A good friend of mine is looking for a job.  Because I get around a bit, I’ve already heard about several positions he might be qualified for.  But when I talked to my friend about making some referrals, he hesitated.  He wanted to make sure that if the opportunities didn’t pan out for some reason, my standing with these companies wouldn’t be negatively impacted.

As it turns out, I would be happy to refer this friend to the companies I work with because I already know he’s smart, skilled, and a hard worker.  But he did bring up an interesting point.  I shouldn’t just blindly refer people because they are my friends, or because I love to see networking pay off. 

This week, I came across an interesting CareerBuilder article on this topic from Robert Half International.  RHI says that while recommending someone you know for a position with your company can benefit you financially and the organization as a whole, it's important to look before you leap.  Strongly supporting someone who does not work out or repeatedly suggesting that your manager hire unqualified candidates can affect your professional reputation. The article offers some great referral tips.  Here are some of my favorites:

DO educate a potential referral. When approaching a contact about a position with your company, give him or her as much information as possible. Provide the person with a job description, if one is available, and describe the primary duties. Be candid so you can gauge the potential referral's genuine interest in the job.

DO make sure the referral does his or her part. Though you're lending a helping hand, the person you're referring must still approach the situation as he or she would any other employment opportunity. That means the candidate must submit a clean, well-crafted résumé and cover letter, targeted to the firm and position.

DON'T hesitate to conduct your own research. Because your reputation is on the line, make sure know enough about the person to recommend him or her for employment with your firm. If it's a distant contact, review the person's résumé and, if necessary, conduct an informal interview to learn more about his or her qualifications.

DON'T refer someone you lack confidence in. Don't feel pressured to refer someone just because the two of you discussed an open position with your firm or because an acquaintance asked you pass his or her résumé to a hiring manager you know.