Pass That Resume On

Employee referrals are starting to be recognized as an extremely successful tool for gaining employment. When you send in your resume to the HR department, along with dozens of other potential candidates, there's nothing to set you apart from the masses. However, when you have someone inside the company give you a professional referral, your chances of snagging the job go way up.

While it helps to get your resume in the hands of an actual employee in order to get your foot in the door, you can still be ahead of the game if you have an indirect approach with employee referrals. Even resumes submitted to HR with an employee referral attached have a better chance of being viewed first. It's all about the classification systems used by employers, who tend to prioritize employee referrals above other applicants.

How can you take advantage of this preference that employers have? There are a few different ways to use employee referrals in order to be given consideration for a job.

Ask an employee if he feels he knows you well enough to pass along a resume on your behalf. Most are happy to do so, because many employers offer employee referral incentive programs that benefit the employee doing the referring.

Check with your networks for employees you can use for a referral. At the same time, go ahead and apply for any jobs you want with that particular company. It will get your details passed on to HR, and the employee referral can be added later.

If there are no job openings at the company you want to work for, go ahead and submit a resume with an employee referral attached. This will prioritize your details for consideration when future jobs become available.

Because many employers offer their staff some sort of bonus, employee referrals are an attractive option for both you and the employee referring you. However, be wary of anyone who wants to refer you simply for the bonus. While some employers don't mind paying out multiple times for great hires made from referrals, others are wary and may scrutinize your application more than those of other candidates.

If you know more than one person from the company you wish to apply with, how do you choose who to ask for a referral? The best employee referrals are given by employees who are already noted for being reliable and dependable in their own jobs, so aim for getting your referral from someone who fits this description for the best chances of getting an interview.

Don't overlook employee referrals in your job search. When used correctly, employee referrals can benefit the employees giving them and the candidates applying for the job. Successful referrals can help companies find the best candidates quickly, and they also increase your chances of getting your dream job.

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