Why Do I Even Need a Referral?
For internships—especially in tech—it’s not just about applying early or having a great resume. A referral can move your application to the front of the line. It tells the recruiter: “Hey, someone already vouches for this person.” That human signal matters when hundreds or thousands are applying for the same role.
Especially as a freshman or sophomore, when your resume might not yet have flashy names or tons of experience, a referral helps you get seen. It’s not a guarantee—but it drastically increases your chances of getting that first-round interview. Sometimes, with a referral, you might skip the initial interview round or two!
So How Do I Get One?
From what I’ve seen, getting a referral isn’t about spamming random people on LinkedIn and hoping for the best (though, sometimes that does work—but the success rate’s low).
Most of the time, it’s about reaching out to people already around you - people you actually know or have crossed paths with. I like to break it down into four main groups you can reach out to:
1. Friends Who Are Interning There
At UW, over the years you’re here, you’ll meet people across Allen, iSchool, Engineering, and even humanities majors who end up at tech/product companies. Sometimes they intern at a place you’re applying to, and if they’re there when the app opens, that’s your window.
What do you do? Just ask. If you’ve had real conversations with them—even just a few messages or studying together—it’s fair game. Example ask:
“Hey, I saw you’re at [Company] this summer—mind helping with a referral for the internship app? Totally cool if not, just figured I’d ask.”
This could be over text, grabbing dinner or even playing pool. One of the easiest, lowest-friction ways to get referred.
2. TAs You’ve Actually Talked To
All it requires is going to class and quiz sections. Build a rapport with your TA. Help out in section. Go to office hours and ask genuine questions. Answer questions on Ed. When a TA knows you’re engaged, they’re much more likely to help.
A lot of TAs at UW end up interning or going full-time at big companies—Google, Meta, Amazon, startups, even fintech. If they’re there when the posting goes live, they can easily drop a referral in.
And honestly, TAs remember students who try. You don’t need to be top of the class—you just need to show up and not be annoying.
3. SWECC Members
If you’re active in the SWECC Discord, people start to recognize your name. That’s when it gets easier to ask.
We’ve got:
- Current students working at Stripe, Meta, Amazon, Google, Uber, and more
- Alumni who come back to help with resume reviews and advice
- Members (sometimes recruiters/FT employees) offering referral threads
Just make sure not to overthink it. Drop a message like:
“Hey — I saw [Company]’s internship just dropped. Anyone here interning/working there open to referring?”
If you’ve helped others, dropped advice, or are just active in the server, people usually respond. It’s a supportive community—but like most things, you get what you give.
4. Your Own Network
This one’s underrated. Ask your parents if they know anyone at [Company]. Or their friends. Or your old high school class. Or your neighbor who works at [X Company]. Even if they’re not in tech, they might know someone who is.
You’d be surprised how many people are willing to help if you just ask clearly and respectfully.
Try:
“Hi! I’m applying for a software internship at [Company] and heard you work there. Would you be open to submitting a referral for me?”
Referrals aren’t reserved for CS experts or engineers. Anyone inside the company can refer you.
Final Tip
The earlier you ask, the better. Don’t wait until the application is due. Have your resume ready. Know the exact role you’re applying to. Make it easy for them. Referrals aren’t some magical club. It’s mostly about asking the people already around you—and doing it respectfully.
Lastly, keep in mind that sometimes referrals can be added after you submitted an application, but sometimes you need to be referred before and apply with a special referral link.