Career Management Alliance Blog

I have an excellent contact at a large global corporation in Atlanta
who was fortunate to be able to refer one of my clients relocating from
Memphis. Her reward? $3,000. Not bad for just submitting the resume
and cover letter through the appropriate HR channels.

As a career transition coach, I am fortunate to be in a better than average job market. The saying “Hot ‘lanta” certainly has been true, from the standpoint of job creation, as the hub of the Southeast continues to grow. However, I still find my clients getting discouraged with their job search campaigns when they focus more time online than networking.

Sound familiar? So you say, “yes I know I need to network more, but it’s a pain.” Well, take heart, I am going to tell you about a strategy that is easy and effortless and can get you into a great company. In my coaching, I often advocate what I call the Referral Campaign which is basically a form of networking, but I don’t like to use that word as it often creates an immediate mental block in some job seekers. But very few people today are aware of a powerful resource that makes networking or referral interviewing easy - it’s

THE COMPANY REFERRAL PROGRAM !!!

Companies have been using employee referral programs to fill open positions for as long as they have been around, but the number of such programs has been increasing since 2000 and recently the concept has been in the forefront as more employers look for ways to minimize the negative impacts related to the proposed “War for Talent.” Companies are finding that this is one of the best vehicles to attract quality employees that have a higher retention rate; and many studies have demonstrated that Employee Referral programs do just that. A February 2007 article from the online ERE Network entitled The Future of Employee Referral Programs responded to what employers are doing in response to hiring shortages:

“Many companies will turn to employee referrals to fill the
void. This will not just be based on the fact that referred employees stay
longer and perform better once hired, but based on desperation to find
someone — anyone – who can do the job.”

So how can you as a job seeker or career professional take advantage of this resource? Ask your friends, family members, clients, or colleagues if their company has an employee referral program. When you find one that fits with a company you are targeting, ask your contact if they can forward your resume and cover letter to the appropriate hiring manager. Or if you see a job posted on the company’s website that is a fit, that’s even better. You can reference the job number in your cover letter. Given the potential benefit to the employee, they are more than motivated to help. And you will not be so hesitant to ask for their help.

One piece of advice, be sure to contact your referral first before applying for position online. Some companies will not allow the employee to get credit for the referral if the candidate applies online independently.

So sign off from your computer now and go reach out to make use of this valuable resource!

Posted by Julianne Franke