What an outstanding idea! Ask your current employees to share the openings you are trying to fill with their personal and professional network. Not just reposting on LinkedIn but sharing it with people they believe could be both interested in and qualified for the role. Have the candidate note the referral source when they apply and even agree to pay a referral bonus if they are hired!

Now to ensure it never works and you never pay a referral bonus – don’t acknowledge receipt of the application to the referring employee and by all means don’t follow up with the referred candidate!

Sounds crazy, right? I have had two business friends each working for a separate company say they couldn’t help a family friend because their referrals are never acknowledged. They said the resume’ would get just as much attention by coming in with every other blind application. You don’t have to hire the employee referral. You don’t even have to invite them for an interview if you don’t see the fit. Please have the common courtesy (certainly uncommon courtesy in application) to acknowledge and thank your employee and reply to the candidate.