How do I walk this tight rope between employer, client, and recruiter?
September 18, 2014 8:29 AM Subscribe
A third party recruiter has contacted me about a position. After speaking with them, the position sounds very exciting and is an exact fit for my experience and interests. However, based on our most recent conversation, it is clear the position is with a client of my current employer (a management consulting firm). How do I move forward from here?
I get the typical LinkedIn recruiter reach outs that others get frequently - for my title and experience in the strategy consulting industry, I'm usually in the 'sweet spot' for jumping ship to a corporate role. I usually ignore them, because the roles don't look that interesting. However, I've had two conversations with a search firm that is filling a specific role at a large company that is in absolutely perfect alignment with my experience, interests, location preferences, basically everything. It's exciting and something that I wasn't expecting.
The issue is (may be?) that based on our most recent conversation it is clear that the role is a new position at Client X, a major client of my current employer. I've never worked for Client X, but there are many in my small office of 40 people who have. The person who would be my boss at Client X is in fact the direct contact for a partner at my firm on all projects we do with them, and the role they are filling appears to be a role created as a direct result of a recommendation from my current firm. It does not appear the recruiter is aware of these details (though she is aware my company has worked for Client X in the past).
So, what do I do now? The role seems perfect, Client X has a great reputation, and I would be really interested in moving forward. However, my new hypothetical boss and my current actual boss are close professional contacts, and I'm unclear if I should try to get ahead of the (somewhat inevitable) conversation I'm sure will occur if I move on further in the process.
Some background: I've been with my current employer for over 7 years, I have a great relationship with all the partners in the firm, and we've had a few low pressure conversations over the years about me being interested in getting some experience outside the firm. While everyone is in agreement I'm a strong performer, I think most of the partners would say that I'm too young / inexperienced to move up much further in this company without outside experience first.
To me, the (not necessarily exclusive) options that may make sense are:
a. Talking to my 'mentor' at my current office - a different partner (not the one who has the relationship with Client X) - about what he thinks the right approach is. He would support the move (he has previously told me he thinks I've gotten the most out of my current role I can) and may be able to help me broach the situation with the other partners.
b. Tell the recruiter more explicitly about the close relationship the client and my firm have, especially my hypothetical boss and my current boss.
c. Talk to the partner in question - who likes me, but who I haven't worked directly with in years, and has a reputation to be a bit bitter when people make moves to leave the firm (even when it is a logical move for all parties). This is my least preferred option, obviously.
d. Do nothing, wait until the process gets further, and hope that in the meantime new hypothetical boss doesn't reach out to current actual boss about my application.
e. Something else I haven't thought of?
Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill here? I (obviously) have pretty limited experience in applying for new roles or working with recruiters, so I'm confident I'm getting ahead of myself but would still be interested in understanding what people would recommend!
I get the typical LinkedIn recruiter reach outs that others get frequently - for my title and experience in the strategy consulting industry, I'm usually in the 'sweet spot' for jumping ship to a corporate role. I usually ignore them, because the roles don't look that interesting. However, I've had two conversations with a search firm that is filling a specific role at a large company that is in absolutely perfect alignment with my experience, interests, location preferences, basically everything. It's exciting and something that I wasn't expecting.
The issue is (may be?) that based on our most recent conversation it is clear that the role is a new position at Client X, a major client of my current employer. I've never worked for Client X, but there are many in my small office of 40 people who have. The person who would be my boss at Client X is in fact the direct contact for a partner at my firm on all projects we do with them, and the role they are filling appears to be a role created as a direct result of a recommendation from my current firm. It does not appear the recruiter is aware of these details (though she is aware my company has worked for Client X in the past).
So, what do I do now? The role seems perfect, Client X has a great reputation, and I would be really interested in moving forward. However, my new hypothetical boss and my current actual boss are close professional contacts, and I'm unclear if I should try to get ahead of the (somewhat inevitable) conversation I'm sure will occur if I move on further in the process.
Some background: I've been with my current employer for over 7 years, I have a great relationship with all the partners in the firm, and we've had a few low pressure conversations over the years about me being interested in getting some experience outside the firm. While everyone is in agreement I'm a strong performer, I think most of the partners would say that I'm too young / inexperienced to move up much further in this company without outside experience first.
To me, the (not necessarily exclusive) options that may make sense are:
a. Talking to my 'mentor' at my current office - a different partner (not the one who has the relationship with Client X) - about what he thinks the right approach is. He would support the move (he has previously told me he thinks I've gotten the most out of my current role I can) and may be able to help me broach the situation with the other partners.
b. Tell the recruiter more explicitly about the close relationship the client and my firm have, especially my hypothetical boss and my current boss.
c. Talk to the partner in question - who likes me, but who I haven't worked directly with in years, and has a reputation to be a bit bitter when people make moves to leave the firm (even when it is a logical move for all parties). This is my least preferred option, obviously.
d. Do nothing, wait until the process gets further, and hope that in the meantime new hypothetical boss doesn't reach out to current actual boss about my application.
e. Something else I haven't thought of?
Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill here? I (obviously) have pretty limited experience in applying for new roles or working with recruiters, so I'm confident I'm getting ahead of myself but would still be interested in understanding what people would recommend!
Best answer: Go for it. I doubt your current firm will mind having an Alumna in a role they suggested be created. And if the hiring firm is uncomfortable, then its all moot isn't it?
Especially given A.. Be open about B., C. Give the partner a heads up after you've got an offer
It would actually be a little bit of a breach of protocol for anyone to do d.
posted by JPD at 8:42 AM on September 18, 2014
Especially given A.. Be open about B., C. Give the partner a heads up after you've got an offer
It would actually be a little bit of a breach of protocol for anyone to do d.
posted by JPD at 8:42 AM on September 18, 2014
The first thing you should find out is if your company has a non-solicit/non-compete that would make this a legally delicate situation. If you cannot find this out yourself without showing your hand, you can choose to go forward and let the client figure it out. (In my industry, it's typical that the Master Services Agreement between us and our customers basically says we won't steal your employees and you won't steal ours, with a 1-year statute of limitations if the employee leaves by choice, and all's fair if you terminate them.)
Tell the recruiter about it and let them talk to the client. Because of the relationship, they may choose not to go forward with you just to not stir the pot, but they may not give a shit. This seems to vary both by personality and by industry, where this may simply not be a big deal.
It sounds like you know you have to leave and so do your employers, so really the only concern here is if the client doesn't want to cross your employer. If it doesn't bother them, it shouldn't bother you.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:43 AM on September 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
Tell the recruiter about it and let them talk to the client. Because of the relationship, they may choose not to go forward with you just to not stir the pot, but they may not give a shit. This seems to vary both by personality and by industry, where this may simply not be a big deal.
It sounds like you know you have to leave and so do your employers, so really the only concern here is if the client doesn't want to cross your employer. If it doesn't bother them, it shouldn't bother you.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:43 AM on September 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
A big part of the sale to going to work for a MC firm is that you can go work for a client eventually. I'd be surprised if that was an issue.
posted by JPD at 8:45 AM on September 18, 2014
posted by JPD at 8:45 AM on September 18, 2014
This was the explanation I got on non-competes.
If you were to induce this client away from your current employer, you're in trouble. If by taking this position you are taking business away from your employer, that might be a problem and you should consult an attorney in the offer stage. If you solicit your coworkers to join you at the client, or if the person connecting you to the client has a non solicitation clause with your current employer, that's a problem.
Everything else is not a problem. You would be using networking to find a new job. This is how people find new jobs. It's above board. All you have to do is notify your prospective employer in the offer stage and probably provide a copy of your non compete / non solicitation / non disclosure agreements before accepting employment.
posted by crazycanuck at 12:07 PM on September 18, 2014
If you were to induce this client away from your current employer, you're in trouble. If by taking this position you are taking business away from your employer, that might be a problem and you should consult an attorney in the offer stage. If you solicit your coworkers to join you at the client, or if the person connecting you to the client has a non solicitation clause with your current employer, that's a problem.
Everything else is not a problem. You would be using networking to find a new job. This is how people find new jobs. It's above board. All you have to do is notify your prospective employer in the offer stage and probably provide a copy of your non compete / non solicitation / non disclosure agreements before accepting employment.
posted by crazycanuck at 12:07 PM on September 18, 2014
you move forward to the perfect job at your new employer. the difference between being a management consultant and a business player is the same difference as between a sportscaster analyst and a big league sports player. are you ready to step out of the booth and go down on the field and handle the ball, or not?
posted by bruce at 12:52 PM on September 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by bruce at 12:52 PM on September 18, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Hi all - thanks for the reassurances (and the confirmation that I'm making a bigger deal of this than it is at this stage!). I'll continue to move forward with the recruiter and deal with my current employer at the offer stage, if it even gets there. Appreciate the insight!
I am not aware of any legal impediment, and there are examples of people leaving to work at clients in the past, so I don't think that should be an issue. If the process gets further along I'll make sure to find out!
posted by CharlieSue at 6:16 AM on September 19, 2014
I am not aware of any legal impediment, and there are examples of people leaving to work at clients in the past, so I don't think that should be an issue. If the process gets further along I'll make sure to find out!
posted by CharlieSue at 6:16 AM on September 19, 2014
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You should check that you have no agreement with your current employer to either not work for clients or not work for competitors (if the client can be so perceived).
the position sounds very exciting and is an exact fit for my experience and interests
I think most of the partners would say that I'm too young / inexperienced to move up much further in this company without outside experience first.
he has previously told me he thinks I've gotten the most out of my current role I can
even when it is a logical move for all parties
It sounds like you've answered your own questions. Pursue the opportunity. The recruiter knows where you work and Client X definitely knows where you work. You'll work out the details as you go; nothing is set in stone until you actually get a job offer. The worst that can happen is you find out the opportunity isn't as great as you thought.
Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill here?
Yes.
posted by saeculorum at 8:36 AM on September 18, 2014 [3 favorites]