Michael Svensen, CEO of Silfer, faced a critical hiring challenge: finding the right person to serve as his Head of Accounting. This hire was critical — Michael needed someone who could run the financial operations alongside him from the ground up.
He had initially planned to tap into his personal network. But he was reluctant to ask his friends and connections for favours without offering anything in return.
That's where Vouch came in as a game-changer.
Asking the network — without exploiting it
Using Vouch allowed Michael to reach out to his network in a way that felt rewarding for everyone involved. Instead of asking for free favours, Michael could offer a tangible reward tied to successful referrals. That made the outreach process feel more like a partnership than a one-sided request.
"What surprised me the most was how seamless and easy it was to use Vouch for direct outreach. I didn't feel like I was exploiting my network anymore. Instead, I was able to offer them a fair reward for their help. It felt like a win-win.
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The Vouch platform's intuitive UI also made the referral process incredibly efficient.
"The time it took for someone to refer a candidate was just two minutes max. Vouch made it so nice and straightforward.
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This efficiency meant that more people in his network were willing to participate, knowing that their effort was minimal but could have significant impact.
The hire — and beyond
Thanks to a true super-Voucher in the network, Michael successfully hired his Head of Accounting — someone who not only had the right skills but also fit perfectly with the company's culture and plans.
Besides landing a difficult hire, Michael shares more reflections on how using Vouch helped him:
- Help preparing job material. Vouch's AI assistant made it a breeze to set up a good-looking business profile and a fitting job ad in no time — particularly helpful as Silfer had no dedicated HR or communications department.
- Network engagement. Vouch made the outreach process mutually beneficial — engaging Michael's network without him feeling like he was asking for free favours.
- Efficiency in referrals. Vouch's user-friendly interface ensured that referrals were quick and easy, encouraging more participation from Michael's contacts.
"The hiring was one thing. But I would've used Vouch again, regardless. It helped me set up my company profile and a smashing job ad in no time, crucial to attract interest from candidates. It also helped me engage my network in a better way than before and drive engagement and interest around my plans with Silfer.
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He believes Vouch can help other startups like Silfer grow their teams effectively.