Canadian Hiring Managers Value Referrals, Yet Job Seekers Miss Opportunity
Event summary
- An Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey found 81% of Canadian hiring managers consider employee referrals to boost hiring efficiency.
- 87% of Canadian hiring managers believe referrals open doors that would otherwise remain closed.
- Only 38% of Canadian job seekers believe referrals help them stand out, creating a significant perception gap.
- 61% of hiring managers have been contacted for references by former colleagues after long periods of inactivity, highlighting the importance of authentic relationships.
The big picture
The survey highlights a disconnect between the perceived value of employee referrals by hiring managers and the understanding of job seekers. This gap represents a missed opportunity for both individuals and companies to improve hiring outcomes and potentially underscores a broader trend of misaligned expectations in the evolving job market. Express Employment Professionals, as a major player in the staffing industry, is positioned to capitalize on this by educating job seekers and advising clients on optimizing referral programs.
What we're watching
- Candidate Behavior
- Job seekers' underestimation of referral value suggests a need for better education on leveraging networks, potentially impacting the effectiveness of referral programs.
- Diversity & Inclusion
- The concern that referrals limit diversity underscores the need for staffing agencies and companies to actively manage referral programs to avoid reinforcing existing biases.
- Relationship Management
- The emphasis on authentic relationships will likely drive staffing firms to focus on building and maintaining connections between employees and potential referrers, rather than simply incentivizing referrals.
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