When I say the word referral, what comes to mind? Is it a potential new long-term client looking for an incredible amount of services? I believe there is something worth far more than any client. That would be a dedicated professional staff member. So today, I would like to talk about candidate referrals.
Candidate referrals really can come from two places. One is your current staff. If you are pushing your team hard, they might welcome the help that a new staff member would provide. Of course, we also hope that your staff also is motivated to see your company grow. You can start by asking your “A-Players”. I have always found that professional people only want to work with other professionals. So a referral from a trusted staff member should generally be a safe person to consider for the position. Staff referrals sometimes have a reputation that someone is just trying to get their friend a job. I have found with pet care, if you have a strong team, a professional isn’t going to want to risk an animal’s health or their own reputation by referring someone who isn’t capable. If you really want to motivate them, you can also offer your staff a bonus if someone they refer is hired. When I was working with a pet care business in Chicago, I referred a limited amount of people to the business. I never did it as a favor to them. I honestly believed those referrals could help that business grow.
The other place you can source a candidate referral from would be your clients. It isn’t embarrassing to ask for referrals. It shows that you are hiring, which is typically a sign that you want to grow your team. In the current labor market, I believe most clients would easily understand why you are asking for referrals. For obvious reasons, a client should be incredibly motivated to only refer the absolute best people. You can offer discounted or even limited free services if the person they refer is hired. When you look at how much revenue a capable staff member can generate, something like $500 of free services for the referring client is easy to accept.
So please, during this very difficult labor market shortage, I encourage you to reach out to clients and staff. Let them know you are hiring. Offer bonuses and discounts for referrals. Your next hire doesn’t need to come from digital job boards. Some of the best hires that I have ever made were from a staff referral.
-Joe