The labour market is tighter than ever and organisations are pulling out all the stops to attract talent. From employer branding and recruitment agencies to elaborate social media campaigns. But did you know that one of the most effective recruitment methods is referral recruitment?
In this method, companies use their own employees to recruit new colleagues. To encourage this, a hiring bonus is often awarded: a financial reward for each candidate presented who is actually hired. But does such an amount of money actually work as well as thought?
Why a financial application bonus does not always work
The idea is simple: colleagues are rewarded for their effort. Many organisations use amounts of €1000 or more as an extra incentive. But practice shows that such a financial bonus is often quickly forgotten. It disappears in the big pile of bills, shopping and holidays, without making a lasting impact.
And that's a shame! Because if you want referral recruitment to remain successful in the long run, you need to give employees not only a reward, but also continued enthusiasm.
Make application bonus an experience
What if you turned that financial reward into an experience that really sticks? An experience your employees will be talking about for years to come? Instead of a sum of money, you could think of:
- An amusement park day with overnight stay for the whole family
- Skydiving for real adrenaline junkies
- A day of shopping with the boss' credit card
- An exclusive dinner or weekend away
Such a reward is not only unforgettable, but is also shared with colleagues, friends and family. This creates a snowball effect: more visibility, more enthusiasm and ultimately more successful referrals. Need more inspiration for rewarding ambassadors? Join our 7 tips ideas for a rewards programme that will really activate your ambassadors.
A story that lives on
Implementing experience-based engagement bonuses is a powerful way to motivate employees and attract talent. A financial bonus is nice, but an experience you can share is even more powerful. When an employee proudly talks about that cool experience, the referral programme automatically becomes more attractive to others. It motivates colleagues to refer someone too and earn such a cool reward.
Want to make referral recruitment really work? Then don't just think about money, but about what really excites your employees. For a successful implementation, a strong employer brand essential.What would be an unforgettable experience for your team?
