I just wanted to share my experience: I had a class-mate who became a friend, she was nice and sweet, in school. I knew she was looking for a job, so I forwarded the ad to her (she hadn't seen it.) She applied, got the interview, my boss selected her for the second interview and the VP called me and asked me about her, of course I said good things. The girl can work, but not after spending two hours socializing and gossiping in the morning, same around lunch time and before she leaves ( everyone noticed and finds it weird, HR and boss don't want to do anything about it.) She would come to my office and stay there talking while I was working, I got mad at her a few times over a two year period. Long story short, I don't talk to her anymore. Every time she had a chance, she would tell co-workers how she got in because of me, I wanted to hide every time.

She has caused problems for other people: she repeated something that someone told her in confidence and it got to HR, that person was told by HR to not hangout with her or tell her anything anymore or else they would put their job at risk. She is overly friendly, so someone must have thought she was interested in him (I can see that happening), he asked for her personal email, she gave it to him. One day, after months of regular friendly emails, the same guy sent her a video of girls dancing suggestively and told her she should learn how to dance like that. She complained to HR. HR had to revise the company's policy and told her that it was her choice if she wanted continue with the proceedings, she backed up and said no. This is just two examples, there too many to list all of them.

What did I learn from my experience? I will never recommend anyone unless I worked with them in the same office and I know that they act professionally and can do their job.

If this is govt, be careful. There are ethics rules, check with your ethics attorneys.

Anonymous wrote:A friend just interviewed for a position in my agency. Although it was a position in my part of the agency, it wasnt in my direct office and I dont know the supervisor with whom she interviewed.

Would it be acceptable/appropriate for me to send the interviewer an email recommending her? Like "I understand just just interviewed X for X position. I just wanted to offer my personal recommendation as I know both the applicant and the office and am sure she would be a great employee."

If it matters, I am currently on maternity leave so would need to send the email from my personal email, rather than the office email.

I would make the email as professional and objective as possible, and give concrete examples and even other off list references for them to try. Then back out of the picture unless asked.

Someone here tried to refer his buddy from his previous job and the search got ridiculous. He would veto anyone else and then accolade his under experienced friend. What a joke.

Anonymous wrote:"Like "I understand just just interviewed X for X position. I just wanted to offer my personal recommendation as I know both the applicant and the office and am sure she would be a great employee."

Could backfire. Too risky.

Like if she's not a good employee? I am not really worried about that bc I am pretty confident she will do fine. Its not a difficult or high level job and my friend is very capable.

"Like "I understand just just interviewed X for X position. I just wanted to offer my personal recommendation as I know both the applicant and the office and am sure she would be a great employee."

Could backfire. Too risky.

I think it's fine, but give concrete examples of why she'd be good, not just "I like her." My DH had two friends in his now-office and I know their recs helped, even though they only knew him personally and not professionally.

A friend just interviewed for a position in my agency. Although it was a position in my part of the agency, it wasnt in my direct office and I dont know the supervisor with whom she interviewed.

Would it be acceptable/appropriate for me to send the interviewer an email recommending her? Like "I understand just just interviewed X for X position. I just wanted to offer my personal recommendation as I know both the applicant and the office and am sure she would be a great employee."

If it matters, I am currently on maternity leave so would need to send the email from my personal email, rather than the office email.