THE ETHICIST TAP : [ A ]

EVEN WHAT you know about your friend, could you write her a truthful recommendation that might help her get a job? If not, you shouldn't write a misleading one that would.

Bringing her into your department could pose further problems. As you recognize, it's generally unwise to have a close friend when you would have to supervise and evaluate.

Nor would it be fair to make your employer and colleagues bear the cost of that favoritism. If she underperforms, some of the burden will probably fall on them as well as on you.

Whatever you think you owe your friend, you do owe your colleagues your professional judgment. The arrangement you are contemplating is likely to take a toll on your in-house reputation, and on the very friendship you are helping to honor.

Your sense of obligation is understandable. She gave you your start in the business. But surely she didn't do so by concealing serious doubts about your abilities. 

You can still be helpful in other ways. You might review her resume, pass along public job leads or introduce her to people, without hiding the fact that she's a friend and without offering an endorsement of her work.

As for your own place of employment : You do not need to invent a lack of openings. You can truthfully say that you're not in a position to get her a job there for which she is suited.

What would be unkind is landing her a job in which she is likely to struggle, while having you and your colleagues to deal with the consequences.