Referral Programs

As a member of the Pepperdine community, you know how unique and special this place is. We do not consider ourselves an ordinary employer, but a place where we are all impacted positively and strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership in the course of our everyday work. Many of our most talented and successful colleagues have come to work at Pepperdine based on another’s good referral. 

If you know someone who would appreciate and contribute to the mission, culture, and work of Pepperdine, you have the chance to earn a $500 referral bonus! 

How it Works

• To refer a candidate, please complete an Employee Referral Form.
• If your referred candidate receives an offer of employment, ask them to list you as the referring party on their electronic onboarding form. 
• Human Resources will send you an email confirming your successful referral, and add $500 to your regular paycheck soon after the candidate's start date.

Referral Award Eligibility and Program Details

• All regular (non-adjunct, non-temporary) Pepperdine faculty and staff, with the exception of managers or hiring committee members with hiring authority over the referred candidate, are eligible for the referral bonus.
• Referred candidates must be hired for a full-time (30+ hours/week) faculty or staff position posted on jobs.pepperdine.edu.
• The $500 referral bonus is subject to applicable taxes and withholdings and will be added to the referring employee’s regular paycheck within 90 days of the referred candidate’s start date.
• Positions in which recruitment is being managed by an executive search firm (as stated in the job posting) are ineligible for the program.
• Temporary or contract workers hired through a third-party company cannot be referred as part of the program.
• The referral bonus is not retroactive; employees who made successful referrals prior to the program’s inception (March 1, 2024) are not eligible for a referral bonus.
• Employees cannot receive a referral bonus for referring an existing Pepperdine employee (regardless of classification or full/part-time status).
• Employees who have separated within 12 months of the referral date may not be referred through the program.
• All candidates will be evaluated for employment consistent with University policies and procedures. Only candidates who meet the essential qualifications for the position will be considered.
• In the event that two Pepperdine employees refer the same candidate, the employee whose Employee Referral Form has the earlier submission (date and time stamp) is eligible to receive the referral bonus.
• To be eligible for the referral bonus, the referring employee must be an active Pepperdine employee at the time payment is issued.

NOTE: The Employee Referral Program is contingent upon available funding and may be subject to change at any time. Please contact Human Resources with any questions. 

As a member of the Pepperdine community, you know how unique and special this place is. We do not consider ourselves an ordinary employer, but a place where we are all impacted positively and strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership in the course of our everyday work. Many of our most talented and successful colleagues have come to work at Pepperdine based on another’s good referral. 

If you know someone who would appreciate and contribute to the mission, culture, and work of Pepperdine, you have the chance to win a limited-edition Pepperdine Barefoot Dreams gift ($200+ in value)!

How it Works

• To refer a candidate, please complete an Alumni Referral Form.
• If your referred candidate receives an offer of employment, ask them to list you as the referring party on their electronic onboarding form.
• Human Resources will send you an email confirming your successful referral and requesting your mailing address soon after the candidate's start date.
  

Referral Award Eligibility and Program Details

• All Pepperdine alumni, except 1) current students who are not already alumni, and 2) current full-time faculty and staff, are eligible for the referral bonus.
• Referred candidates must be hired for a full-time (30+ hours/week) faculty or staff position posted on jobs.pepperdine.edu.
• The referral award may be subject to applicable taxes.
• Positions in which recruitment is being managed by an executive search firm (as stated in the job posting) are ineligible for the program.
• Temporary or contract workers hired through a third-party company cannot be referred as part of the program.
• The referral award is not retroactive; alumni who made successful referrals prior to the program’s inception (June 12, 2025) are not eligible for a referral award.

• Alumni cannot receive a referral bonus for referring an existing Pepperdine employee (regardless of classification or full/part-time status).

• Employees who have separated within 12 months of the referral date may not be referred through the program.
• All candidates will be evaluated for employment consistent with University policies and procedures. Only candidates who meet the essential qualifications for the position will be considered.
• In the event that two Pepperdine alumni refer the same candidate, the alum whose Alumni Referral Form has the earlier submission (date and time stamp) is eligible to receive the referral award.

NOTE: The Alumni Referral Program is contingent upon available funding and may be subject to change at any time. Please contact Human Resources with any questions.