Do I take advantage of friend’s offer or stick to moral principles?

[WinterGold]

I’ve posted this in the Work thread, but bringing it here for traffic.

I’m after my dream job, applied and has now been offered an interview. By coincidence, a good friend of mine is senior in recruitment in this company, but in a totally different and unrelated department (friend didn’t know anything about my original application, so had no influence)

When I was chatting about my interview to this friend, he mentioned that if I liked, he could pass my details on, and the fact he knew me, to the relevant department through official emails and communications as he was on very good terms with head of recruitment in the particular sector I’m interested in.

I have a bit of a moral dilemma. Do I decline my mate’s offer on a principle and hope that my experience and qualifications are good enough to stand alone (YABU), or do I just view the connection as an slight advantage and accept the possible ‘leg up’? (YANBU)
And tbh, is what he is suggesting even likely to make any difference anyway?

We’re talking about a very large international business here with hundreds of applicants going for a smallish number of openings.

It's not what you know It's who you know. I think this probably happens a lot.

I'd be concerned that it would actually reflect badly on you, and you weren't confident enough so were taking advantage of a friend's position.

This could backfire. You've no idea how your friend is perceived by his colleagues, a recommendation from him might have the opposite effect to what you hope.

This will only work if the people recruiting actually like your friend, value his judgement and think you are one of the best candidates. If they think he is a dick or that you are seeking an unfair leg up you could end up being penalised for it.

What's the principle on which you would decline? I honestly can't see a reason not to accept with alacrity and thanks. Recruitment is difficult, as a recruiter you want to know that the person in front of you at interview isn't solely good at interviews but can do the job. Presumably they wouldn't give you the job without an interview - so you still have a chance to either wow them or mess it up! - so it's not like you're cheating.

I really don't see how this is a moral dilemma at all.

I think that’s possibly what my underlying concern is.
I’m fully qualified, experienced enough and meet all the criteria for the role, but as with a lot of jobs, the interview process is going to be about finding out whether I’ll be a good fit and if they actually like me.

Like pp said, it’s who you know not what you know.

My company actually stopped doing staff referrals for recruitment because it was causing a lot of nepotism with people’s nephews/friends of friends getting hired. But I think sometimes you need to use what resources you have to get where you need to.

To be honest, if someone did this where I work they would be told immediately that they were acting inappropriately! We would never listen to an intervention made by someone else. If you are good enough, your application will stand on its own. If you aren't, then it won't.

@WinterGold
If if helps you get the position then that's a positive

It probably depends on the employer. Some would think a friend of Bob's is a good sign. Others would think it's inappropriate to use personal connections

If you apply for a role and someone in the organisation knows you it's not unusual, IME for the hiring manager to informally ask the person what they think of you. I know someone has just asked a director in a business what he thinks of my dh as he is interviewing there. He said he knew him professionally and rated him. It won't harm his chances.

Men don't think twice about doing stuff like this! It would be highly unlikely to go against you, you haven't asked your friend to do it, they offered; you're not (I assume) sleeping with this friend and you can do the job. It's just one more thing in your favour.

All my experience is in large international organisations, it's not unusual.

Just do the interview, these things don't actually always go in your favour.

Depends on the company - mine actively asks people if they have any recommendations for new people and pays a recruitment bonus if a recommendation is then hired and stays for a certain amount of time. This might be why your friend is keen to put a word in - he might benefit if you’re hired!

But that makes no sense. If someone who you have worked with before applies, are you meant to say I'm sorry but I know you'd be amazing at the job so I can't possibly recruit you?

The last interview I had was with someone I've worked with previously, who told me he'd contacted my manager to get feedback on me before the interview. I thought great, he takes me seriously as a candidate if he wants to know more about my work. I assume he did the same with the other candidates too - all of our applications would "stand on their own" but feedback from someone who knows our abilities is surely a valuable addition to a decision?

My company like referrals as knowing a bit about someone before hiring them and the fact that an employee is willing to vouch for them means they are less likely to be a problem employee.

When I used to work I had no problems with referrals. In my country it’s completely normal. So 🤷‍♀️

Depends on the company - mine actively asks people if they have any recommendations for new people and pays a recruitment bonus if a recommendation is then hired and stays for a certain amount of time.

Mine does too, it's quite normal. I wouldn't expect your friend would get a bonus as you've already applied, but if referrals are standard in his company then it shouldn't be any sort of problem for him to do what he's suggested.

I have a bit of a moral dilemma. Do I decline my mate’s offer on a principle
on what principle? Fairness? Do you think recruitment is otherwise fair? It’s not.

Ive never in my life heard of it going against you to know and be liked by someone successful and liked at the company. Your friend works in recruitment and presumably knows how recruitment is done at that company, so I’d take the help.

That’s really unusual. In my company, also a large global. If someone well respected recommends someone then it is taken seriously , as we employ them and respect them. Why would we say that’s inappropriate and want. I input.

the trick though is it needs to be someone well respected. Not some under performing twat sitting in the corner trying to get his mate in.

op, as this man is also hr. I would tell him I’m applying just for info, and leave it there, he can then decide what to say.

My DS works in advertising (wondering if varies by industry) and they actively encourage ppl to put candidates forward-even offer a finders fee as incentive!

Definitely not sleeping with him and he offered the favour immediately. I only told him about the interview because I thought he’d be interested, that I might have a chance to be in the same company as him, not to gain any benefit.

We actually met as work colleagues several years ago, always got on well and have always kept in touch even though our lives took us in different directions.

This was my immediate thought.

What if they think he's a dick?

Then take the help.

And this is why it would be weird if he didn’t mention the OP.

There would be an assumption that he wouldn’t vouch for the OP on account of being shit and that was why they didn’t ask him for the mention.

Let him big you up!