Helping a friend get a job

[Stunt]

So my good friend from university has been job hunting for 9-10 months since he graduated; 12 months after I did (he did an internship). Over that time period I have established myself within my company as a Department Manager with 20 direct reports. Even though the company is huge (24,000 employees globally), my division is tight knit and management in different plants work together all the time.

My friend is getting frustrated and a mutual friend suggested I try to get him into my company. I didn't feel it was my place to suggest him as a hire; he would have to apply if he wanted a position at the company. I don't want to suggest him as a candidate because I don't want to be in a situation down the road where I'm his boss, I don't want to say he's a good fit for the company when I don't think he is, I don't want him to get a position someone else should have got because of qualifications.

The mutual friend called me a 'dick' for not wanting to do this.
I have already offered support in the form of helping with cover letters, resume, where to look for jobs, how to find companies who hire, how to intervew well, how to network.
Asking me to help him get a job with my company is unfair to me.

Thoughts appreciated...am i being unreasonable?

 

[spidey07]

You're absolutely being a dick.

If a "friend" ever did that to me I would no longer be his friend.

You are only seeing this from your own self-centered world/point of view.

 

[chrisms]

Personally I will not help friends get jobs anymore, unless they are my closest friends. I've been burned too many times after recommending someone to hire and having them turnout to be a total bum and reflect poorly on me. If you don't feel he is a good fit with the company then it is not your responsibility to give him a job. If your friend gets mad about it then he really isn't your friend and is looking to take advantage of your position.

It all depends though. Should you give some leniency if he isn't the perfect candidate? Yes. There are varying degrees of leniency for how good of a friend he is, but if he absolutely would not fit then you're only hurting both parties by hiring him.

 

[axelfox]

No, you are not. If he sucks, then it's your reputatation on the line.

 

[drinkmorejava]

Helping a qualified friend get a job through connections is always nice, or even if you're at a new company and know several good workers from your old one that you can recommend is good. But if you don't know how qualified they are and don't have work experience with them it's very likely this will lead to problems down the road because you're doing it just because they're a friend. About the only thing that might be appropriate is mentioning you have some job openings and they should apply.

 

[mundane]

I disagree. You identified a potential conflict of interest, and took precautions to avoid it.

 

[Kelvrick]

The other friend is a dick. I've had plenty of opportunities where I could bring in a friend at work, but I don't because even though we get along fine hanging out, I don't think we could handle it where I'm his boss and get on his case. If I thought that friend would work out, then yes I'd put my name behind him, but I wouldn't just because he's a friend.

Work is work, I don't put my standing with the higher-ups on the line.

 

[RGN]

Originally posted by: mundane
I disagree. You identified a potential conflict of interest, and took precautions to avoid it.

bingo. The others that disagree don't have any real world work experience and if they do, they've not learned anything.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: spidey07
You're absolutely being a dick.

If a "friend" ever did that to me I would no longer be his friend.

You are only seeing this from your own self-centered world/point of view.

I'm going to disagree here... If your friend sucked at computers and wanted an IT job, for example, I sure as hell wouldn't recommend him for a position in my department. Not only would he make me look bad for recommending him, but I'd end up having to fix his mistakes when he screwed up. Not to mention that he'd probably end up getting fired eventually, and become unemployed once again because of my "help". Now THAT is a good way to ruin a friendship.

 

[Dacalo]

I agree with you OP. Even if you get him a job, if he ends up reporting to you, he will expect favorable treatments. Like others said, your reputation is on the line as well as possibility of conflict of interest.

 

[mercanucaribe]

You aren't being a dick. It sucks having fewer jobs available because of the real dicks who get their friends in. One of the reasons affirmative action is necessary is to even out the whole "boys club" phenomenon.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Stunt
So my good friend from university has been job hunting for 9-10 months since he graduated; 12 months after I did (he did an internship). Over that time period I have established myself within my company as a Department Manager with 20 direct reports. Even though the company is huge (24,000 employees globally), my division is tight knit and management in different plants work together all the time.

My friend is getting frustrated and a mutual friend suggested I try to get him into my company. I didn't feel it was my place to suggest him as a hire; he would have to apply if he wanted a position at the company. I don't want to suggest him as a candidate because I don't want to be in a situation down the road where I'm his boss, I don't want to say he's a good fit for the company when I don't think he is, I don't want him to get a position someone else should have got because of qualifications.

The mutual friend called me a 'dick' for not wanting to do this.
I have already offered support in the form of helping with cover letters, resume, where to look for jobs, how to find companies who hire, how to intervew well, how to network.
Asking me to help him get a job with my company is unfair to me.

Thoughts appreciated...am i being unreasonable?

As long as he doesn't use you in his network, eh?

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: Feldenak
As long as he doesn't use you in his network, eh?

Networking involves meeting and making contacts with people in industries you are interested in to get a feel for the company and what it's all about.

It doesn't mean call all your friends and ask them to help you get a job with them

 

[50cent1228]

Originally posted by: axelfox
No, you are not. If he sucks, then it's your reputatation on the line.

exactly

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Feldenak
As long as he doesn't use you in his network, eh?

Networking involves meeting and making contacts with people in industries you are interested in to get a feel for the company and what it's all about.

It doesn't mean call all your friends and ask them to help you get a job with them

Well then that's where I strongly disagree. Friends are absolutely a part of your network. Most good jobs come from friends or networking.

Networking is about scratching each others back. It's not networking if you just leach and suck off it all the time without doing something to "feed your garden".

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Feldenak
As long as he doesn't use you in his network, eh?

Networking involves meeting and making contacts with people in industries you are interested in to get a feel for the company and what it's all about.

It doesn't mean call all your friends and ask them to help you get a job with them

Well then that's where I strongly disagree. Friends are absolutely a part of your network. Most good jobs come from friends or networking.

Networking is about scratching each others back. It's not networking if you just leach and suck off it all the time without doing something to "feed your garden".

Agreed.

 

[sjvlad]

Originally posted by: spidey07
You're absolutely being a dick.

If a "friend" ever did that to me I would no longer be his friend.

You are only seeing this from your own self-centered world/point of view.

Reverse it though; he gets his friend hired and then the friend turns out to be flakey. That reflects poorly on you.

I've stopped recomending friends to places I work at for that reason. I've had a couple turn out well but a couple turn out pretty crappy too.

 

[Malak]

I would never suggest a friend for a job if I didn't think he had what it takes. That is just stupid, and if he thinks I'm a dick then I would ditch him. That is not how friendships work. This is straight business. I actually did have my best friend work under me once, and he got fired. He never got mad at me and it was just forgotten, still friends today. If you can't seperate business from friendship, you should never be a manager. The managers that don't are the worst kind.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: 50cent1228

Originally posted by: axelfox
No, you are not. If he sucks, then it's your reputatation on the line.

exactly

QFT! You might offer to help the friend get an interview, without actually providing a recommendation for him...but if he fcks up, YOU will be held partly responsible...since he is your friend...(been there, lost a good job because of a friend I helped get hired.) I don't do that any more...I MAY give the boss someone's name & phone number, but not with a recommendation...

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Feldenak
As long as he doesn't use you in his network, eh?

Networking involves meeting and making contacts with people in industries you are interested in to get a feel for the company and what it's all about.

It doesn't mean call all your friends and ask them to help you get a job with them

Well then that's where I strongly disagree. Friends are absolutely a part of your network. Most good jobs come from friends or networking.

Networking is about scratching each others back. It's not networking if you just leach and suck off it all the time without doing something to "feed your garden".

I applied to this job through Workopolis.com (similar to monster in the states), there were thousands of applicants, hundreds of resumes read, and over 20 people they interviewed (Plant Manager, 2 directors and 2 VP's - 3 rounds of interviews). I did all my own research and leg work to get this job; I don't owe anyone anything.

 

[doze]

If your friend is interested in workign where you do he should ask you. I've got jobs for friends before and the last time I did this I ended up having to fire my buddy.

 

[Corporate Thug]

OP, just help him get a job with the company.

if he doesnt do well, thats his problem

 

[purbeast0]

I think you are doing the right. I have a few friends who are basically losers. Like they are 25/26 and are still working at grocery stores and restaraunts. I also know them personally and they are just not responsible. I would not recommend these guys to work at my current job even if the opportunity arose, because as others have said, it's my ass on the line as well if i recommend someone.

 

[Imdmn04]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Feldenak
As long as he doesn't use you in his network, eh?

Networking involves meeting and making contacts with people in industries you are interested in to get a feel for the company and what it's all about.

It doesn't mean call all your friends and ask them to help you get a job with them

Well then that's where I strongly disagree. Friends are absolutely a part of your network. Most good jobs come from friends or networking.

Networking is about scratching each others back. It's not networking if you just leach and suck off it all the time without doing something to "feed your garden".

But if your friend is not qualified for the job, would you still recommend him?

 

[JDMnAR1]

I certainly wouldn't stake my reputation on someone I thought was incapable of performing the job, no matter how good a friend he is. However, if I thought he could handle the position I would not hesitate to put him in touch with the proper people within the organization that might allow him to get his foot in the door (without doing anything to influence the hiring decision). I guess it boils down to one question - is your friend qualified for the position, both in terms of his skillset and ability to fit into the corporate culture? If so, then yes, you are kinda being a dick. If not, then you are doing the right thing.