. 

If you’re asking someone’s permission via email, be sure to send them the details of the role you’re applying for, including the job advert or any other useful information. This means that if the hiring manager contacts them, they’ll be prepped and ready to respond.

Common Name-Dropping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Avoid these common name-dropping mistakes when writing your cover letter:

• Don’t over-use names: your name-dropping should be subtle and professional. Over-use of name-dropping throughout your cover letter may have the opposite of the desired effect and create a negative perception for the reader.
• Don’t drop irrelevant names: only name-drop someone in your cover letter who you feel can help you succeed with your job application. If the person you cite is unconnected to the hiring manager or can’t offer any valuable insight on your suitability for the role, it’s probably not worth mentioning them.
• Don’t be over-familiar: it’s essential to maintain a professional tone, even if you’re discussing a mutual acquaintance or someone you have a personal relationship with.

Examples of Successful Name-Dropping in Cover Letters

Here are some examples of how to successfully name-drop someone in a cover letter:

Referral for an entry-level position:

I’m writing to apply for the role of Junior Data Analyst. The role was recommended to me by Data Manager Julia Arfield, who was my supervisor during my internship with HBX Systems in 2023. Julia thought the role would be a good match for my skills and experience.

Mid-career professional applying in a new industry:

Please find attached my CV in application for the role of Project Manager in the Logistics and Operations team. I recently met your Head of Operations Ralph Snowden when he delivered a project management training seminar for XL Training in Leeds. Following my interest in exploring roles in logistics, Ralph contacted me when this vacancy opened up.

Alumni connection for managerial role:

I’m writing in application for the Client Services Director role, which is a strong match for my 12 years’ experience in client services for various major digital agencies across the UK. I studied towards my MA in Marketing alongside your Creative Director Helen Doulton, and have remained in contact for networking and knowledge-sharing purposes since then. Helen recently contacted me to share the details of this vacancy.

Event networking:

Please see my CV and portfolio for the role of Senior UX Developer attached. I recently connected with your Head of UX, Simon Burley, at Digital Transformation London, where we discussed possible collaboration opportunities. Simon got in touch to recommend that I apply for this role, as he felt my unique expertise could be valuable for the team.

Key Takeaways for Name-Dropping in a Cover Letter

Name-dropping in a cover letter can help your application to get noticed and assure the employer that you’re a good fit for the role and the organisation. However, it’s important to be selective about your name-dropping. Pick only the most relevant connections and reference them with subtlety. Use a professional cover letter template , like those offered by Jobseeker, to really stand out from the crowd. Sign up to access CV examples and other resources to boost your job applications. You can also find cover letter articles with a wealth of tips on crafting the perfect cover letter.

Sources: (1) Science Direct, Do employers learn more from referrals than from other recruitment channels? (2) National Bureau of Economic Research, What do employee referral programs do? Measuring the direct and overall effects of a management practice

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When and How to Name-Drop in Your Cover Letter

All the career pros say "it's not what you know, but who you know." There's no real scientific proof of that concept, but experience tells us they're right. So if you know someone who works for a company you're applying to, don't be afraid to mention their name in your cover letter. Many businesses actually encourage and reward their employees for referring job candidates. If your contact works for your target organization, find out the proper procedures for an employee referral and follow those carefully. Here are some other guidelines to being an effective name-dropper:

• Make sure your contact knows the hiring manager who will be reviewing cover letters and resumes. It's pretty useless to mention someone the hiring manager has never heard of.
• Make sure your contact is on good terms with the hiring manager. If there was some kind of falling out between the two, dropping that name could do more harm than good.
• Double-check that your contact is OK with being named. It's in poor taste to reference someone without letting them know you're doing it. Like your references, anyone you would mention in a cover letter deserves a chance to back out if they're not comfortable with it.
• Pass a copy of your cover letter on to your contact so they know what you're saying about them. In fact, in some cases, you could even ask them to hand-deliver your cover letter and resume to the hiring manager. However, you should also follow the employer's typical procedures (applying online or by email) so they'll have an electronic version that they can forward to others.

To highlight a contact in your cover letter effectively, do it in the opening paragraph. Here's an example:

Jason Alexander, Product Manager at ABC Productions, suggested I get in touch with you regarding the Associate Product Manager opening. In addition to the background information Jason provided, I've had the pleasure of reviewing ABC Productions’ web site and am very enthusiastic about the opportunity.

Or, you could say something like this:

I would like to express my interest in the Associate Product Manager position at ABC Productions. Jason Alexander, one of your Product Managers, has told me great things about the company ...

If you have the right contact within the company who can vouch for your character and work ethic, you could jump a step ahead of your competition. And as always, keep networking. The broader your network of friends, family, colleagues, and online contacts, the better your chance of having a helpful name to drop.

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