I dont want to recommend my friend for a job -

I dont want to recommend my friend for a job - When it comes to work, theres nothing much more important than your credibility and reputation. Its up to you to maintain and uphold them, or risk losing potential opportunities down the road. So, what should you do when a friend asks you to recommend him for a position in your organization, but youd rather stand on your head all day than refer him for the job? Its a sticky situation, especially if you care about the friend and realize that  referrals  and recommendations from current employees are the best way to land jobs. In many cases, having an existing employee pass along your resume or support your candidacy is a surefire ticket to having a resume reviewed, so your friend is smart to ask for your help. What are your choices when a good friend asks for your assistance landing a job he isnt well suited to do? Agree to help your friend, but make a lukewarm referral.  Keep in mind, even if your referral is unenthusiastic, youre still risking your reputation if your friend cant perform. Even just passing along the resume puts you in the position of helping a non-qualified person access your employer, and you could look bad if it does not work out. Choose this option at your own risk and keep in mind: a lukewarm referral may do more harm than good. Explain to your friend why you dont think the job is a good fit.  You may be able to avoid having an in-depth conversation about your friends qualifications if you can find reasons she wouldnt enjoy the job. Is it a  toxic workplace? Will the commute be really long? Is the salary too low? Will the work environment be ill-suited to her? Be clear about the negatives about the organization as they relate to her working at the same company as you and discourage her from applying. Come up with an excuse.  Maybe you dont like to mix business with friendship, or you had a bad experience in the past recommending a friend and when it didnt work out, it hurt the friendship. You dont necessarily need to provide details, say she isnt likely to be a  valuable employee  or explain why you cant make a referral, but if you have a good reason to defer, you may be able to avoid hurting the friends feelings with too much honesty. Help re-direct your friend to a different company or industry.  Explain some reasons why you think he is  not getting hired. Suggest he work with a coach to help identify how he can be more competitive in the job search. Sometimes, its easier to hear tough news about your qualifications from someone who isnt close to you. You could do him a huge favor by spending time talking about how to identify target companies and discussing how to apply for appropriate jobs. Tell your friend honestly why you cannot refer her. This can be very difficult and uncomfortable, but it is possible that hearing some honest, constructive criticism from you may help your friend in the long run. It is just as likely that it could be the kiss of death for your friendship, so tread lightly and recognize that you do not have a responsibility to detail your friends foibles, nor to explain exactly why youd never suggest her for the job. More of my posts: How to break out of your job search rut How to snap out of a bad mood fast Bad habits to avoid Originally posted on AOLJobs.com.