What with all the companies closing down, layoffs, and general moving around, I've been asked to provide several references for coworkers of late. It's always a pleasure, at least so far, because I love saying nice things about people I like.
Today, though, I was in a slightly awkward situation. Someone asked me for a reference. We worked at the same company between 2000 and 2004. I used to bump into him in the kitchen. We talked about all sorts of things, including work, hobbies, the kitchen, families, music. We've kept in very occasional touch with each other for the last four years.
However, we never actually worked together. From what I know of him, I would not hesitate to invite him to interview somewhere, but then he'd really be on his own. So when he asked for a reference, as kindly as I could, I replied that I could say some complimentary things about him -- he's smart, motivated, and very nice. But if anyone asked a specific question such as "So what did you two work on?" or even "And would you want to work together again?" I'd be at a loss.
He was incredibly gracious about the whole thing and I'm sure he'll find some good references. I believe that he'd be a wonderful addition to any company, but I just don't know that from first-hand experience. Still, I hope he gets the job!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment