Say there is a consultancy you would really like to move to, and you have an existing client who you have a great relationship with , who knows you are up for a move and has offered to 'do anything to help' - would it be ethical/worthwhile referring the potential employer to the client??

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Nick that would be a great idea if you like to gamble. You run the risk of losing the client to a competitor, not getting a job offer from same (not least because if you are behaving so unethically at your current firm they will be wondering if you would do it to them in due course too), and probably getting fired from your current firm for doing it, possibly even getting hit with a law suit thereafter for good measure. And if the firm you are interested is only interested in you because you bring x client with you, what are you really worth if that client goes quiet, they don't secure the business etc etc? The only - and I do mean only - exception to this would be moving at Partner/Director level where the company could reasonably expect a following or book of business to come with you - but the key word here is following, i.e. where the client follows the consultant not where the consultant has solicited the client away from the firm they are leaving.Aren't there clauses, in black and white, in your contract about this???!!!

Mars - thanks for your comments, but I obviously didn't explain myself clearly enough. There is no suggestion of trying to get the client to move companies - this would cause all the problems you have laid out - this question is about personal endorsement, and that only. So, is it worth putting a (former) client and a potential employer together to gain some endorsement of a candidate/real input, or does this represent a conflict of interest/bad idea? Sorry if there was any misunderstanding; just looking for a way to get beyond skill at CV writing/interviewing and use some (strong) client endorsement - that was freely offered.

Ok so that's cleared up. My advice would be to follow the process with the company you want to join at invite them to contact the client should they wish to do so; often enough the very fact you can make this offer in the first place instills confidence in the candidate let alone what your client might say in your favour.

Spot on, Mars, makes perfect sense! Thanks for your advice, and have a great Christmas.