From Application to Offer: How Referrals Can Supercharge Your Career

Optimist Success Story

You can be doing big things in your career but face stagnation if your resume doesn’t accurately portray what you’ve accomplished. My client was previously an Athletic Director who managed a rural sportsplex. It was late in his career, and he was looking for growth but wasn’t getting anywhere. It turns out his resume wasn’t working for him. It was minimizing his accomplishments rather than amplifying them! After a total resume overhaul, he was able to showcase the true size and impact of the facility he managed and land a new position as the Athletic Director of Sporting Programs in a mid-sized city with a few hundred thousand residents. Bigger paycheck, bigger team, bigger budget and a bigger overall impact. He didn't think it was possible to achieve growth so late in his career, but we did it!

From Application to Offer: How Referrals Can Supercharge Your Career

Referrals can be an absolute game changer when it comes to the job search process. The great thing about referrals is they almost guarantee that your candidacy gets reviewed. The reason behind that is one of the easiest ways to keep your employees happy is to simply listen to them. It doesn't cost the company anything.

For example, let's say there's an open role and someone feels like their next-door neighbor is a perfect fit. Looking at the neighbor’s resume doesn't cost the company anything and it keeps an employee happy, right? So, it's almost guaranteeing that your candidacy is at least reviewed, which is more than half the battle. Typically, you may be one of 500 applicants, but if you can get referred, you cut through the noise.

When it comes to referrals, people often feel a lot of fear and a lot of discomfort. They feel this way because they feel like they're asking for a favor. So, we need to make sure that when it comes to referrals, people are looking through the right lens. We want to make sure that you are looking at referrals as a mutually beneficial situation. For example, when it comes to large or Fortune 500 companies, there is often some type of compensation-based referral incentive which means, if I refer you and you get the job, I get paid. That referral incentive can range from $500 to $10,000 depending on the company, industry, and role. So, it's a win-win situation. Even if we’re talking about small to midsize companies that don't offer those types of incentives. We're still discussing a mutually beneficial situation. Why?

Because the honest truth is I'm not going to refer you if I don't like you personally. Why is that? Because there's a chance that at some point in time, we're going to cross paths, and I'll have to work with you and I'm not willing to risk that. With that being said, I know that if you refer me, we've got a good relationship and now you are impacting the company culture in some way, shape, or form. You're making the company culture a bit more comfortable for you.

Now, when it comes to referrals, I don't want you to stop at the application phase of this process. I want you to realize that you now have an advocate in your corner. You've got someone that can walk you through the hiring process. They can tell you if it's going to be a three-round process or a five-round process. If there's going to be a meet-the-team area of this interview process. They can tell you if you need to be patient because it's going to move really slow or if you need to buckle up because it's going to fly by. They can let you know all about the hiring manager and all about his or her personality type. Sometimes they can even tell you the questions that you're going to be asked.

The key piece of information that I want you to try to get when it comes to landing referrals is this: What does the profile of the desired employee look like? / What does top talent look like within the organization? Typically, if you work for a company for at least a year, you begin to understand who's viewed as top talent and why. Maybe it's folks who are strategic or folks who are innovative, or maybe they really value relationship-building and communication skills. Whatever it may be, with a referral you've got that golden nugget that your competition doesn't have.

Referrals are a game-changing strategy in the job search process. They offer a unique advantage by ensuring your application is reviewed, providing valuable insight throughout the hiring process, and giving you an edge in understanding what the company truly values in its employees. Referrals are not about seeking favors but fostering mutually beneficial relationships that can significantly enhance your career prospects. Embrace the power of referrals and open doors to new opportunities.

So Unique! – Complete Resume & LinkedIn Transformation

Ready to stand out in a crowded job market? The "So Unique" Plan is here to help you shine!

For just $399, I'll craft a remarkable resume that highlights your individuality, bullet by bullet. And that's not all – your LinkedIn profile will undergo a transformation that captures the attention you deserve.

Here's what you'll get:

?? Initial resume assessment

?? Intake questionnaire

?? Full makeover

?? Digital copies of your new resume

?? LinkedIn profile optimization

?? 'So Optimistic' Job Hunt E-Course

Let your exceptional qualities shine through. Embrace the "So Unique" Plan today, and let's start your journey toward career success!

Sign up for a free consultation call and we’ll discuss the plan that will work best for your career goals. (Link to book a conversation)