HELP - Boss Wants to Hire Her Friend...

Your only option is to display complete professionalism. That means you ask only professional and legal questions, you figure out some strategies to counter any inappropriate comments this candidate makes (including deflecting things that are too personal or relate to her relationship with the boss), and you completely leave your feelings out of it. If you need help with questions, you can google a number of HR related sites. Things about how she would increase the productivity or profitability, for example, would be very germane. Also ask about challenges she may have had on previous jobs, how she handled them, something she failed at and what she learned from it, etc. You can also ask for references from the company across the hall and the current company.

The boss is not just giving her the job, the boss is insisting on interviewing a number of candidates and having you involved. That's the good news. Maybe the boss doesn't feel she can say no to this candidate directly, but is putting her through the interview process. I also wonder why the woman is taking a pay cut to work with you - perhaps her antics have not helped her in her current job and she's on the outs there?

Your problem with her is that she is not professional on the job. Your only choice is to be completely professional in the face of this behavior, and, if necessary, to make known your concerns to your boss. It's a balancing act to do that without getting personal and being a part of the drama you don't want brought into your company. I don't think you can tell your boss this ahead of time. You have to up your game, have top-notch interview questions delivered with a dispassionate tone, and go from there.

Are you interviewing more than her? If so, that's better. Have a set of questions you are going to asked all the candidates. That way when you do go back to the boss with who you feel is the right fit, you can also have the reasons why you feel this way. That will put it on the boss to decide if she wants her friend or the best employee possible. Now, maybe the people you interview, the friends stands out the best, you have to keep an open mind when interviewing even if you know her personal habits. If she is hired, keep it professional.
Hang in there, things will get better.

I agree with Diane. I also suggest that you keep an eye out for a really well qualified candidate. Many jobs are suggested to friends, but that doesn't mean the friend gets hired.

Sounds like your mind is already made up. People can change and often do change over time and experience. If it is your job to handle interviewing candidates for positions then interview this candidate with an open mind. Choose your questions wisely and be profoundly professional.

What have you learned in how to handle an office gossip and trouble maker in the years she was at the office and the years she was gone. It may be time to put those skills to work. If she is hired or not shouldn't be a big deal because as a professional you learn how to handle all kinds of people and situations. Now just very well be your time to shine or it may be your time to move on to bigger and better but what ever you decide. The choice is yours to do your best for your ME, Inc.

Ask her the exact same questions you do everyone else you interview, and based on her answers and resume compare her to the other applicants without any prior judgments about her, and then pick the best candidate for the job, whether it is her or another.

Excellent advice from Diane B.