Text & chat prompt
Ask someone to be your reference
Ask someone to be your reference: a free, copy-paste prompt for ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. Paste the prompt and replace each [BRACKETED] field with your own details.
The prompt
Write an email asking [NAME] to be a reference. Where we worked together: [COMPANY, PERIOD] Projects they saw me on: [PROJECTS] Role I am applying for: [ROLE] Skills I hope they can speak about: [SKILLS] Make it easy to say no, short, and offer a summary of my work to refresh their memory. Under 120 words.
Pro tip: Always ask before listing someone as a reference.
How to use this prompt
- Open ChatGPT and start a new chat.
- Paste the prompt.
- Replace each [BRACKETED] field with your real details and paste in your own text where asked.
- Reply with follow-ups such as "make it shorter" or "make it sound more like me".
Prompt at a glance
- Category
- Text & chat
- Works with
- ChatGPT · Gemini · Claude
- Length
- 56 words
- Fields to fill in
- NAME, COMPANY, PERIOD, PROJECTS, ROLE, SKILLS
- Last updated
Frequently asked questions
Which AI tools work with this prompt?
It is written for ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. Paste it into your preferred tool and adjust the wording if the result is off.
What do I need to fill in?
Replace these fields before you send it: NAME, COMPANY, PERIOD, PROJECTS, ROLE, SKILLS. Each field shows an example in the prompt.
Should I paste private information into the prompt?
Only what the task needs. Remove names, contact details and other sensitive data before pasting a resume or document into any AI tool.
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