On every career path, professionals help one another. From mentoring and training to word-of-mouth recommendations, you can not only receive the support you need from your professional network, but provide it as well. Referring colleagues to your staffing partner helps both your colleague and you – if carried out the right way.

Why Refer?

Building a strong network is key to your career success. By referring qualified members of your network to your recruiter, you help them find the next step on their career path. In most cases, a colleague who finds the right job thanks to your referral will be only too happy to return the favor when you need help of your own.

Talent vendors use referrals to expand their own networks and to find the talent their client companies need. When you refer people whose professional skills and work habits you know well, your recruiting partner can rely on your referrals to suggest candidates with high-quality skills, motivation, and productivity – skills every top employer looks for.

How to Make Referrals That Help You Both

Referring colleagues can supercharge your career, but not all referrals are created equal. Here are some tips for giving referrals that help everyone involved:

• Check with the person you’re referring. It’s awkward to receive a phone call or email out of the blue announcing that a co-worker referred you. Save your colleague this awkwardness by mentioning your plans to refer him or her before you do: “I have a great recruiter who is looking for people with your skills. Do you mind if I mention your name?”
• Choose the best “fit” for your recruiter’s needs. Your referrals should be people you know and trust, who have a good work ethic, solid professional skills, and who are pleasant to work with. Your experience here is key to making a good referral, so trust your impressions.
• Make sure the recruiter is a good “fit” for your colleague, too. You may work with someone whom you think would be a great referral, but whose skill set or career goals simply don’t match up with the work your recruiter does. Remember to apply the Golden Rule, and refer others as you would like to be referred. Finding yourself matched up with a recruiter who can’t help you would be a waste of your time – so make sure you match your colleagues with your recruiter only when you truly believe your recruiter can be valuable to your colleague too.

At SMR Group, our experienced recruiters can help you make the most out of your job search – including when you help others find their dream job. Contact us today to learn more!