How To Give A Good Employee Referral
In the job market today, there are a lot of job positions that employers keep advertising every day but getting a suitable candidate for the job can be very difficult sometimes. Employers rely on other people such as past employees or current employers to refer the appropriate candidate for a job position. As an employee or past employee, if you are fortunate enough to recommend job seekers to your employer, do not take this opportunity for granted but do your best to refer the best job candidate. If you don’t have any job candidate in mind; decline the offer. Do not just refer an individual because he is your friend but refer to the person based on his professional accomplishments. If you fail to give a good employee reference there may be consequences involved, think well before you affirm. This article will explore how to give a good employer referral.
What is Employee Referral?
An employee referral is the recommendation of a job candidate or seeker by employees or clients to an employer. In this process, job candidates don’t follow the traditional process of applying for a job; an employee submits their resume on their behalf to the organization. The hiring team will review their details, professional experience, and skills and then decides to hire them or not.
Kinds of Employee Referral
Referral Letter
A Referral letter is also known as a recommendation letter. It is a document that someone writes about a prospective job candidate showing why he will be a good fit for the job. The letter provides the qualities, characteristics, and skills of a job seeker. In writing a referral letter, you must avoid writing about the candidate’s weaknesses but highlight the job candidate’s strengths. An Employee referral letter can be general, and it can also be specific. If you don’t have a close relationship with someone you want to recommend, make sure you research the person before you recommend him/her for the job. Emphasize the person’s professionalism. For instance, “Ann is a very hardworking person and a great team player. She is highly creative and would make an excellent addition to any organization”.
Here are steps on how to write an effective letter of referral:
- Include both addresses.
- Write a brief preamble.
- Give a recap of the applicant’s vigor.
- Share a story of the applicant.
- Add a conclusive statement.
- Leave a signature.
Personal Phone Calls
You might be called upon to recommend a job candidate you are representing through a phone call. You will be asked questions about the person’s qualifications, strengths, and deficiencies. Focus on the job candidate’s strengths and discuss how he successfully overcame his/her weaknesses in the past. Discuss the prospective employer’s skills and his willingness to continue to improve his skills.
These are some questions you may be asked on phone:
- What is your current relationship with the job candidate?
- What are his or her strengths?
- What are his/her weaknesses?
- What is the candidate’s professional experience?
- How would you rate the overall job performance?
- What areas can the candidate improve?
- Is the candidate dependable, accurate, and flexible to work with?
A-Team of Professional Employee Referral
Some companies have an organized way of employee referral; a team of employees in the company is usually given a slot to enroll prospective job candidates. An in-person meeting is usually organized where employees sell a job seeker to the organization. In such meetings be as bold as possible and maintain eye contact. Highlight the success of the prospective employee and why you feel he is the best candidate for the job. Demonstrate your respect for the individual’s abilities and why you feel he will add value to the organization.
Other tips on how to give a good employee referral
Talk about the Job Candidate’s Personality and Tolerance
In a work environment, there are different personalities and tolerance is what brings about a healthy work environment. Do not just talk about the prospective employee’s accomplishments or accolades but also talk about his character development. How he works well with others under his care and his friendly nature. Employees do not want a coworker that has mood swings, is effortlessly furious or gets upset over everything. The prospective employee should be able to develop a healthy relationship with his coworkers. Conduct character research on the job seeker before you refer him for the job position.
Make your Praise Specific
State the role the job applicant you are recommending can fit and focus on the skills and ability of the role he is seeking. In this scenario, it will be very good if you recommend someone you have worked with personally, and have seen his skills and abilities. For instance, “Gabriel worked as my content writer, copywriter, and content editor for 12 years. He is an incredible writer and editor that is highly creative. He never misses a deadline, and he continues to improve over time. I highly recommend him for the position of communication manager of the company”.
Refer to Challenges or Problems the job Seeker Handled
The best way times to sell a job seeker to a company is to exhibit that the job seeker is exceptional. If the job seeker handled a complicated situation in the past and counterfeited it, this is the best time to share such an experience. Most Employers are looking for employers that possess problem-solving skills because every organization may face one challenge or the other. For Instance, this is how to share the job candidate story: “Gabriel is an extraordinary individual; he worked as a computer programmer for a hospital where I worked previously. The hospital had the challenge of attending to patients because of the huge population. He developed an application for the hospital where patients can be able to enjoy online medical consultancy services anywhere they are”.
Discuss the Job Seeker’s Weaknesses
Everyone has weaknesses and it is inaccurate to say the job candidate is free of weaknesses. Highlight these weaknesses, and also discuss how the job candidate is willing to improve over time. In addition, disclose how he turned his weakness into strength. Make sure you highlight his strength before his weaknesses.
In conclusion, a good employee referral comes with a lot of rewards and hard-earned trust from your employer. Do not just recommend a friend or a close relative but recommend someone who qualifies for the job. Be very transparent and demonstrate credibility when recommending a job candidate to an employer. Follow the tips accentuated above to recommend the most eligible candidate for the job.