Abstract Title: Recruiting Through the Grapevine - The relevance of employee referral programs within the field of employer branding   Date: 2016-06-03   Authors: Mikaela Löjdqvist & Isabella Nilsson   Course: Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration (FOA214), 15 HP   University: Mälardalen University   Academia: School of Business, Society and Engineering   Supervisor: Magnus Hoppe   Examiner: Eva Maaninen-Olsson   Co-assessor: Konstantin Lampou ____________________________________________________________________________   Research question: How do employee referral programs, as a part of the recruitment process, connect to the employer brand of a company?     Purpose: Understanding the correlation and connection between the two concepts, employer branding and employee referral programs, may help companies recognize the importance of using such programs as a stable foundation of their recruitment process. Thus concurrently, identifying the consequences that the employer brand presents, has on the employees and their willingness to recommend. This leads to the purpose of this thesis, which is to examine the connection between employee referral programs and a company's employer brand.     Methodology: Answering the purpose and research question was approached by using a mixed method, based on the qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative method was used in the two semi-structured in-depth interviews, while the quantitative approach was used in construction and analysis of the survey. Both methods provide a foundation to strengthen the arguments not only for the results of the survey, but also for drawing conclusions when trying to answer the research question. By using a case company, a real-life understanding of how the connection between employer branding and the employee referral program correlates.     Conclusion: A connection between employee referral programs and the employer brand can be denoted from the conducted research within the chosen case company. However, if this connection is true for all companies, needs to be further investigated.     Keywords: employer branding, employee referral programs (ERP), employee value proposition (EVP), recruitment, staff-word-of-mouth (SWOM), word-of-mouth (WOM)

In the face of intensifying competition for skilled talent across industries, organizations are increasingly recognizing the strategic imperative of employer branding to attract, engage, and retain top talent. This study aimed to elucidate optimal employer branding strategies and processes that enhance talent outcomes throughout the employee lifecycle. Through an exploratory comparative case study approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with talent management professionals from renowned organizations in the automobile and consulting industries. The findings revealed that organizations employ diverse approaches to designing and implementing employer branding strategies, ranging from centralized and data-driven models to decentralized and business unit-driven approaches. However, a common theme emerged regarding the criticality of aligning the employer brand with the organization's culture, reputation, and employee value proposition (EVP) to resonate with target talent segments. Additionally, the study underscored the significance of ensuring alignment between employer branding promises and the actual employment experiences through strategies such as fostering an engaging organizational culture, crafting a compelling EVP, managing psychological contracts, and implementing continuous monitoring and feedback mechanisms. Furthermore, the research highlighted the importance of employing a multi-faceted approach to measuring and evaluating the effectiveness of employer branding initiatives, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods, while acknowledging the challenges associated with comprehensive tracking systems and infrequent external perception surveys. The influence of cross-cultural factors on the design, implementation, and perception of effective employer branding strategies was also explored, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches while maintaining brand coherence. The study confirmed the significant impact of employer branding on talent attraction and retention across both industries, including attracting competent talent, fostering brand awareness, and enhancing retention. Overall, this research contributes to advancing the theoretical and practical understanding of employer branding strategies and their implications for talent management outcomes, while acknowledging limitations and providing recommendations for organizations, practitioners, and future research endeavors.   Keywords: employer branding, talent attraction, retention, employee value proposition (EVP), organizational culture, cross-cultural factors, talent management.