BestCase

Account Executive

Valued Contributor

Is it ethical to reach out to former employees during the interview process?

Have been interviewing at start-ups and the thing that I run into constantly is "the position is available because the last x people didn't work out/have the grit/put in the effort/understand the product etc."

I always ask them what the organization has adjusted to position themselves to be successful with their next hire. Some of them are dumb-founded by this question and some of them offer real actions that have been undertaken (but also tend to point fingers at former employees.)

I have no interest in going to work for a broken company -- or one that lacks PMF or a reasonable demand.

I do believe there are sales people that suck at their job. And maybe they didn't pay enough, made the wrong hire, or had a poor strategy in place. Maybe management was wrong.

But I feel like I could get a better feel for this if I reached out to former AEs. They are easy to find via LinkedIn. The question is -- is this ethical? Should I ask the hiring company for permission to do so?

🤝 Networking

33

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braintank

Politicker

9

Enterprise Account Executive

You're in sales and you're concerned with ethics...?

SpaceCowboy

Personal Narrative

1

Territory Manager

"Ethical in sales" sounds like you are a terrible sales rep lol. Yes you can sell ethically if you are good and ethical numbers will go light years past unethical sales rep numbers

braintank

Politicker

0

Enterprise Account Executive

I was being silly 😜

braintank

Politicker

0

Enterprise Account Executive

But serious answer @BestCaseabsolutely do this

Pachacuti

Politicker

7

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Dude - hate to tell you this, but every company is broken to some degree. The grass is never greener.

Of course your future manager is going to throw the previous employees under the bus here instead of admit that he sucks as a manager.

That said, sure you can reach out to previous employees. Nothing against the law or unethical about that. They may have a non-disparage agreement in place, so be aware of that and ask if there is one.

I wouldn’t ask though. Just do it. Would you want them to call your previous boss you didn’t get along with or where you got fired?

CRAG112

Valued Contributor

5

Account Executive

If they easily point the finger and talk badly about the employee, that tells you they don't respect you or the position you hold. Likely it's both. They don't respect you because you don't hold a large title.

If things don't work out because of others not learning or producing results, this tells you it's a job where it is all up to you. And any expectation that is given is considered reasonable and achievable. Produce or die. PMF, support, etc. that's not the company's problem, it's given unto you.

Don't see why you need to reach out to anyone. They are telling you all about themselves with ease.

coletrain

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Had a CRO do that to an employee that bounced for the best opportunity of his life so far. Heavily implied he didn’t have the skill/will to execute even though he was literally the highest performer and an unofficial mentor.

Everyone in this thread knows the company he works for now.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

4

☕️

They don’t own the former employee. They may have an NDA or other agreement in place that prevents deep intel, but it’s always worth a shot to reach out.

oldcloser

Arsonist

3

💀

Although you'll find many here willing to assist on such a quandary, I've got to believe you've probed enough here to be able to forecast the answer to this one.

Dude. Pick up the phone.... Go ahead. I'll wait.

I'm waiting.

oldcloser

Arsonist

1

💀

Oh, and if you find it difficult to get them on the phone, just tell them it's their spouse's attorney calling from DC with some bad news.

coletrain

Politicker

1

Account Executive

LMAO, it will work on someone

oldcloser

Arsonist

0

💀

Probably most... just don't know what to say when they pick up after that.

1

Sales and Growth Consultant - Advisor - Mentor

I tell my kids this EVERYDAY. If you DON’T know ASK!!!!

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

2

Account Executive

I've done it and it's saved me from making poor decisions. I've also helped others when they have done it. You just need to make sure you're asking the right questions and know what your boundaries are. Past employees will be more negative. Try to get them to talk about what would have needed to change and what the issues are, and then take that information and ask questions in your interview process to see what they are doing about things.

Hell, you can even say point blank you've heard recurring issues from past employees through the grapevine...

You want to do your due diligence and make sure this is a good long term fit for you, same as they are doing. If a company faults you for that, run.

HVACexpert

Politicker

2

sales engineer

No permission needed

coletrain

Politicker

2

Account Executive

Fuck yea, do it. See why they left

BestCase

Valued Contributor

1

Account Executive

Would LOVE to see your list of red flags.

Diablo

Politicker

0

Sr. AE

Everything is fair in … and job hunting

CPTAmerica

Opinionated

0

President/CRO

Perfectly ethical and a smart idea. As long as you’re not telling them what their former employer is saying I say go for it!

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

0

Account Executive

Go for it

Sunbunny31

Politicker

0

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I always recommend reaching out to current and former AEs. If nothing else, you’ll get another perspective, providing you reach someone.

Maximas

Tycoon

0

Senior Sales Executive

Definitely go for it as it's never wrong,as knowing their history will help you to predict your future a bit, with that company!

FoodForSales

Politicker

0

AE

I find it best to talk to the people who AREN'T drinking or mixing the koolaid.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

0

Sales Rep

That’s how you get the truth about the tole

0

Senior Account Executive

Absolutely. They are going to reach out to your former employers, so you can reach out to their former employees.

SaaSguy

Tycoon

0

Account Executive

The onus is on them to not share anything if they are bound by NDA.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

0

🦊

You'll have a better shot of getting the truth by reaching out.

TheQueenofDiamonds

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Absolutely, this is a very legit practice and if you have the bandwidth will be super beneficial in your decision making process. I mean you could ask them about it it, don't word it as asking for permission, more in a just letting you know, I am going to reach out to your team, what would they tell me?

Denali

0

Business Development Manager

Feel free to reach out to former employees via LNKD on your own, but also ask the company to put you into touch with a CURRENT employee who would be on your sales team to get their feedback in real time

Bdawg

0

Enterprise BDR

Please do it. Currently regretting the fact that I didn’t. Currently looking at 50% sales churn in 6 months

PoreAtSales

0

Senior account executive

That is 100% ethical to reach out to former employees on LinkedIn and you definitely don't need to ask the hiring company for permission. It's an individual agreement between two private parties. Definitely not an ethics concern, it's just doing your due diligence.

Tireless

Contributor

0

CRO

‘Thou shalt not talk to former employees’ is not one of the commandments !😂

RevOpsRenegade

Good Citizen

0

Director of Rev Ops and Enablement

I would definitely do it - no harm, no foul. You want to have the most information to make the best decision for yourself and your wallet going forward. I would also check out Repvue if the company is large enough to be on there. Their data is pretty spot on for all things sales related.

0

Bus. Dev. Due.

Not without permission.

0

Sales and Growth Consultant - Advisor - Mentor

Ethics are important. Especially since the issue is around business ethics and how they hire and retain employees.

Yes, ex-sales people at any company are usually very happy to give you the run down. Especially around the truth of why it didn’t work out. Founders are generally clueless. I’ve consulted for several dozen and helped build 7 as the first sales hire.

I literally have a Red Flags exercise that I do with all new clients. If they hit 7 or more, I don’t work with them until they’ve fixed the three that are easiest to do first which are usually around process, TAM, PMF not being detailed etc…

I looooove startups and helping Product/Engineering Founders be comfortable selling or at least realizing they should NOT be selling and hurting themselves.

Happy to help in anyway I can!

0

Sales and Growth Consultant - Advisor - Mentor

Glassdoor is usually a solid resource as well. Especially if there are major issues.

lilhunter

Good Citizen

0

independent sales consultant

Do it.

SalesWhisperer

Member

0

Division Sales Manager

Why wouldn't you? If the same people are there, the environment will be the same. I think it's smart due diligence. When I was a DoS, I invited potential candidates to contact my salespeople to get a feel for the company.

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