Is this a bad idea?

ctbride08

So, my BFF is miserable at her job and has been searching for a new job for months upon months....I've been trying to help her by sending her resume for openings in my company (its a HUGE company and none of the posting were even for the same city i work in). Well, yesterday I got an email from my department's VP saying he's interested in hiring based on employee referrals and would offer a substantial referral bonus if he was able to hire anyone.  I forwarded the email to BFF without thinking it through and as a semi joke (she lives at least an hour away and its not even close to her carreer interests).....can you see where this is going? yup, BFF responds that she would like me to forward her resume for the position. 

Pros:

- referral bonus

- getting to see BFF more

- helping her get a new job and more $

Cons:

- i'm big on separating work/home life and this would be a bit (okay, a lot) uncomfortable for me

- she has no experience in this and might not be good or decide she hates it and leaves shortly making me look very bad (and i plan to be here for a while)

- seeing too much of BFF and having work affect our relationship

 wwyd? thoughts?

thiswillbe

Let me just warn you now that this got to be quite a but longer than I had intended. But what the hey, it's Friday, right? ;-) 

That's a sticky one. A couple of questions for you: Would you be working together, or just in the same company? Is the position doing what you do?

I can see that you're probably between a rock and a hard place regarding whether or not to forward her resume. On the one hand, if you do and it doesn't work out well, it could affect you at your place of work. On the other hand, if you *don't* send her resume on I would imagine it'd probably affect your relationship (unless they are looking for some specific education or something that she clearly doesn't have, in which case you could beg out of sending it on on the basis of that).

If you do decide to recommend her, I would be honest with the person doing the hiring. If you don't know if she'd be a good fit, say so. If you are asked about her work skills, and you have legitimate reservations, express them (nicely, of course). The most important thing to remember is that the ultimate decision about whether or not to hire her rests on the hiring official (assuming you don't push super hard to get her hired), and therefore that person is responsible for making sure they make a good decision. Her success or failure shouldn't rest all on your shoulders.

It is hard working closely with someone with whom you have a personal relationship. I have done it a couple of times, and it can be stressful. Even though I didn't get DW hired into the place where I work, I still cringe every time I see her make a decision that I don't totally agree with. On the other hand, it is nice being able to chat at lunch and stuff. On the other, other hand, if you think BFF will try to socialize (or ask for work-related help) when you really need to get your own work done, then maybe you could set up some guidelines between you before she starts work. You will be under additional scrutiny after anyone you recommend is hired, especially if you're getting a referral bonus.

I don't know if any of that helps at all, but there are my 2 cents...

ctbride08

it does help!

and to answer your questions....she would be doing what i do but on a lower level. its a very independent consulting-type job so we wouldn't really be working together on anything (i dont even work closely with the people on my "team"), but there is the possibility that she'll be in the office next to me - or, she might end up 6 floors down (the department is 100ish people).

 

Mrs._F

I think I would forward it and let it play out.  You mention that the job doesn't have much to do with her career path - if her resume reflects that, she probably won't be their first choice anyway.  Between the commute and not being in her area, maybe even if they offered her the position she wouldn't take it.

It is definitely a sticky situation.  I once helped a friend get a job at my office and it did not go well.  It turned out to really be the wrong job for him and the ending was a little crazy - but I was in good standing at my office and it didn't directly effect me at all (as far as being perceived as being responsible for his performance or whatever).  I also made it clear from the beginning that I wasn't promising he was the perfect applicant: "Oh, I have a friend who might be good for that position - he's never done anything like this before, but he's looking for a job and has done XYZ in the past, so maybe he could be a good candidate?"

Good luck and let us know how it goes!