Letting a friend down (easy)

In My Humble Opinion
1

So what do I tell my friend?

My company has authorized hiring another professional in my discipline. I’m the chief guy in my discipline, and I alerted my friend when a position became apparent.

Well, we’re looking for a grunt scientist with scads of experience and my management immediately seized upon the fact that his resume reflects that he’s been a boss scientist for the salient part of his career. The comment addressed to me today was, “Well, you can talk to him if you want to, but we don’t need another boss around here - we need an applied scientist.”

So, we always try to take care of each other, but I’ve got to let my friend down. This job ain’t gonna happen for him.

Now, this is a guy with whom I’ve already planned a week-long Mexico trip early next year. We’re fairly tight. And I’d have to admit that even I don’t think he’s the right guy for the job.

He’d like the job, both because his current employer is a doofus, and he’d really probably like the experience. But, well, it just ain’t gonna happen. The big dogs in my yard have already rubbed a booger on him.

What should I tell him?

2

Easy money.

Blame the big dogs.

Tell him you went to bat for him, but they were turned off by the “boss” part of it all. Tell him you’d have loved to have him, but the higher-ups put the kibosh on it.

Just because he’s your pal doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed the job, and you and he both know it. It’s not like you promised him the position.

Honestly, by the way you tell it, their decision wasn’t a reflection on your judgment, but on what they perceived in him. A good friend will recognize that it wasn’t you that did him in, and he’ll appreciate the faith you showed by recommending him in the first place.

3

“And I’d have to admit that even I don’t think he’s the right guy for the job.”

Then just do what you have to do. Maybe it won’t be easy, but at least you can be firm in the knowledge that you are doing what’s right.

If he’s truly not the right guy for the job, you wouldn’t be doing him any favor by hiring him into it.

Sometimes being in management sucks.