Even if OP is possibly getting money because of this? He is stacking the deck in favor of the candidate that generates money for him. Other candidates aren't getting these pointers.

@cdkMoose He's giving him an edge, for sure. But this is standard business practice and "who you know" is a fact of business life

Giving his friend the edge to help his friend get the job is one thing, Giving his friend an edge so that he himself can get a bonus from the company makes this shady in my view

@cdkMoose but you're presupposing intent. If the OP would refer this person and give the advice without the bonus, should they avoid the same behavior simply b/c the company is willing to give them the bonus? If the intent was just to make a buck, I'd agree with you, but we can't know the OP's mind. Let's face it a lot of moral choices come down to why you're doing something, and it's possible to have pure intent in spite of receiving compensation.

@Paul Sometimes conflict of interest comes down to how it looks, not necessarily intent. If friend is a good candidate but not the best and gets the job because of OPs assistance, it looks like OP has put his friend and his wallet before the company. How would the company view that morality?

@cdkMoose recruiters get paid much more for placements than the OP, and they use these tactics as standard practice.

@RichardU I'm well aware of what recruiters do and the company is aware and expects that behavior. Companies take a different view of their own employees gaming the system to line their own pockets. The company expects OP to do what's best for the company as the highest priority and if OP's friend is not the best candidate he isn't necessarily doing that. Not saying that OP is doing this for himself, but that is what it will look like.

@cdkMoose and if the OP were giving actual answers to interviews instead of vague "they like to see this", I'd agree. What he wants to do does not come close to a moral or ethical line. I would give the same advice whether I was going to benefit or not, because while there is a financial incentive, there is also a hit to reputation if his guy gets hired and does a poor job.

@cdkMoose I disagree. See my answer. As a hiring manager, I fully expect my folks to help their friends, and I plan my interview and assessment accordingly.

@Paul it also eliminates the potential clash of personalities as this person will be a known quantity to at least one of the members of the team.

You don't have to provide actual answers to game the system. If you know that talking about XYZ (even though it has nothing to do with the job) will make certain interviewers love the candidate, that's just as bad.

@cdkMoose only if the interviewers don't know about it, and only if the interview process is already looking for the wrong things.

@Paul, we don't know that the interviewers know what the friend was told. What if the interview process is looking for the wrong things and OP takes advantage of that in his advice?

@cdkMoose there's all kinds of things we' don't know. What we do know is that the OP is conscientious enough to ask for our advice, and the type of advice he/she's asking about giving the candidate doesn't strike me as over the line. Yes, it could become over the line if the OP wants to take advantage, but the expressed advice in the question does not strike me as falling into that category.

@Paul I'm not suggesting that this answer or yours is wrong, but I do feel that the bonus changes the picture, and this answer made no mention.

@cdkMoose the bonus does not influence my decision, just for the record. It's not any kind of substantial amount (a couple/few hundred dollars I think?). I guess it was not necessary to mention that we have a referral program in my question, as it may have misrepresented my intentions.

@Lil'Bits, maybe less so for you, but I've seen companies with bonuses in the several thousands. I think that matters with respect to the basic question of morality or conflict of interest. I think the referral/bonus is important for future readers of the question. You have different levels of benefit from your friend getting the job and that changes the picture

Being given specific advice that will make preparing easier and significantly increase the chance of getting hired doesn't seem particularly similar to one's physical traits (which arguably doesn't affect the chances nearly as much, at least for skilled workers). I don't object to giving some (selective) advice, I just feel like drawing that comparison hurts your point. A better comparison might be looking up interview questions online.

@Dukeling good point

Perhaps, but so is being more attractive, taller, or any other number of arbitrary things that get you in the door. - Would have thought being shorter would generally be more helpful on that front.

@cdkMoose "Even if OP is possibly getting money because of this?" Recruiters get money, too. It's the company who incentivizes this behaviour "He is stacking the deck in favor of the candidate that generates money for him." Again, company policy, if they don't like the consequences, don't promote this behaviour. "Other candidates aren't getting these pointers" This is the most interesting point. How can one be sure of that? Other candidates could have advice from friends inside the company or recruiters who have successfully presented candidates to this company before.