My friend runs his own modest firm as its CEO. Although we aren’t particularly close, we do know one another well enough to have gone to each other’s homes for dinner and drinks on a few occasions.

His company is promoting a job that I’m interested in. I have the necessary abilities for this position, but I don’t have much experience, so there will probably be better applicants than me—at least on paper. I have no clue how much (if any) involvement my friend might have in the hiring process as it reports to one of his subordinates.

I want to apply for this position, but I don’t want to upset my buddy or have our relationship unreasonably affect the hiring process. I haven’t yet discussed it with my friend because doing so will undoubtedly lead to the latter situation.

They have a modest office where they work. If I could get to the interview stage without being seen, there’s a good possibility my friend would be there to greet me. But he also frequently leaves the office, as I am aware.

What should I do next? I’m glad to think that in this case, “not advancing” would be the wisest course of action, especially considering the possibility that I won’t get the job.

I would like to apply for this job but I don’t want to cause problems for my friend, nor to have our friendship unduly influence the recruiting process. I have not yet spoken to my friend about it because doing so would certainly result in the latter outcome.

They work in quite a small office. There is a strong chance that, were I to manage to get to the interview stage anonymously, my friend would see me when I arrived. But I also know he’s out of the office a lot.

How should I proceed? I am happy to consider that “not proceeding” may be the best course of action here, especially given that I may well not get the job.