Can I serve as a reference for someone applying to fill my position? I work as an administrator at a university and will soon be resigning from my position (the job has already been posted). A student who I formerly supervised is applying for my position and has asked if I would serve as a reference. Is there a conflict of interest in doing so? I am not part of the hiring committee and, while I don't think this student has enough experience to be called in for an interview, I would gladly speak to my experience as her former employer if she was offered the job.
There's no conflict in my mind, and given how hard hiring can be, I would value your input if I were on the hiring committee.