Cognexo In the Press

Featured in Raconteur | B Corp™. In a landscape where 43% of HR professionals cite finding candidates with the right skills as one of their biggest challenges, employee referral programmes provide a strategic advantage. Persistent skills shortages, an ageing workforce and limited net migration are intensifying demand for top talent.

Dan Buckley shared insights on why referral programmes are so impactful:

• Speed — referral hires happen 26 days faster than through traditional methods
• Retention — 47% of referred hires stay for more than three years, compared to just 14% of job-board hires
• Cost-effectiveness — 84% of companies consider referrals their most efficient way to find talent

Employee referrals also help build stronger, more cohesive teams. Dan emphasised staying vigilant against potential risks like homogeneity and unconscious bias — it's crucial to establish diverse and inclusive referral pipelines, with HR setting clear diversity goals. A successful referral scheme doesn't happen by chance. It requires clear communication and user-friendly tools — whether through digital portals or company-wide campaigns — to make the process seamless and rewarding for everyone.

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