This week on T3 I take a look at the free mobile hiring App EmployUs.  EmployUs has developed a platform (currently still in Beta) that offers cash rewards for connecting companies with successful job applicants. If you recommend an acquaintance for a job, you’ll cash in on the referral bonus if your candidate makes the cut.

EmployUs is being called the “Uber of Recruitment” for what many are considering a disruption to the normal recruitment industry standard practices.  EmployUs is trying to put the power of agency recruitment directly in the hands of those hiring, and cutting the middle man, by leveraging the social networks of not only your employees, but anyone who might have an interest in referring talent your way.

It’s simple. It’s clean. It might be a little naive, but I think they could really grab some traction from some employers who are willing to be on the cutting edge of talent attraction.  Right now the platform is completely open.  I tend to believe that will scare away some corporate talent acquisition shops, but already Citrix and Redhat are investing and using the platform!

How does it work?

Company signs up for the App and posts jobs.  Referrers, sign up for the App, and refer people.  It’s a closed loop private App, so only those signed up can see the jobs and refer.  Companies using the are obviously encouraged to invite their employees to join.  This also could be problematic, because when an employee joins EmployUs, it’s not just joining as part of your company, they now can see all jobs for all employers on the App.  So, you’re inviting your own employees to the App in hopes of them referring their friends, family and contacts to your jobs, but they’ll also see jobs they could apply themselves to other employers.

Their early numbers show that about 20% of those being referred are being hired.  That’s a big number.  The average referral bonuses being offered are anywhere from $500-$10,000, a far cry from contingent headhunting fees, and a nice way to run your internal referral program for your own organization.  EmployUs does get  paid a portion of the referral bonus. We’re all capitalist. So, it’s free to use the App, but they’re going to get paid somehow.

I like the idea.  I would like to see EmployUs add a little functionality that would allow employers to keep it 100% inhouse to begin with, before opening it up to anyone, in terms of accepting candidates.  I do think this platform could launch an entire industry of “Mommy Recruiters” (Stay at Home parents who want to recruit and use this platform to ‘refer’ candidates and collect the referral bonuses).  Which is another interesting idea that might come out of this.

Check them out. EmployUs has a unique idea, that I think can be a valuable tool to your talent attraction strategy.

T3 – Talent Tech Tuesday – is a weekly series here at The Project to educate and inform everyone who stops by on a daily/weekly basis on some great recruiting and sourcing technologies that are on the market.  None of the companies who I highlight are paying me for this promotion.  There are so many really cool things going on in the space and I wanted to educate myself and share what I find.  If you want to be on T3 – send me a note.