Should you work with friends or avoid the risk? Explore the pros, challenges, and key questions to consider before mixing friendship with your career.

This question usually lands in my inbox at a very specific moment. Not when someone’s browsing roles casually, but when it’s real. When there’s an offer on the table, and they’ve just realised the line manager is a close friend, or their mate has referred them into the team.

I wouldn’t call it risky by default. I’d call it something that needs thought.

Working with friends isn’t automatically a bad idea. Some of the strongest teams I’ve seen are built on genuine trust and mutual respect that existed long before the job title did.

But friendship doesn’t replace structure. And that’s where things can get complicated.

Why it can work really well

When you already know someone well, there’s less guesswork.

You understand how they communicate. You know what stresses them out. You probably have a feel for their strengths and blind spots. That can create:

    • Faster trust
    • More honest conversations
    • Better collaboration under pressure

In marketing and digital roles, especially, where pace and opinions can both run high, that foundation can be incredibly helpful.

There’s also something reassuring about walking into a new role and having at least one familiar face. It can take the edge off those early weeks.

Where it gets tricky

The tricky part isn’t the friendship. It’s the blurred lines.

If one of you becomes the other’s manager, the dynamic changes whether you intend it to or not. If one of you underperforms, giving feedback can suddenly feel personal. If one of you gets promoted, it can shift the balance.

There’s also the perception piece. Other team members might question fairness, even if everything is handled professionally.

I’ve seen friends avoid hard conversations because they don’t want to damage the relationship. That rarely helps. Silence builds. Assumptions creep in. Then the issue becomes bigger than it ever needed to be.

Questions to ask yourself first

Before saying yes, pause and ask yourself:

    • Can we give each other direct feedback without it becoming personal?
    • If this didn’t work out, would I regret risking the friendship?
    • Are we genuinely aligned on standards and work ethic?
    • Can we separate social time from professional expectations?

If those questions make you uncomfortable, that’s useful information.

Context matters

A short-term project together is very different from starting a business together.

Working in separate teams is very different from reporting directly to each other.

The more senior and visible the roles, the more important clear boundaries become.

Not all “working with friends” situations carry the same weight.

The honest bit

Sometimes this question is really about fear. What if I see a side of them I don’t like? What if they see a side of me that’s more driven, or more stressed, than they’re used to?

Work does reveal things. So does ambition.

But it can also deepen respect. I’ve seen friendships strengthen because both people saw how capable and professional the other actually was.

Before You Decide

The friendship isn’t what makes it complicated. It’s when no one says the hard things early.

If you both communicate well, respect each other professionally, and are prepared to have direct conversations when needed, it can absolutely work.

Just don’t assume the friendship will smooth over everything. Be clear. Be fair. Be willing to separate the role from the relationship.

Careers are long. Friendships matter. You’re allowed to weigh both properly before deciding.

Email me at askamelia@campfirerecruitment.co.nz, and your question could be featured in the next post.

Source: Amelia Cranfield, 19th March 2026