Recommending a current colleague before start in a new role?

[airsafari87]

Up until 4 weeks or so ago the company that I currently work for had 7 engineers on the books.

In those 4 weeks they have lost 4 engineers, me being one of them, and a further 2 are very actively looking for new roles, with one of them receiving an offer yesterday.

For the 5 years I have been here I have mentored one of the apprentices and he is in his final year of his degree at the moment and is a very capable lad. He is also keen to get out of this business asap.

I am due to start my new role at a new company in the middle of next month. I believe they are actively recruiting for other roles to, but at what level etc … I do not know.

I have been in regular contact with my new place of work over the past couple of weeks and have started to develop a decent rapport with them.

What would be the etiquette regarding me recommending this guy from work to them before I have actually started in my new role myself?
An acceptable thing to do or a complete no no?

[MYOB]

Keep your pecker clean until you’re in your new role. You’re still in the employment of your current employer and should be working for them. Not against them.

[Aunty Pasty]

I would wait until you've had some time at your new place to see what it's like before trying to poach other people to go there. It may turn out that you hate it there even more.

[R56Cooper]

Check your contract of employment with your existing employer.

You may find restrictions about approaching certain individuals and persuading them to leave.

Possible scenario is that they get wind of this and sack you for gross misconduct. They could also threaten to sue your new employer for inducing a breach of contract unless they withdraw your offer. Worst scenario is you're left with no job and no offer of a job.

I would hold off a while personally and get your feet under the table at the new place.