Many companies rely on formal or informal referral programs to locate quality workers. But there are some things your employees should consider before handing over the names of friends and colleagues.
Giving employees some tips on whom to refer will help you increase the quality of your candidates. Here are some reasons to think twice about making a referral, courtesy of Katherine Spencer Lee, a Computerworld columnist:
- Personal relationships might suffer. Everyone knows you don’t always get along with co-workers. But even people you used to like can get on your nerves when you spend more than 40 hours a week together — especially if friends start to expect favorable treatment. Solution: Try to avoid referring close personal contacts and stick to people you’ve already worked with — they’re usually the best referrals anyway.
- They might get mad if they don’t get a job. Obviously, not everyone who’s referred can always be hired. That can lead to resentment if you exaggerate their chances. Solution: Don’t overstate your influence and remind referrals that your good word is no guarantee.
- You don’t always know everything. Another common mistake is referring people because of personality traits while ignoring other relevant factors like prior experience. Solution: Employees should know a little about how to “play recruiter” and find out enough about someone’s background to make a solid recommendation.
