Why Do So Many Recruiters Ignore Friends and Family?

My very first job post-graduation came about from an employee referral. My friend called me up a week or two out of school and asked me what I was up to. Since I had a freshly minted English degree from a state school, I promptly replied, “Nothing” and the rest is history. I got a job through a referral.

Seems like a no brainer, but I can tell you very few companies invest in Employee Referral Programs like they should. I hear the same excuses; employees should already be referring, or it’s too complicated to track across various locations, or getting the program synchronized with HRIS is a nightmare, and the list goes on. Regardless of the perceived obstacle, there is no greater recruitment tactic with a better ROI than a well-executed Employee Referral Program.

Studies show that organizations that use Employee Referral Programs have average retention rates close to 50% and can save companies thousands of dollars per hire. Employee Referrals tap into an exclusive talent source – your people who, when properly motivated, become sales sharks, separating your jobs from the competition. In fact, a Harvard Business Review conducted a study that found 70% of “Better Candidates” were acquired from referrals.

As a bonus, Employee Referral Programs test the strength of your Employer Brand. The candidates your employees refer are typically those they see as a good fit for the organization. And an employee’s view of your culture provides valuable feedback and allows you to adjust or re-evaluate your branding efforts accordingly.

Simply asking employees to hit the streets and recruit is not enough. There are proven methodologies, incentives, technologies, promotions, and tricks of the trade that will ensure your success. And you guessed it, we’re here to help. Contact Buyer Advertising today to learn more about our unique approach to executing a successful Employee Referral Program. I may not be your friend, or your family, but you can trust the guy who started his career with the help of a referral.

Joel Glick
Managing Partner
Buyer Advertising

Buyer provides custom talent solutions that deliver the right candidates to you. We cultivate unique Employer Brands, and our industry-leading search engine optimized hiring platform, Buyer Talent Engine, empowers recruiters with a smarter way to attract, engage, analyze, and track candidates through the entire hiring process – backed by a team of industry leaders with a passion for customer service.