Is An Employee Referral a Game Changer?

In a world of competitive job markets, it’s important to have an arsenal of tricks up your sleeve to help you get ahead of the competition. A solid resume, cover letter, and irresistible set of skills are just a few factors that will make you a strong candidate but there is one useful tactic many job seekers underestimate. That tactic is the use of employee referrals during the hiring process.

Employee referrals are recommendations made by internal employees who work for the company you are interested in applying for. Employee referrals are made with the goal of increasing the likelihood of you being hired. A referral can help the hiring manager see what you bring to the table in terms of talent. Seeing that you are already acquainted with someone who already works for them may encourage hiring managers more to hire you. Having a referral pitch your strengths is bound to catch the attention of a hiring manager and undoubtedly stoke their curiosity. 

In all honesty, who wouldn’t want someone to acknowledge or praise them in front of a person they are trying to impress?! Here are a few benefits of having referrals lined up and why they can serve as a game changer during the hiring process!

#1: Hiring managers are more likely to respond

Tired of applying to multiple jobs and rarely hearing back? Employee referrals can increase the likelihood of a hiring manager responding to your application. Why is that? Well, it looks like there is a fair amount of confidence among employers that candidates who possess employee referrals tend to be high performers at work. There is a sense of security that comes from candidates who are referred by internal employees since they are already familiar with the demands of the job and likely know their referral is competent. 

#2: Your skills and competencies have a chance to be highlighted

Sometimes a resume or a cover letter just isn’t enough to showcase your hard and soft skills. If the hiring manager decides to discuss with the employee who referred you; there is a good chance that they will point out the qualities in you that make you an attractive candidate. It’s almost like an elevator pitch about why you're so awesome! And it might just be the little extra nudge you need to land the job.

#3: Employee referrals are known to shorten the hiring process and are less expensive

The hiring process can be timely and costly and employers are well aware of this. According to a survey, candidates that are referred by current employees take much less time to hire and are less expensive as compared to candidates without referrals. Not only will this make you appealing to employers, it will also likely save you time if you're looking to swiftly pick up a new job. 

In addition to the great skills you possess and experiences who have made you into the employee you are today, imagine also having an employee referral to stick the landing for your next job? The power of an employee referral goes a long way, and it never hurts to see who may be within your network to give you the boost you need to sweep a hiring manager off their feet!