Should You Recommend a Friend For a Job?

We are all familiar with the saying “never mix business with pleasure”. But what about recommending a friend for a job? These days, it seems a job referral is the best way to land that perfect position. Considering 1 in 5 roles are filled because of employee referrals, chances are you’ll be in this situation at some point in your working life.

At first glance, maybe referring a friend is a no-brainer. Why not help a friend out? After all, we all want the best for our friends and support them however we can. But before you run to your employer with a glowing report of your mate, take a step back and think carefully. This all depends on the kind of friendship you have – and just because you get on great, does not necessarily mean they’re the right person to recommend for the role.

The former colleague

The best-case scenario is that you’ve already worked alongside this person and the experience was positive. You know what their work ethic is and how reliable they are. It will also be easy to judge whether they will fit in with the company culture. Will they get along with the team? Will their personality work with the current colleagues? If you’ve had a good experience working with this person and feel confident that they’re the right choice, by all means refer them. But first make it clear that this referral doesn’t guarantee they get the job. It’s up to them to prepare for the interview properly and make sure their resume is in order – just like any other hiring process.

The childhood friend

You know this friend inside and out – whether they’re reliable or flaky, hard working or lazy. It’s important to be as objective as possible here. Imagine you didn’t have a friendship spanning years – would you hire this person? It’s understandable you want to help a close friend out but remember that this can affect you professionally. If your friend ends up being terrible at the job, this reflects negatively on you – after all, you vouched for them so what does this say about your judgement? Also, if you work alongside them, you may find you don’t get along as well professionally as you do personally. Now, if you’ve thought this all through and still think they’re the right choice, pass that recommendation on and give them the contact for applying. From that point on, don’t get involved – this way you’ll avoid any awkwardness if they don’t get hired, and shows your employer that you’re objective about the situation.

The friend of a friend

With a friend you are not that close with, it’s more difficult to know if they’re right for the role. In this case, ask questions to get a clearer picture of their professional persona. For example, why are they leaving their current job? Why do they want this role? By asking them questions, you may find a few red flags – or you may see that they are the perfect pick. This is a lot less sensitive than your lifelong friend asking for a referral. If you think they’ll be a good fit, simply pass on the hiring contact, making it clear that the decision is out of your hands.

It can be great to work with your friends, but as with anything in your professional life, it’s important to be objective. As long as you don’t get too emotionally involved and you are confident recommending this person, you’ll be sure to make the right decision.