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would it be a good idea to work with your best friend?

I dont think it is but I would like different type of perspective
#bestfriends
#business

business bestfriends
Thank you comment icon Surely yes, I am currently working with my friend in the same company. We eat and drink coffee together in the company, go for a walk during lunch time. Friend can give you support when you are in need in work or out of work. Max
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Chrissy’s Answer

Working with close friends can be a very fun and rewarding experience. However, I would encourage you to ask yourself a few questions as you consider this.

- Am I pursuing this job because it will be a positive opportunity for me and my career?
- Will I be comfortable reporting to my friend (or having them report to me)?
- How will I deal with any work conflicts that include my friend?
- Will it be distracting to my job performance to work directly with my friend?

Having fun at work is great, but not doing work because you're having fun is not going to bode well. If you are confident that the job is right for you (even if your friend was not working there) and that it will be a positive working relationship, then go for it. Just make sure to have clear expectations for friend-time versus work-time.
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Doc’s Answer

Marie If you work with friends as a coworker, remember to keep things professional at all times. Work comes first. It's nice to have a support system with your friend, but avoid playing favorites or spending too much time doing things unrelated to your job.

PROS AND CONS OF WORKING WITH FRIENDS*

FRIENDS IN THE WORKPLACE

PRO – Work becomes a more enjoyable place to go when your friend is a coworker because you feel appreciated and cared about. Coworkers have your back more than usual when they know you on a personal level; there is less of a chance for misunderstandings because the people you work with get where you are coming from. A friendlier work environment also promotes more creativity. You feel more comfortable being yourself, and this allows you to think outside the box. Having a friend at work gives you a safe way to vent your frustrations, so you can rebound more quickly when setbacks at work occur.

CON – Work can become an unprofessional environment when your friend is a coworker—too much chit chat and not enough focus on the job can get you and your friend in trouble. Ironically, having a friend in the office stand up for you can also garner resentment from others. Coworkers may feel you are getting preferential treatment you don't deserve. Getting too close to someone at work can also mean they know just a little bit too much about you. Do you really want your coworkers to know your demons or struggles? If you think someone is your friend and it turns out not to be true, you could then become the victim of sabotage or a backstabbing from someone you trusted.

Marie even when you're friends with a coworker, you should hold back on divulging too much information. A toxic friend may just gossip about you more at work and cause big problems that aren't easily fixed. Be sure to keep anything related to money, including salary and financial history, to yourself.

* IF THIS FRIEND IS A BOYFRIEND
As the general rule goes, never get involved with anyone at the workplace or work in the same office as your boyfriend. You cannot be partial to your boyfriend under any circumstances, and you should never ask for any kind of favoritism from him either. Once you step into the office, you both are just employees of one company. Your goal is to work with dedication and towards the betterment of the organization as a whole. This should be the case if he is your boss or vice-versa. Don’t get angry if he provides you with constructive criticism, well... your young and their will be other jobs and a lot more boyfriends.

Was this Helpful Marie?
Thank you comment icon Yes it was helpful thank you Marie
Thank you comment icon Stars lie deep inside you Marie. Reach high for Stars lie hidden in Your Soul. Dream Deep, for every Dream proceeds the Goal. Doc Frick
Thank you comment icon Thank You Tami. “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands — one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” — Audrey Hepburn Doc Frick
Thank you comment icon ty Mr.John Marie
Thank you comment icon Your Welcome Marie, It was My Pleasure. If you want to touch the past, touch a rock. If you want to touch the present, touch a flower. If you want to touch the future, touch a life. Doc Frick
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Jennifer’s Answer

Working with a close friend can be rewarding and enjoyable, but can also pose some challenges. Obviously having someone that you already know can alleviate some "new job jitters". You may be able to get some some additional information about the company and individuals/teams you may be working with. But just be aware that the feedback or information that you receive from your friend could be tainted by their experiences, whether positive or negative. Once you formulate your own opinions, you may find they differ from your friend.
Something else to consider would be if you or your friend ever are in a supervisory role over the other. Would it be hard for you to assign work to your friend without any favoritism? Would you be able to fairly evaluate their work? If they are managing you, would you be able to accept constructive criticism?
Ultimately, I think working with a friend can be a positive experience, just be sure to evaluate the situation and possible scenarios before you jump in. Good luck!
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Terri L.’s Answer

My question back to you is are you interested in the job or the relationship with the friend? If you are building your career or are really interested in the job, then I'd suggest that the addition of your best friend should not matter. If your relationship with your best friend is really strong, you might find yourself distracted. Get clear on your "why". Having said that, it seems like you've already given this some thought. In your question you lean towards "not". If you decide to move forward with it consider creating ground rules to how you will work together and try to stick to them. Good luck!
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Dan’s Answer

It’s a good question, and the answer is dependent on many things.

Are you choosing your career based on what your current best friend is doing? Even if you are both interested in the same fields, the chances that you would end up at the same job in the same company at the same time are low. There are many paths in career and personal life that require you to make the decision as to what’s best for you and your situation. Many times these paths head in different directions as you get older and have different experiences and opportunities.

You should make the decisions in your career based on your interests and goals.
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Jacob’s Answer

I think its not a good or bad idea. Your best friend is someone who you are very comfortable with so within a group setting you may say something that you wouldn't without your friend there. In addition, I would also say that it is very helpful to work with different people in order to enable yourself to gain some different opinions and ideas.
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Puneet’s Answer

Working with your friend can be great. My only advice would be define the roles and responsibilities. You don't want the nuances of work affect your friendship.
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Meera’s Answer

I think it depends on the individuals and if they can maintain a separation between the professional and personal aspects of their lives. We spend a lot of time at work so you don't want any personal issues getting in the way at work. If this something you are contemplating, I think its best that both of you set boundaries so that there are no hurt feelings.
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James’s Answer

I have found that working with friends, whether they are best friends or just acquaintances, is not good in the work place because at some point during your tenure you will have disagreements especially in regards to money. Sooner or later people, even best friends, rub each other the wrong way so to speak. I hope my answer helps. Great question though.
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Praneetha’s Answer

I think working with your best friend can be the best when it works. As long as you know your friends is going to help you stay on track and not distract you, having your best friend with you will always be beneficial.
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Gloria’s Answer

Friendships at work can be challenging and rewarding. You have highlighted many of the rewards, such as having someone who knows what you are experiencing. There is nothing like a coworker for venting about work frustrations. Also they can help you remind you of a need for work - life balance, since you probably do stuff outside of work together. The greatest challenge is how close you are in terms of job roles. Having a good friend who is on the same actual team can be the most stressful. I lost a friendship when I was promoted over a good friend, becoming the manager of the team that we both worked on. She was never able to keep it professional. Any decisions that she didn't like got mentioned a lot outside of work, which is not appropriate. My professional choices were at odds with what she expected of me because I was her friend. She wanted special privileges. I would not depend on having personal friendships at work. You will have coworkers who can provide you with support in stressful times without it being anything but professional. All of this is dependent on about how professional each of you can be. I would say that if you truly treasure a relationship, then I would avoid working with them on the same team.
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Hannah’s Answer

Hi Marie-- looks like you already have some great responses here, most of which I would agree with. While I think it is a great thing to have a friend at work, it may be challenging to work side by side with your BFF. For instance, what if your friend isn't as motivated as you are and slacks on projects where you have to pick up the slack? Would you feel comfortable going to your boss expressing your concern? Or would you feel like a tattletale? If you don't go to your boss or say anything then you may have built up tension towards your friend, which never ends up well! I have also found that it's nice to keep work and your personal life separate! I have worked with friends in the past and at times I felt like no matter where we were, we would talk about work!
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Tami’s Answer

At one point my work bestie was promoted to be my manager. We knew the whole team was aware of our friendship, and worked extra hard to downplay it during work hours. We would still have lunch together, but often leave separately so it wasn't as obvious. We were very concerned that I might be viewed as a "favorite," and we worked hard to squash any rumors or hurt feelings before they started. I eventually left the company for a better opportunity, and am still good friends with my former boss. I will say, it definitely took a lot of hard work on our part to make it work, but as long as you're mindful of the situation and focus on work during work hours, I think you'll be fine. Good luck!
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Stacy’s Answer

Marie - This is a great question and I think it really depends on the person and job situation. If you are both working at the same company but in different departments, the pros may outweigh the cons. It might be more challenging if you are working within the same department. It is great to have a friend to share new experiences with and be a support system but you also want to make sure you don't let your friendship impact your work deliverables.

If you ended up in the same department you would need to be prepared to handle management situations; how would you feel if he/she became your supervisor, how would you handle a situation if you became his/her supervisor and the other members of your team felt like he/she were getting more opportunities because he/she was your friend?

Making a list of Pros and Cons can help prepare for situations that may arise in the future!
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Gabriela’s Answer

I believe that the main question to ask is: "Is the job right for me and one I would enjoy, regardless of who I work with?"
If the answer is "yes", then having a best friend for a coworker will only make the experience better, as you would see a familiar face that makes it easy to collaborate. After all, eventually, some or many of our coworkers do become our friends too. If the answer is "no", then you should focus on the jobs that are right for you and best fit your skills and future goals, instead of putting emphasis on who you will be working with.

Best of luck!
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Erin’s Answer

This is a great question, Marie. While there are many examples of successful business partnerships between friends, there is also a reason for the saying "never mix business with pleasure." In business it is important to view things with a critical eye, which can be difficult to do when a friend is involved. It is tough to make necessary decisions when your personal feelings come into play. You may also be criticized for cronyism if you make a decision that favors your friend over others, even if your decision is objectively sound. As many have said in this thread, there are certainly benefits to working with a friend but just be aware of the risks.
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