Which activity provides the best example of a referral approach?

The correct answer is C because a referral approach involves obtaining candidate names or recommendations from trusted people who are connected to the target talent pool. Asking officers of professional and industry associations for names of top performers is a direct example of using knowledgeable contacts to identify qualified prospects.

This aligns with CPTD Organizational Capability, especially Talent Strategy & Management, where talent development professionals support organizational capability by helping identify and develop talent aligned with business needs. Option A is sourcing through a social networking platform, not a referral. Option B gathers information about recruiting channels but does not produce referrals. Option D involves outreach to prospects, but it does not describe receiving recommended names from a trusted source.

A referral approach is valuable because it uses relationships and networks to locate high-quality candidates or talent leads who may not be actively applying through traditional job postings.