Secrets of a SuccessfulEmployee Referral Program

presented by Gary CluffCorporate Recruiting Manager

MITRE

The MITRE Corporation

• A Federally-Funded Research & Development Corporation (FFRDC)

• Not-for-Profit• Nearly 7200 employees• McLean, VA / Bedford, MA + 50

sites

Leveraging Our “Brand”

Since our employees are fully engaged and excited about working for MITRE, they are our best ambassadors and “recruiters”.

• MITRE nets 50% of all new hires from it’s Employee Referral Program !

Employee Referral Program

Keys to a Successful Campaign

• Make it easy to submit referrals

• Communicate your needs (push vs. pull)

• Fun, fresh, easily identifiable “brand”

• Share what works

• Recognize publicly

• Reward quickly

Techniques we use: Banner “ads” on employee desktops Posters in main hallways “Meet and treat” at employee entrances Hot Jobs flyers on tables in cafeteria/at Starbucks kiosk ERP “help desk” Success stories in employee newsletters HR “pitch” at management meetings

Don’t limit your referrals to friends, neighbors and family members.

Think about:

People you meet at technical symposia

Speakers you hear at professional conferences

Impressive individuals you meet in the airport / on the bus /

At a restaurant / etc.

Respected former workmates from past employers

Classmates from your alma mater

Here’s how Steve Roe encouraged his alumnae friends

to consider joining MITRE. "I browsed through the jobs

database and saw what positions were available, and

what might be a good match for my friends' skill sets.

Also, I thought my resume had worked pretty well, so I

sent copies to my friends so they could see what got me

in the door here. I talked to them about the role MITRE

plays in working with customers, so they had a solid

understanding of MITRE before they even sent in their

resumes or came in for interviews."

Program Basics

• Referrals reward eligible 6 months from submission date.

• Referring employee cannot be involved in the selection process.

• Rewards - $2000 for Tech. Professional; $1000 for Non-tech Prof.; $500 for Admin/Non-Exempt

• Rewards paid approximately 30 days after new person is hired.

• Special Campaign - - special grand prizes

Feedback to Employees

Email to : Charles Smith

Date: April 27 ,2011

Congratulations! Your referral, Mary Ellen Hopkins, received an employment offer from MITRE this week.If she should accept, and you continue to meet eligibility requirements, you could receive a referral bonussoon after she is hired.

Thank you for your support and keep those referrals coming!

Gary CluffCorporate Recruiting Manager

Lessons Learned

• Constant promotion and education are critical to remind employees what the needs are and how to refer.

• Without an employee feedback system, the perception is that too many referrals end up in a “black hole”.

• Manage Expectations – not every referral will deserve or receive an interview.

• It is not the size of the prize ($$$), but rather the engaging nature of the promotions.