#Japan #Shinjuku #Will Group #Refcome #Referral Recruiting

Announcing the Winners of the Referral Recruiting Award 2025

The Referral Recruiting Award 2025 has recognized four outstanding companies for their exemplary efforts in enhancing referral recruitment strategies, organized by Will Group's cloud service, Refcome. This award is a celebration of organizations that actively cultivate an environment where employees feel proud to talk about their companies and refer friends.

What is the Referral Recruiting Award?

Initiated in 2017, the Referral Recruiting Award seeks to honor companies that have implemented effective referral hiring practices. This award aims to recognize businesses that have established an environment that encourages employees to refer potential candidates, thereby linking these efforts to company growth. The award focuses on a broader perspective of recruitment beyond traditional methods and emphasizes the significance of collaboration and employee engagement in the hiring process.

As part of this year’s award, companies were invited to showcase their innovative strategies and achievements in referral recruiting. This process also serves as an opportunity for organizations to reflect on their practices and gather insights from competitors to enhance their hiring processes.

The Award-Winning Companies

In the Enterprise Category (1,001 or more employees):

• - TOMAS, Inc.: By effectively communicating the referral program’s objectives tailored to their target audience, TOMAS achieved a remarkable increase in applicants, reaching a record number of 500, alongside a high recruitment rate of 359, significantly contributing to their operational growth.
• - Leverages, Inc.: This company developed a collaborative culture that emphasized the importance of employee referrals. By tailoring strategies to individual business divisions and promoting active participation, high-quality referrals and connecting with potential candidates became more successful.

In the Venture Category (1,000 or fewer employees):

• - Quick, Inc.: Their approach involved meticulously executing targeted initiatives and engaging with collaborators, fostering a culture where referral practices are an integral part of their recruitment strategy.
• - KDDI Agile Development Center, Inc.: Utilizing the referral experiences of promoters, they focused on lowering psychological barriers related to making recommendations, thereby broadening their recruitment efforts to include not only new graduates but also alumni.

Insights and Interviews

The detailed accomplishments of each award-winning company will be shared in upcoming interviews posted on the official event site. These interviews aim to provide real-world insights from those directly involved in the referral practices. Organizations already engaged in referral hiring as well as those considering it will benefit greatly from these valuable examples.

Stay Tuned for Insights: The interview articles will be available around mid-February 2026, focusing on the individual strategies that align with each company’s unique culture and challenges.

From the CEO’s Desk

Shimizu Takumi, the CEO of Will of Partner, emphasized the evolution of referral recruiting in Japan as more than just a method but as a reflection of corporate culture. He pointed out that the key to successful recruitment lies in the subjective appreciation employees show towards their company, which fosters genuine, active engagement in recruitment efforts.

In an era marked by uncertainty, activities rooted in trust between employees and the organization transform recruitment methods into a powerful tool for resilience and growth. These influential practices shared among the award winners serve as a valuable resource for companies aiming for transformation in their hiring processes.

About Refcome

Refcome stands out as a specialized cloud tool and consulting service aimed at enhancing referral recruitment processes. It supports companies in designing, implementing, and promoting referral strategies, thereby attaining significant improvements in addressing workforce shortages.

Company Overview

Company Name: Will of Partner, Inc.
Headquarters: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Established: January 2014
Website: Will of Partner

Over 850 companies, ranging from large corporations to startups, have benefited from their extensive expertise in developing and executing tailored recruitment strategies. The rise of referral recruitment as a widely accepted hiring method in Japan underscores the importance of sharing company culture and job roles through trusted networks, thereby increasing retention rates among new hires.