What To Consider Before Referring A Friend For A Job

You’ve probably seen it all over LinkedIn — “Referrals are everything in job searching.” While referring a good friend to a workplace may help them land a job faster, it can be detrimental to your reputation. How it’s handled is essential to protecting you and your friendship. Here are things to consider before endorsing someone.

A smart referral requires more than good intentions. It demands that you separate your friendship from your professional evaluation. You can’t let your desire to help out cloud your honest judgment about their skills and capability to do the job. 

Review the job description and your friend’s resume side-by-side. Then, think about past projects you’ve seen them handle. Are they reliable and able to take feedback well? If you think they’re the right fit, tailor your introduction to specifically address the job requirements.

This can be tricky, especially if you haven’t worked with your friend yet. However, you probably know your friend well and may already know whether they’d vibe with your workplace culture. For example, if your office is always buzzing and your friend gets frazzled juggling multiple tasks, that could be a problem.

The truth is, your friend might be talented, but if they don’t appreciate the workplace culture, chances are they won’t love working there. Identify three aspects of your company and ask your friend questions about how they’d handle those situations. You can also share your company website and ask for their honest first impression.

A referral is a personal endorsement. When you vouch for someone, you’re putting your good name on the line. If things go sideways, your own reputation could take a hit. This matters even more if you’re a freelancer — your reputation is important for landing new gigs and clients. 

Don’t feel obliged to say yes to everyone requesting a referral. Be picky — save your referrals for folks you genuinely believe in. Quality over quantity protects your name. When you give a referral, add a quick note about why you think they’re a great match. 

Advise your friend’s expectations and clarify that a referral doesn’t guarantee a job. Discuss the process, the role and company culture openly. You can also detail the role’s challenges and day-to-day grind to give them a sneak peek of the position. 

Tell them what happens next. For instance, the HR team will review the resume first and then a hiring manager will reach out. Let your friend know that if they get the role, they’re under no obligation to accept because you referred them.

You must be prepared for how your friendship will evolve when you become co-workers. Here’s what to keep in mind as things shift. 

• Establish boundaries: Work friendships can help you feel safe and spark new ideas, but it helps to agree to keep discussions about work issues objective while on the clock. Save friend talk for outside work hours.
• Watch out for favoritism: Treat them like any other colleague. That means no skipping steps, sharing secrets and covering for them because you’re close.

Things can get messy when expectations and reality don’t match up. Here’s how to handle those unfortunate moments.

It’s normal for your friend to feel disappointed after a rejection. This is your cue to listen and let them vent. Show them you understand their perspective, which can help them process their emotions in a healthy manner. A little sympathy goes a long way.

Your friend gets the job, but now they’re struggling. You may feel obligated to intervene and save the day, but try to resist the urge. If they ask for advice, help them develop their own solutions instead of handing them all the answers. It’s better for both your friendship and sanity.

Referring someone for a job is a generous gesture. Before you hit send on that email, take a minute to think it through. Ask yourself some honest questions to ensure you’re not putting your reputation or friendship at risk. Your future self and your friend will thank you.