How seriously does your company take employee referrals?

[klacey1]

So, I am very fortunate to have a secure job, but I've been here for about four years and just feel a bit bored. If I have to stay, fine, but I feel there's better things out there for me.
I've been applying to jobs casually, including one that I would LOVE to have! It's my dream company/position. Fortunately, I have a contact there. I mentioned her dream in my cover letter, as well as on my online app. Plus, she submitted an official referral form to her HR department.
I know no one can answer definitively, but how does your company work? I more than meet the qualifications-- so with that and the employee referral, I figure I should at least get an interview, right?? I've never dealt with this before, so I just don't know. My contact is the manager of a department that is related to mine, so she's up there (not just an assistant or anything).
How seriously does your company take employee referrals? Do those applicants get more consideration?

 

[scrapquitler]

I know no one can answer definitively, but how does your company work? I more than meet the qualifications-- so with that and the employee referral, I figure I should at least get an interview, right?? I've never dealt with this before, so I just don't know. My contact is the manager of a department that is related to mine, so she's up there (not just an assistant or anything).
How seriously does your company take employee referrals? Do those applicants get more consideration?

I work at a non-profit agency that runs group homes and day programs for developmentally disabled individuals. We have about 1500 employees. They hire very few people without a referral from an employee. My manager tells me that it is virtually impossible to get a job unless you have an employee refer you. That was true even before the economy tanked.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

I think who you know makes a huge difference! When I was working my company only hired within who they knew. They knew you wouldn't reccomend someone who was going to be a crappy employee because it would reflect poorly on you and where I worked your work effect everyone, so one mess up was felt from the bottom to the top. Good luck!!!

 

[Carly_Roach]

It depends on who's doing the referring. We've had two bad apples so far from an employee who was doing favors for friends and family members so I don't believe that employee will be listened to anymore. However, we've also had numerous excellent employees come from referrals from other excellent employees.

So if it were our company, I'd have to say it all depends on the reputation of the person you're using as a referral.

 

[TaraPA]

I do most of the interviewing, reference checks & hiring where I work & we try to only hire from employee referrals. We have a strong team & those team members know who would make a good fit - so we give 1st consideration to referrals.

Good luck!

 

[Pakey]

HR is one of the departments I manage and we would always give more weight to a candidate who has a referral from one of the department managers. Good luck!

 

[kidzmom3]

my work is the opposite of everyone else. It can really be hurt you to get a referral. Sometimes we don't even look at them. This is because we have had so many problems with employees who didn't work out and when we had to discipline or fire them it caused major drama.

 

[golfgal]

A friend of mine starts a job on Monday. She applied online to the position and was rejected but at the same time found out that another friend worked there, that friend put in a word for her and she had an interview scheduled. While she was at the interview the internet rejection came through, but after the interview was hired. Most companies I know of around here hire almost solely on employee recommendations or go through a temp agency and do the temp to hire route.

 

[tvguy]

Well, I had 2 supervisors this week ask me if I knew of anyone I could refer for job openings. But at my place, the problem we've been having since the economy tanked, is getting qualified people to apply period. We get hundreds of applications, people with no high school diploma, to people with a PhD, but they never have any experience in the job we're looking to fill.
Also my industry has changed dramatically, and experienced people are getting out because they can not do the job, or more frequently, refuse to do the job, and new people are not getting in. In my industry, what used to be different skill sets, and now being consolidated into one position. For example, on Monday, because of these consolidations, I will be doing what just 3 years ago were 4 different jobs, done by 4 different people. I will do my best, but there is no way I can do any of those jobs as well as when they were done by 4 different people. But all the company cares about these days is they are just paying one salary, and one set of benefits. They are willing to live with the drop in quality.

 

[klacey1]

Thanks for all of the encouraging words, everyone. My contact is, as I said, pretty high up. She's also highly respected and liked (she's just that kind of person), so I'm HOPING they'll take her referral seriously!

Well, I had 2 supervisors this week ask me if I knew of anyone I could refer for job openings. But at my place, the problem we've been having since the economy tanked, is getting qualified people to apply period. We get hundreds of applications, people with no high school diploma, to people with a PhD, but they never have any experience in the job we're looking to fill.
Also my industry has changed dramatically, and experienced people are getting out because they can not do the job, or more frequently, refuse to do the job, and new people are not getting in. In my industry, what used to be different skill sets, and now being consolidated into one position. For example, on Monday, because of these consolidations, I will be doing what just 3 years ago were 4 different jobs, done by 4 different people. I will do my best, but there is no way I can do any of those jobs as well as when they were done by 4 different people. But all the company cares about these days is they are just paying one salary, and one set of benefits. They are willing to live with the drop in quality.

Well, I'm definitely qualified for the position!
That is terrible that you are in that position. Of course you cannot do the job of 4 people as well. Perhaps if they see a drastic drop in quality, they'll hire at least one more person...

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Years ago I worked as a subcontractor for a Federal Agency in Washington in a building with three different Federal Agencies in it. Apparently my reputation was such that a person I knew (from a social club) who worked for Agency #2 asked me if I would be interested in a position at a certain grade in Agency #3.

When I said yes, he gave me a phone number and name to call. I set up an appointment and went downstairs to talk to an Assistant Division Director. I took a copy of my resume with me and had a friendly talk. It was getting close to the end of a fiscal year and I was told the job would be posted in October.

When the job was posted I filled in the necessary forms and submitted them to Agency 3's HR department. About as month later I was called for an interview (with the person I had talked to and his boss), then a second interview and was finally hired.

Later a friend of mine who had seen the job posting asked me if they had seen my resume before posting the opening. The match was so close.

I found later on that several of the people I was going to be working for/with in Agency #3 knew several of the people I worked for/with in Agency #1.

 

[plutotek]

I worked for a company that, at least in our market, management made it clear that they endorsed nepotism, meaning that they wanted us to refer family and friends.

 

[tvguy]

Well, I'm definitely qualified for the position!
That is terrible that you are in that position. Of course you cannot do the job of 4 people as well. Perhaps if they see a drastic drop in quality, they'll hire at least one more person...

There has been an across the board drop in quality, but the standard for quality has dropped to "good enough". There has been a measurable drop in revenue due to the decline in quality, unfortunately, the increase in revenue from eliminating jobs is greater.

 

[cassiez76]

my husband's company likes them.

i applied for a job with them. it was a entry level job...scanning dept. i'm a graphic designer. i HATE my job with a passion, so when the scanning job opened up, i was excited.

plus i knew the girl that was leaving the job and she recommended me to HR.
had 2 interviews...2 months apart and then they picked somebody else.

they said i was over qualified.

so i shrug my shoulders and wonder how you're supposed to get a foot in the door of a company, that says you can move up in position if they won't give you a chance.

and that HR woman had the nerve to come up to me at the company dinner a few weeks ago and act like nothing happened. i walked away.

and my hubby wonders why i don't like people.