Do.it.for.the.checks

Account Executive

Valued Contributor

I done messed up

Here's the situation. I've been accepting recruiters invites, but haven't gotten very far in any interviews.

My VP called me today and asked if I had an offer on the table. I said no, but have been talking to companies (He previously mentioned his intent to reorganize the sales team and promote me).

He goes on to say that part of the reorganization is reduction in head count. He wants me in this role but if I'm going to quit he'd ask me adult to adult to take the role and stop him from firing someone.

I said there's nothing that has progressed to serious. He sighs and said I wish you would have just lied and told me you weren't looking.

So I obviously ask Do I need to worry about my job? He says yes and then we spend 45 minutes talking about how he can get me interviews for better roles and higher paying roles with his PE firms but our company probably will never be what keeps me happy. We just don't have the tech our product team to crack F500 companies.

Anywho he apologized if he was going to ruin my weekend but come Monday someone is getting fired and someone is getting promoted.

I'm guessing this is a first. Anyone ever experience something this wild?

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38 comments

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InQ5WeTrust

Arsonist

16

No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL

Unless you've got another offer, never talk about it.

Sorry you're in this position.

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Yup lesson learned. Just stupidity on my part

Wolfof7thStreet

Valued Contributor

5

AE

Uhm... Might want to look into this but I think it is VERY highly illegal to let an employee work knowing that you intend to fire them without having informed them. So if they can you EOD Monday you could get some $$$

I dont think you messed up by talking to other companies, your current employer should not discourage that. You are just looking out for yourself

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I messed up by admitting it. For what it's worth, I really like my VP and he flat out said he'd be a reference for any role I apply to. Even offered to reach out to some contacts on my behalf.

It's just a weird situation where I'm a high performer and recognized as such. But it's also obvious to everyone I'm a big fish in a small pond

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

2

VP of Sales

No, you don’t have that luxury. This isn’t like you guys had this chat 3 weeks ago and then fired you. If this becomes a legal battle, your VP has the defense that you only discussed it Friday afternoon, and before one more full business day has past, they resolved it by letting you go… if that’s what happens. Again, sorry you’re in this spot, but if that does happen, and legal party sides with the company. . They haven’t yet done anything wrong. And have regular conversations with employees about actually improving your position isn’t a fault on their part. It’s you who started cheating on them, not the other way around.. . Sorry bro. Never, ever talk about intent. From the moment you start entertaining calls, and looking, you keep your mouth shut. Your closest friend at the office is a potential leak.

IYNFYL

Politicker

5

Enterprise SaaS AE

Been there done that, I had to spin it around and say I’ve been concerned about potential layoffs and you wanted to have an option if it happened. BS enough that it could break down the wall as in the end they could then reaffirm your position and they wanting you to stay as an employee.

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Love it

Diablo

Politicker

0

Sr. AE

This is cool

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

4

sales

Probably shouldn’t tell your boss you’re quitting and also expect to hang around.

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I made the assumption everyone is taking this type of call all the time

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

3

☕️

Rule number one of looking: Don't tell anyone at your company, not even your interns. Especially not your interns...

Here's what I'd advise you do: Set a meeting first thing Monday, before he gets to the culling, and explain why you're looking. You want to stay, but you feel that you don't have the ability to grow here. You'd like to work with them to develop a plan for growth, which would make you excited to stop looking anywhere else.

See what happens after that.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

3

🦊

Yeah for future reference keep your mouth shut. Rough lesson to learn the hard way, but now ya know.

SADNES5

Politicker

2

down voters are marketing spies

WHERE IS THE FOLLOW UP POST

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

1

Account Executive

https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/tab/my_feed

I gotcha

SADNES5

Politicker

0

down voters are marketing spies

"Today, I didn't even have to use my AK, I gotta say it was a good day" - O'Shea Jackson

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I should add. I admitted it to him because I thought he was coming to negotiate for my new position

Sunbunny31

Politicker

0

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Ouch. Any chance any of those other companies/roles are interesting to you and could convert to an offer soon?

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I mean hopefully

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Also I closed a 3 year 240k deal this morning... sooo yeah

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Sales is rough man. My wife and I were debating whether we drink some bubbles and celebrate or start looking into unemployment limits

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Both. Sales is tough. The highs are very high, and the lows...just suck. The positive side is that this is an excellent market for AEs.

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

1

MDR

Been there done that, I had to spin it around and say I’ve been concerned about potential layoffs and you wanted to have an option if it happened. BS enough that it could break down the wall as in the end they could then reaffirm your position and they wanting you to stay as an employee.

Clashingsoulsspell

Politicker

1

ISR

I dont think you messed up by talking to other companies, your current employer should not discourage that. You are just looking out for yourself

CaneWolf

Politicker

0

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

You did mess up from a strategic perspective. It's also illegal for the company to fire you for looking for other jobs. You should document the conversation.

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I'm an at will employee. They can fire me for any reason

SaaSam

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Right to work state?

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

0

Account Executive

I think

UserNotFound

Politicker

0

Account Executive

At will doesn’t actually mean “any reason” but it does open up the applicability of many reasons. I think I may have done the same thing you did, too, I’d I had been put in the same position. I hate lying to people, so I rarely do it even if it would make my own life easier.

Diablo

Politicker

0

Sr. AE

What you have done is the past. I would rather ask f2f if I am his target, if yes, I'd ask him to being more humane and accept the notice period so I get enough time to search a new one and I need inflow to cover up expenses until then.

ragnarlothbrok

Politicker

0

Key account manager

Man this sucks, can’t offer any info that would be more valuable that what’s already been said. Good luck though, hope what ever happens you get sorted

alecabral

Arsonist

0

Director - Digital Sales Transformation

Sorry you’re in this position. For what is worth, I think your VP shouldn’t have told you what he did.

SADNES5

Politicker

0

down voters are marketing spies

Two great things out of this... Get an employment lawyer asap. His convo to you needs to be written down asap.

Prepare your wallet to get a stack of cash for a constructive dismissal case. Lawyer will take a %. But enjoy it.

Things going for you:

He asked you to lie to him.
He threatened you with firing.
He asked about you interviewing with other companies and asked you to take other roles (this is the $$$$)

Enjoy that money.

MR.StretchISR

Politicker

0

ISR

Unless you've got another offer, never talk about it.

Mr.Floaty

Politicker

0

BDR

Like want to stamp a red flag for a company. Shenigans like that 100% mean you'll get screwed on a comp plan at some point

Cyberjarre

Politicker

0

BDR

Agreed, some agencies hence try to sign up for exclusivity contracts

SaaSam

Politicker

-1

Account Executive

Talk to your VP and see if he is for sure gonna let you go Monday. If so, before it happens put in your "2 weeks" it'll give you an extra pay period to find something because firing employees can be complicated. If they quit its a breeze. They might let you stay for 2 weeks if you "quit" because even in a right to work state you're entitled to employer funded unemployment if they fire you after you put in 2 weeks.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

2

VP of Sales

ABSOLUTELY NOT. They have the right to let you go same day, citing solicitation. If anything you’d only be eligible for pay for the notice period, vs any additional payout, bonus, commission, obligation, etc that you’d be due. . This is where you are now. Let’s things run their course and hope for the best.

SADNES5

Politicker

2

down voters are marketing spies

DO NOT DO THIS! YOU HAVE A CONSTRUCTIVE DISMISSAL CASE IN THE BAG. DO NOT QUIT

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