Working with friends: what to consider before taking the leap

Sharing a workplace with your mate may sound like a lot of fun but there are a few things to consider before writing that recommendation.

Working with a friend sometimes works, but a lot of the time it doesn’t.

If you are thinking about joining an organisation where your friend is employed – or vice versa – have a conversation about the possible issues straight away, upfront.

For example, if you are at the same level when you go into the job then all of a sudden one of you is getting a promotion or one of you ends up the other one’s boss, how will you feel about that?

Working together may not be the best idea.

But at a time when you need an income, of course don’t turn down a job because of that.

If you need work, take the job.

Your employment comes before friendship so you have to ask yourself: “If things don’t go well, am I willing to lose this friendship?”.

Sometimes it is better to keep the friendship outside of the workplace. Picture: iStock

My best advice if you do work with a friend is to remember you are at work.

You can be friendly but don’t be having long discussions about weekend plans for hours at a time.

People will assume you are wasting your time.

You don’t want to lose your brand in the business over a friendship.

You want to be seen as a leader or a good worker.

If you are worried people will make assumptions or they will judge the way you act with your friend, keep the friendship outside of work.

Also, don’t be gossiping.

It’s silly and screams “don’t promote me” and “don’t trust me”.

Another thing to consider is whether your brand is aligned to your friend’s.

If you are joining a company on their recommendation, people will assume that you are like them.

Amanda Rose says gossiping with friends at work can hurt your career. Picture: Monique Harmer

Similarly, if you are recommending a friend to work with your employer, be aware of how their performance will reflect on you.

If three months after they come in they make massive mistake, that is going to make you look bad.

Remember you do not have to give your friend a recommendation if you do not want to.

If they ask for one, just give them the email address for the human resources department and explain they will have to go through the standard process.

But if you don’t feel comfortable recommending your friends, you probably need new friends.

Amanda Rose is a business consultant, workplace trainer, LinkedIn influencer and founder of six organisations – and now she is tackling your career questions for SMART Daily every week.

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Originally published as Working with friends: what to consider before taking the leap