A few weeks ago I received an email from a headhunter for a position that I feel I would be really good fit. I dont hate my current job, but I wouldn't be opposed to going somewhere where I feel more fulfilled in my role than in my current spot. It turns out the opening is for a company that is a big vendor for my employer. The company is worried my employer will be mad that they "poached" me away and want to get my manager to put it in writing that they are ok with me interviewing with them. I'm not sure I want to broadcast to my boss that I may have eyes elsewhere as he is doing everything in his power to keep me happy in my role. Should I be concerned about having to get permission even before having a chance to meet and learn about the opening and if I dont like their offer that now my management knows I am trying to jump ship?

I'm no expert, but that seems very strange. I would do everything you can to avoid telling your boss anything. Hopefully he doesn't hear anything through the grapevine either.

I'm so far removed from anyone who has direct relationship with that vendor that no one in my group would care or know if I interviewed with them. It strikes me as an overreaction on their part. I just dont want to make it seem that I'm trying to actively leave. Its more of a I'm always open to better options if they present themselves as I don't fully trust current large company employer to always look out for my best interests.

Nope. Wouldn't do that.

That's a complete CYA move by them and could really backfire for you especially if they decide to pass on you.

This is a prime example of a company looking out for themselves. The best move for you is to simply tell them no that isn't gonna work. If they want you they'll compromise.

This is good advice from Ag_07. The company is asking you to take all the risk. If they do this before you are hired, how do they treat their employees?

Decline the interview and see if they change their approach.

Another option is to tell them you will interview and if you both want to proceed they can ask your boss for permission to hire you.

That's how I have seen the process work when people are poached in government.

Surveillance Van said:

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Another option is to tell them you will interview and if you both want to proceed they can ask your boss for permission to hire you.

That's how I have seen the process work when people are poached in government.

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If the boss says no then he's in a bad situation.

Ask for a "casual discussion" about their opportunities over a couple of drinks so you can find out more about their company. Not technically an interview...

Possibly, but not necessarily. Sometimes bosses see that as validation they have someone desirable. I'd theyre being sought out, the boss might offer more money to keep said employee.

If his boss is "doing everything possible to keep (him) happy" right now, the idea of another company wanting his employee might have that effect.

All just depends on how he thinks the boss will respond.

But what do I know, my career life is a mess.

Surveillance Van said:

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the boss might offer more money to keep said employee.

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In O&G, I doubt it right now. I'm not even sure if I'll get more money for being "promoted" later this month.

cajunaggie08 said:

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It turns out the opening is for a company that is a big vendor for my employer.

The company is worried my employer will be mad that they "poached" me away and want to get my manager to put it in writing that they are ok with me interviewing with them. I'm not sure I want to broadcast to my boss that I may have eyes elsewhere as he is doing everything in his power to keep me happy in my role.

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Do not, I repeat, DO NOT tell your current manager you are interviewing.

As a recruiter it is my job to source passive candidates (YOU) and the company paying my fee has engaged me to do that, so it is nonsense about being worried about your employer being mad.

Did the recruiter tell you this, or have you had conversations directly with the company?

In my line of work my company has a policy that we won't hire directly from our resellers.

So... it is common for people going from a reseller/channel partner to quit their employer, lay out for a month and then go to work for the manufacturer.

The opposite policy doesn't exist so we frequently see people leave our company and go to work immediately for a reseller/channel partner.

I would ask your HR department if they have any such policy. And I would ask the potential hiring firm's HR what their policy is about hiring from suppliers/vendors/sales channel companies.

DO NOT discuss this with your manager.

I would not talk to HR as there is no confidentiality there. Hr works for your current company and is paid to look after their best interests not yours.

Was presented with exact scenario today. One of my sales guys came to me and said somebody at one of his customers is interested in coming to work for us. Trouble is it's our largest customer. We actually have one of our employees that offices at their location and I really am not interested in upsetting our largest customer.
Does anyone else typically have a rule they won't hire from their customer base?

I worked for a farmers coop early on in my career, and our supplier would ask for permission from the coop manager to interview a current employee. Later after the coop sold our division to a competitor, I went to work for the supplier and that policy of asking for permission had ended. I can understand the reasoning of not making a customer mad, but if they have a good employee actively searching, I'd rather have them on my team and ruffle some feathers short-term instead of going to a competitor and lose business long-term.

I know at McLane Company their large customers would frequently poach buyers from McLane to come work for them. RJ Reynolds and Mars did it a lot. But they (the customers) would always approach the manager first and say they were interested in x employee. They would never have the employee approach the manager and tell them.

That's an absurd request by the hiring company

Here's an update:

I informed the recruiter that I was not willing to ask my manager permission to interview as I did not want to risk ruining my relationship with my current employer just for a chance of an interview. The company said they did not want to risk gaining the reputation as hiring from their customers so they did not wish to interview with me. Oh well. If they are that paranoid about losing business with a customer because they hired away one of the hundreds of engineers we have on the payroll in our division, then it may not have been a great place to work anyways. No skin off my back. Just found the whole experience to be very weird.

Is your company the kind that would take it personal?

cajunaggie08 said:

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Here's an update:

I informed the recruiter that I was not willing to ask my manager permission to interview as I did not want to risk ruining my relationship with my current employer just for a chance of an interview. The company said they did not want to risk gaining the reputation as hiring from their customers so they did not wish to interview with me. Oh well. If they are that paranoid about losing business with a customer because they hired away one of the hundreds of engineers we have on the payroll in our division, then it may not have been a great place to work anyways. No skin off my back. Just found the whole experience to be very weird.

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Smart move and you are probably better off.

agdaddy04 said:

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Is your company the kind that would take it personal?

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I highly doubt it. We're too large for anything to be personal these days. I'm so far removed from purchasing or specing out what parts we use that no one who is responsible for maintaining the relationship between the 2 companies would notice unless the vendor made it a habit of hiring away numerous people from my company.

That company was just chicken-**** then. Companies hire people away from other companies all the time. Usually employees they have some kind of relationship with and they know that employee would be a good fit with them. If they're too scared to aproach your company, they're not worth it.

Ag_07 said:

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Nope. Wouldn't do that.

That's a complete CYA move by them and could really backfire for you especially if they decide to pass on you.

This is a prime example of a company looking out for themselves. The best move for you is to simply tell them no that isn't gonna work. If they want you they'll compromise.

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Good advice right there.