Trust is critical to the recruiter-candidate relationship. It’s important for confidential career searches. It’s important for accurate and honest feedback. And it’s also important when receiving candidate referrals. We know every candidate we interview has working relationships with dozens of candidates we would be interested in interviewing for active requisitions. As recruiters, we cherish referrals. As a result, we build a trust early on with our candidates in order to provide assurances we’ll keep every referral confidential when necessary. We asked our recruiters how they handle a candidate referrals:
If I get a confidential referral, I tell the candidate that I was referred to them confidentially by someone who felt they were an excellent candidate for the position I am recruiting for. I do not use the candidate’s name.
I always ask if I can use candidates’ names or whether they prefer to keep it confidential. When I ask for a referral, I explain that I don’t have to use their name in making the contact.
