Providing references for people I've worked with

[Nazgul Girl]

    A friend called me and asked me if she could use me as a reference.    She was dismissed from her job for cause.   I think there was some fault on both sides, and she did have a horrible boss.   My friend had to be on medical leave for awhile due to some of the things going on on her jobsite.

   I don't want to get embroiled, but she did help me for quite a few weeks when we were in coding school together, when I got pneumonia and couldn't attend class for several weeks.   She kept me caught up.

   I said that I would be a reference for her, and I will provide her with a good one.   She is so broken that she's just looking for a clerical position.  

   Does anyone have any tips ?   I'm just going to be positive, but not tell any untruths.   She will be using my home phone #.  

[chiver78]

are you at all currently linked to any of the professional entries on her resume? if so, I would defer to the referral practices they have in place, just to cover your own ass. I admire your willingness to help out someone that's helped you out in the past, just please be careful not to screw yourself up in the process.

[dannylion]

I would just focus on what you know from your own interaction with her.  I'm assuming you did not work directly with her regarding the job where she was fired, so if there are any questions about that, you can legitimately say you have no personal knowledge as you were not there. 

You could describe how she helped you when you had been out sick in a "team player" sort of context, mention any good work habits you know she possesses, comment on her trustworthiness if you have knowledge of that, that sort of thing. 

You are a good friend to be helping her.  I hope she gets the job and does well at it. 

[Deleted]

Do you work at the same place she got fired from? I can't act as a reference for anyone at my current workplace. That has to go through my boss. And nearly all he can do is confirm they did work for us and for how long.

[Nazgul Girl]

     Yes, I am planning on functioning as a "personal" reference, since I never have worked in her department.   I think her main problems is that she can be rather sharp with people, so I will not say anything about that.   They can judge her responsiveness in the interview. 

    Thanks for the ideas, chiver and dannylion.  I did tell her that I don't want to become embroiled in anything or *I* could get into trouble, and I think she understands.   I wouldn't pose as someone in authority over her.

    We're meeting for dinner, and we can chat more about it then.

[Nazgul Girl]

   Laterbloomer, we do/did work for the same institution, but never in the same department.   The employer has 17,000 employees.   If it works out, fine, if they want more, I can only say that I know her and that she's a fine, hardworking person, which she is.