How To Refer Someone for a Job on LinkedIn?

Referring someone for a job on LinkedIn is a great way to help connect qualified candidates with open positions. As a LinkedIn user, you likely have connections in your network who are seeking new job opportunities. Referring them for open roles you come across can benefit both the job seeker and the hiring company.

Benefits of Referring Someone for a Job

Referring someone for a job on LinkedIn has several advantages:

• It helps your connections find potential job opportunities they may not have come across otherwise.
• You can proactively support contacts who are looking to make a job or career change.
• For the hiring company, referred candidates tend to be higher quality since they come recommended.
• Referrals are an efficient way for companies to source relevant talent for open positions.
• Submitting referrals strengthens your professional relationships and network.
• When a referral gets hired, you may even be eligible for a referral bonus from the employer.

How to Make a Referral on LinkedIn

Referring someone for a job opening on LinkedIn takes just a few simple steps:

1. Find job openings to refer. The first step is identifying open positions to potentially refer candidates for. On LinkedIn, you can find job listings by searching openings under the Jobs tab. Companies and recruiters often post openings on their LinkedIn pages as well.
2. Review potential candidates to refer. Once you’ve found relevant job openings, think about who in your LinkedIn network would make a good fit for the role. Consider their skills, experience, interests and career goals. You can also ask contacts directly if they are interested in new opportunities.
3. Submit the referral. When you’ve found a contact who seems like a strong match, navigate to the job posting and click “Refer candidate” (on desktop) or the icon with three figures (on mobile). Enter your contact’s name and personalized note if you’d like.
4. Let your referral know. Alert your contact that you have referred them for the position. Share the job details and encourage them to apply.

Tips for an Effective Referral

To set your referrals up for success, keep these tips in mind:

• Only refer candidates who are qualified for the role and would be interested in applying. Make sure there is a strong match in skills and experience.
• Provide any insightful context you have that could give your referral an edge. Mention relevant projects, accomplishments, cultural fit or anything else noteworthy.
• Referrals should align with the contact’s career goals. Recommend opportunities you think could move their career forward.
• Time referrals to align with the individual’s job search timeline. Don’t refer them months before they want to make a change.
• Give your referral a heads up before submitting them. Allow them time to update their profiles and resumes.
• Follow up with both the candidate and the hiring manager to check status.

How Referral Candidates Are Evaluated

Once you submit a referral on LinkedIn, here is an overview of what happens next:

• The hiring team is notified of your referral’s application. Your mutual connection provides a credibility boost.
• Referrals are often prioritized for initial review and screening. However, they go through the same later-stage assessments.
• During interviews, the referral candidate may be asked how they are connected to the employee who submitted the referral.
• Hiring managers may contact the referring employee for feedback or additional context on the candidate.
• If the referral gets hired, the employee who submitted the referral may receive a bonus or rewards from the company.

LinkedIn’s Referral Tools and Settings

LinkedIn offers tools to streamline the referral process:

• Saved Jobs – Follow and save job listings you want to refer contacts for later. Saved jobs are easily accessible from your account.
• Referrals dashboard – View and manage all your candidate referrals in one place under the Jobs tab.
• Email notifications – Opt to receive alerts when your referrals apply to jobs or move forward in the hiring process.
• Referral settings – Control who can see when you submit referrals under your account Privacy settings.

Pro Tips for Making Great Referrals

Beyond the basics, leverage these pro tips for making influential referrals:

• Refer early in the hiring process before positions get flooded with applicants.
• Tap your most strategic network contacts to submit referrals at companies you don’t have connections with.
• Focus on referrals who are passive or not urgently looking. The timing may motivate them to make a change.
• Before submitting a referral, use LinkedIn messaging to introduce the hiring manager and your contact.
• Mention the referral when you speak to the hiring manager. Provide extra context on why you think they are a great fit.
• Follow up with your contacts after they apply to see if you can provide additional support.

Common Referral Program Rules and Restrictions

While referrals are extremely helpful for candidates, companies do have rules in place to ensure fairness:

• Employees usually cannot refer themselves or immediate family members.
• Candidates must follow the standard application process and meet qualifications.
• Multiple referrals from different employees for the same candidate are usually allowed.
• Referral bonuses are often only paid out once the candidate has been in the role for a certain period, such as 3-6 months.
• Employees may only be eligible for bonuses for external referrals, not internal transfers or promotions.
• There is usually a cap on the maximum number of referral bonuses an employee can receive per year.

Key Takeaways

• Referring contacts for jobs on LinkedIn is easy to do and provides mutual benefit for job seekers and hiring companies.
• Take time to carefully match open roles with qualified candidates who would appreciate the opportunity.
• Referrals give candidates an advantage, but they go through the same later-stage hiring process.
• Follow tips like timing referrals strategically, introducing contacts, and providing context to give referrals extra influence.