Job referral disaster

[Sophia9]

Long time lurker but haven’t posted before! A friend has applied for a role in my company and I provided him with help and prep before his interviews. They are at the final interview stages and my manager has now asked why I didn’t apply for the role (better than my current role). I’m at a loss as to whether I would be very very unreasonable to even consider applying knowing that my good friend is waiting to hear back about whether he will receive an offer.

I didn’t consider applying as I didn’t think I was eligible due to the commitments in my current role. Had I known I was eligible I would have definitely applied and told my friend I was applying. The role is what I’m looking for in terms of career development and I love the company so am worried about passing up the opportunity for this permanent role when I’m on a contract at the moment.

On the other hand, he is a good friend of mine and I would feel very guilty and a bit of a backstabbed if I apply now having helped him prepare for interviews and told him how great the role is and the company.

AIBU to consider applying for this? I have to let my manager know in a few hours and there’s no guarantee I’d definitely get the job as there may be other internal candidates who have also been asked to apply today.

If your friend is outside the company how would he even know if you apply or even get the job? All he knows is that you work for X Company and that won't change!

I'd go with telling your friend that your boss told you to apply.

At school two boys used to sit together. One was better at English than the other and sometimes he would tell him the answers but on this question he wouldn't raise his own hand. The teacher figured this out and told them off.

Maybe your manager thinks that you are possibly much better but are sacrificing/wasting yourself to give him an offer and believes that all your friend has done is parrot what you have taught him? Be very clear like you explained to us and good luck!!

What you have described so far is .not a disaster. A disaster would be

• that your friend gets the job and continued to require your support to be effective

• that you do not apply, having been told you are eligible

By the time your line manager to encouraging you to apply, you are long overdue to be in that role. Take this as the compliment it undoubtedly is.

If anything, you kindly helped your friend without thought for yourself as you weren't even in the race. So that was genuine. It was up to them then how well they did.

Now you've been tapped it would perhaps even be detrimental to you not to apply. I think it's fair to tell your friend all of this.

I hope you're applying. You won't be doing anything wrong by doing so.

Agree with others, apply and tell your friend your Manager asked you to apply.

I'd go for it and not tell the friend immediately. If you are offered the position then you can just say they'd decided against your friend and encouraged internal applications. Or not tell them. How would they know?
You'd be mad to not go for a permanent job when you're on a contract.

Apply right now! If your manager thinks it's appropriate just get on with it, even if you don't get it if shows you want to get a permanent role. Good luck. I'd tell your friend you've been asked to apply.

It may well be that neither of you will get it! But if you don't try you'll never know.

Apply, your boss obviously thinks you are capable.

If you get the job you don't have to tell your friend, as others have said, unless they work in the same company. Friend will never know you got it over them.

If you don't apply your friend might not get it anyway, and neither will you, so what have you got to lose!

I think I'd say nothing To your friend and apply. If you get it, just tell a white lie and say you were approached and offered it to your surprise. But don't let it look like you stood in his way, more he didn't get it, and then you were belatedly offered it.

Apply! Cross the telling-your-friend-bridge if and when you come to it.