4 Things to Do Before Endorsing a Job Applicant

They say networkingis often the key to landing a job, so it stands to reason that if you work for a decent-sized company, you might wind up in a scenario where a job is advertised publicly, and a person you know decides to apply and asks that you put in a good word on his or her behalf. It's always nice to help a friend or former associate, so your first inclination might be to instantly oblige without giving it much thought.

But before you rush to endorse a candidate, remember that when you do so, it's your reputationon the line, and if you sing the praises of an applicant who turns out to be a total dud, you stand to look bad. Therefore, the next time someone asks you to intervene so that he or she snags an interview, do the following things first.