I share stories with my search colleagues like I do here at FOT. I was talking to Kris Dunn on Monday and we shared a laugh – because in this business you never run out of things to talk about. It's priceless.
Last week, I was talking to a colleague of mine who is an outstanding search consultant and has been doing search for many years. I started to tell him about what happened to me on a search that, while somewhat disappointing, was actually funny at the same time.
"Ok, wait-wait-wait" my buddy told me. You will not believe this one…
He was right.
He had a candidate lined up for a new gig – and had negotiated the start date, salary, bonus and all of the other details that go with the final offer. Only the resignation left on the to-do list. He shared his "confidential news" with a few trusted confidants and with his family – that was it. The morning of his resignation, he left home with that sour stomach we all get when faced with one of life's top 10 most traumatic events. His plan – resign after work when the building has cleared out. Good plan.
He walked in the building, and within 5 minutes his boss called him into the conference room. OK – no biggie, probably a quick discussion about a project he was working on. Stay calm, cool and get thru it; simple enough – right.
WRONG! The dialog went something like this:
BOSS: Are you planning to resign today?
CANDIDATE: Who me (as he trys to figure out who blew the whistle)? NO - Who told you that?
BOSS: You did.
CANDIDATE: What (his face started to heat up) NO I did not!
BOSS: Yes, you did. You called my cell phone over the weekend while you were eating out Saturday and talking to your wife about resigning. It was a 10 minute call - I heard everything.
CANDIDATE: No way!
BOSS: Way. I even heard you when you placed your order.
CANDIDATE: You did not!
BOSS: Yes, I did. You dined at 5 Guys on Saturday about 1:15pm – ordered 2 burgers (one with cheese and one without), 2 Diet Cokes, and you shared an order of fries. I heard the entire conversation (in detail) about how you were planning to resign today.
CANDIDATE: (face glowing red by now) Wow – I guess I did not lock the keyboard on my phone and accidentally dialed your number. Well, ummm I was going to tell you later today.
BOSS: I know – after work was what you said.
GAME OVER. SMOKED!
Next time – check the keyboard lock on your cell when you decide to have a conversation about anything important. OK - just lock it at all times. Period.
Tim:
This one conjures up all kinds of anecdotal accounts about which I could write volumes. However, this is one of those gotcha-stories that falls in to the sh*t-happens category. Resigning is stressful, especially if you care for the job and care about the people you’ll be leaving behind. It’s human nature to discuss such things in advance. If not, the psychological pistons will build up so much pressure that they might blow a gasket. This one is funny but not catastrophic – at least I hope it didn’t sour your deal.
I personally advise candidates on a host of steps after the offer has been extended, accepted, and a starting date has been agreed upon. One of those advisements is, don’t discuss your changes with anyone who is affiliated with your current employer in any way. Tell all of them after, not before you drop the bomb. I also tell them that the night before they resign to plan on NOT getting much sleep; we actually discuss a multitude of physiological manifestations which might afflict the candidate. I tell them what I anticipate the act of resignation is going to look like, what it’s going to feel like, and what it’s going to sound like. When it actually goes down (my guy walking in to his boss’s office with envelope in hand) and it loosely matches what I’ve prep’d them for, that little voice in their head is saying, “Todd said you would say that. And that, too.” Call it risk-mitigation.
Awkward? Definitely! But I don’t get why the guy lied about it.
You’re going to resign in 8 hours anyways. Why not just be honest when asked. The boss sounds like a bit of a jerk anyways.
Funny? Yes. But I’m not sure this is that big of a deal.
Oh man, I pocket dial people all of the time. Stupid blackberry.
Folks, lock up the BB at all times. I used to pocket dial all the time. Now, my number is listed on the no call list from telemarketers.
Pocket dialing strikes again! Lock down your cell at all times is the answer! Thanks to all that posted.