Leaving my Firm to join a direct rival

Hi,

I have been offered a job with a direct rival to my current employer.My contract with my current employer states that I must serve 3 months notice.

I am assuming that I wont get Garden Leave on the basis that we are very busy.

Do I need to tell my current employer who my new employer are? As I understand it I can get a standard reference from my HR department and so I don't need to get one from my direct report.

I intend to take a few weeks off between roles and so, on that basis, I think I can say to my employer that I am leaving as I want to take some time out and I haven't signed up for a new job anywhere.

Appreciate that this is slightly dishonest but have I an obligation to tell them who I am joining?

I am not keen on telling them as I know it will not go down very well.


Thanks.

Accountancy world is a small world. Unlikely you will get gardening-leave unless you are senior enough to take clients with you. I would be upfront honest with whomever asks re the new firm; if you like though - maybe throw in some words like, 'thought I'd pick up 6-months experience in another firm before going Around The World for 6 months'.

That way, they won't feel they're losing you - more getting one over on the new firm who will have to rehire to replace you. (Don't talk down your old or new employer anywhere though)

Thanks Setanta - Still not clear though in relation to my question.

Btw what is considered "senior enough"?

In any case I don't think Garden leave is an option due to work commitments (as much as I would be delighted to go on Garden Leave)

My key question is really - do I have an obligation to tell them where I am going to next? Will they find out anyway? Given that I am taking a few weeks out between jobs cant I just say I am taking time out, at least initially, to consider my options?

At the end of the day If I need to tell them I will. I don't care if they are narky with me about it which I suspect they will be. However, I would rather avoid all that if I can. I'm acutely aware that I am leaving for a direct rival, and in particular at a time when we are growing rapidly and competition is rife.

Hi Jim

You have no obligation to tell your employer where you are going.

If you decide not to tell them, then don't tell them. But don't lie to them.

However, I always advise people to stay on the best of terms with their current employer. Don't forget that they will be your next reference when you are leaving your new employer. They might be narky with you for leaving, but if they think you are dishonest, it could damage your career. If they are asked for a reference after a few years, it will be coloured by the way you behave now.

Employers like feedback. Give them 3 months' notice. If they ask you why you are leaving, tell them exactly why. " I have been offered more money by Firm X." "I was disappointed that you did not promote me." "I will be getting a different type of experience".



Be prepared for a counter-offer. And turn it down.


Brendan

And check your currecnt contract to see if it says anything about joining a rival firm.

Hi Brendan and Paddy,

Thanks for the replies.

Nothin in contract re joining rival so ok on that front.

Not expecting a counter offer simply because of the rigidity of their hr policies and they wont want to set a precedent etc. having said that i am awesome so they might make an exception...only messing! If they did make a counter and it was acceptable id happily stay.

Brendan to your point i think i am entitled to say to them that at this stage i havent signed up anywhere else and am initially just taking time out. Both are true.

I will then tell them closer to the end of my 3 month notice period where i am going so as to be transparent etc.

Does this sound reasonable?

jim said:

I will then tell them closer to the end of my 3 month notice period where i am going so as to be transparent etc.

Does this sound reasonable?

Click to expand...

This should not be a technical, legal issue.

You have accepted an offer with a rival firm. You should not mislead them. It will come back to haunt you.

Brendan

Its isnt a technical or legal matter at all.

Im just trying to figure out from strategic perspective, in terms of making my life easier, when i need to/should tell them im goingg to a direct rival.

Im all for transparency and honesty but unless i need to tell them who i am going to then id orefer not to until such time as i have tonit am comfortable in telling them. To be honest by just having this back and forth i am coming to the realisation of what i will do. Its getting the brain cogs moving.

Should I, Shouldn't I? You're leaving one company to join another which is in direct opposition to your current employer. It's no big deal and this is not the first time in the history of Irish employment that it has happened and it won't be the last. I'm getting a feeling of grandstanding here. The OP is like a schoolgirl who achieved maximum points in her Leaving Cert and although she really wanted and had intended doing a 500 point university course now feels that if she does not accept Medicine she is wasting 100 points although she had really intended doing Medicine first day.

You have work colleagues too. Perhaps they like to share their business acumen with you? You haven't mentioned them (and you have no obligation to either!), but your apparent outside promotion has taken over and you want to introduce the "tension."

You do not have to apologise for your new offer. You have attained the reward yourself, appreciate it and be honest.

You don't have to tell them who you are joining. Tell them when you want but unless there is bad blood between the two firms (and if it's accountancy, I doubt it), it isn't that big a deal.

Your employer would have no problem in hiring someone from a rival firm so why should you feel bad about leaving for one too?

Thanks sbarrett.

Leper - less of the hysterics man.

jim said:

Thanks sbarrett.

Leper - less of the hysterics man.

Click to expand...

One of my neighbours complained that there was not enough Garda presence in our road. He did local radio interviews on foot of a letter to the newspaper. Then one Sunday evening after some Premiership match there was a Garda presence in our road and the neighbour failed a breathalyser test. He wanted more Garda presence and got it. At least he didn't complain as he brought the problem on himself.

So, Jim you asked questions and according to yourself you are a little deceitful, but you are not happy with my answer (and I have no problem with this), but if you ask questions you've got to consider the answers too. Otherwise, don't ask the questions.

Please note this is not meant to be hurtful in any way. Best of Luck in the new job.

Thanks Leper - appreciate the classy contribution again. Goodman.

[QUOTE="Leper, post: 1447897,

Please note this is not meant to be hurtful in any way. Best of Luck in the new job.[/QUOTE]

Wonderful example of what psychologists term 'Paradoxical Communication Techniques' - i.e. comparing a male with an adolescent school girl and then claiming not to have meant any offence.

epicaricacy said:

[QUOTE="Leper, post: 1447897,

Please note this is not meant to be hurtful in any way. Best of Luck in the new job.

Click to expand...

Wonderful example of what psychologists term 'Paradoxical Communication Techniques' - i.e. comparing a male with an adolescent school girl and then claiming not to have meant any offence.[/QUOTE]

Over analysis by a long shot. I participate on this forum and I don't expect everybody to stand by everything I say. We all have different opinions that we trust and long may it be so. I reckon though that if there were an AAM Big Brother show Jim and I could be good housemates (from the viewers point of view, at least). Epicaricacy could be on the Talk-about-Big-Brother show after each episode. As for psychologists, most of them themselves need to see a psychiatrist in the first place. Don't tell me any self respecting contributor here would trust a psychologist!