Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Would you hire two friends?

  1. #1
    Gold Member Mark Atkinson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    796
    Thanks
    212
    Thanked 150 Times in 117 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12

    Would you hire two friends?

    This one might spark some debate:

    We've been looking for a talented designer to join our team and we found one that piqued our interest. Coincidentally, we've also been looking for somebody to take over some of my roles in the business and we've found another potential candidate for that too. The only problem: they're best friends!

    They've also both expressed interest in working for us as a team.

    I'm just wondering whether this might not upset the dynamic of a very small team? The last thing you want is 50% of your team ruling the roost, so to speak.

    That being said, it's quite obvious that they work extremely well together and complement each other very well, so it could possibly be a good thing.

    My guess is that in a bigger environment with a larger team, it wouldn't make as much of a difference as it might in a very small team like ours currently is.

    What are your thoughts?

  2. #2
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Had enough
    Posts
    3,358
    Thanks
    114
    Thanked 213 Times in 201 Posts
    From our experience, I would hire him. Think about it this way. Whoever you hire would fit into the team and make friends with some of the others in the group. Therefore they would now be friends and could very well end up best friends. Obviously there could be downfalls to hiring him, but you have already said they work well together. Manage them properly, set down the ground rules and it could end up being the best thing ever

  3. #3
    Diamond Member Blurock's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Durban
    Posts
    4,151
    Thanks
    758
    Thanked 886 Times in 735 Posts
    Blog Entries
    7
    As long as you're hiring for the right reasons. You said that they are capable and complement each other. They should work well together - that's enough reason for me!
    Excellence is not a skill; its an attitude...

  4. #4
    Diamond Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    6,329
    Thanks
    426
    Thanked 978 Times in 795 Posts
    I'm with HR Solutions on this one.

  5. #5
    Bronze Member Hermes14's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Fourways
    Posts
    152
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 32 Times in 27 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Atkinson View Post
    This one might spark some debate:

    We've been looking for a talented designer to join our team and we found one that piqued our interest. Coincidentally, we've also been looking for somebody to take over some of my roles in the business and we've found another potential candidate for that too. The only problem: they're best friends!

    What are your thoughts?
    I don't see anything wrong with them being friends if it is still your company & you will be managing it.
    You are going to have to keep your business relationship & friendship with them separate.
    When there are decisions to be made hear their point of view but make sure the final decision lies with you.
    Get yourself a few books on management & human relations

  6. #6
    Diamond Member Mike C's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Umkomaas
    Posts
    2,850
    Thanks
    249
    Thanked 371 Times in 327 Posts
    Hiring two people who are best friends would be no issue in a big company. I think that in a small business it could have the potential of creating a "power group" if they decide to gang up on management on a few issues. For example: Best friends might share their remuneration packages with each other and cause hassles if they think that the one is being favoured above another.

    As long as ground rules (as recommended by HR Solutions) are in place before any hiring is done, and any warning signs are dealt with immediately - things should be ok.
    No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. - Aesop "The Lion and the Mouse"

  7. #7
    Diamond Member tec0's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    4,624
    Thanks
    1,884
    Thanked 463 Times in 410 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    Keep a close eye on the ball here. I have seen how this can get very ugly... Make sure they understand that business is business and when it comes to business you expect them to preform to the best of there abilities and that no "slack" will be tolerated. A few jobs back I worked under 4 bosses aka friends... Needless to say that regardless of the fact that I made R30k for the company per week I could not keep all 4 bosses happy. The one took away my training the other forced me into high profile situations and the third wanted me to do in house repairs. The forth used me as a PA... I ended up doing everything and the 4 bosses got angry because the one didn't see the other doing there work "As I was doing it" Conflict started and regardless of a healthy profit of R120k [just from my side] a month the business flopped. Total business income was about R450k a month. (That is considered a strong business in my book)

    What I am getting at is this,
    A> Establish each a role in the company and make them aware of there responsibility towards the company and you.
    B> Make sure each reports to you on a day by day base thus allowing you to see if possible troubles exist
    C> Make sure they know who is the boss because you don't want a conflict of "he said they said" arguments.
    D> Just stay level headed regardless of the fact they are friends make sure they do there jobs and not each-other's jobs.
    peace is a state of mind
    Disclaimer: everything written by me can be considered as fictional.

  8. Thanks given for this post:

    pmbguy (04-May-13)

  9. #8
    Email problem workshop's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Knysna
    Posts
    220
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked 13 Times in 10 Posts
    The decision maker occupies a lonely space. Everything depends on you and how you manage and incentivise "your" team.

  10. #9
    Diamond Member Blurock's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Durban
    Posts
    4,151
    Thanks
    758
    Thanked 886 Times in 735 Posts
    Blog Entries
    7
    All the advice offered is valid. Make sure that you put everything in a signed employment contract to which the parties agree. The worst thing that one can do in business is to work on assumptions because you're dealing with a friend.
    Excellence is not a skill; its an attitude...

  11. #10
    New Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Knysna, Garden Route. WP
    Posts
    8
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Hi,

    You need to clarify if the two candidates are best friends with each other or are you saying they are your best friends? The response you get may differ depending on which is correct.

    Malcolm

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Car Hire
    By IMHO in forum General Chat Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 21-Nov-12, 07:41 AM
  2. Labour hire registrations
    By Ladel in forum General Business Forum
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 17-Apr-09, 04:12 PM
  3. [Article] Looking to hire office staff
    By arni@spanset in forum General Business Forum
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-Aug-08, 11:25 AM

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •