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SPT profile picture

SPT

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

Valued Contributor
Personal Narrative
Member
+4

My manager found out I'm interviewing

My 60 person startup laid-off 15 people two weeks ago. I'm friends with my manager and he told me that I'm going to be laid-off in 3 months if I don't bring in a huge deal. All of us sales people there are struggling and there's a poor product-market fit. Today my manager confronted me. He told me that it got back to him that I'm interviewing and gossiping about our layoffs. The only people who knew are a former co-worker who went to the company I'm interviewing at and the HR recruiter person at that company. What do I do? My manager said he understands, but wanted me to come to him first to tell him I'm looking. But why wouldn't I be? Any advice? #awkward

🧠 Advice
🗣 Interviewing
27

36 comments

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CadenceCombat
Tycoon
29
Account Executive
I liken this situation to someone pointing a gun at you.

If you threaten to fire me unless I do XYZ, you’ve drawn your gun on me. Anything I do from this point on is self defense. Maybe you were bluffing and its a prop gun. Doesn’t matter. Once you cross that line, all bets are off.

Your manager and/or friend can go fuck himself and should understand that you’re doing what any rational person would do.

I would lie as needed to keep up appearances if necessary and get the fuck out asap.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
13
🦊
This is all I have to add. Nice job Cadence.
Fenderbaum
Politicker
5
Retired Choirboy🪕
Hey, that's my pool guy. 🌊
Fenderbaum
Politicker
9
Retired Choirboy🪕
^^This^^ Spot on!
SPT
Valued Contributor
6
Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances
Thank you. You're 💯 right.
RandyLahey
Politicker
4
Account Manager
Great work Cadence. This is exactly right.
jefe
Arsonist
4
🍁
Phenomenal analogy.
Diablo
Politicker
3
Sr. AE
I love those words 💜
ASalesCoach
1
National Director of Sales
great example CadenceCombat.
I would add that you have already been warned so you are really acting accordingly. I do believe that you can do both. You can kick ass at work while also looking into the horizon.
If you like your current company and want to make it work, tell your boss that, but remind him/her that they told you have 3 months tops or you too are gone. in other words, they told you to start looking.
ThatsWhatSheSaid
Valued Contributor
0
Intergalactic Sales Director
This Is The Way
Sunbunny31
Politicker
13
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
“Oh, really? Where did you hear that?”

Followed by, “with all that’s going on and what you warned me about with regard to expectations, would you really be surprised?”
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
9
☕️
Hmmm hang over the barrel or grab onto the first safety net I see?

Sorry, Charlie, we ain’t friends like that.
Justatitle
Big Shot
7
Account Executive
Mr. Manager, we aren't boys and the company has already axed people, this isn't personal. Time to leave.
sketchysales
Politicker
6
Sales Manager
Are they in the wr or something👀
HVACexpert
Politicker
6
sales engineer
You’re under no obligation to share you’re leaving. Your “friend” should be more supportive
Maximas
Tycoon
4
Senior Sales Executive
I believe you wouldn't be blamed whatsoever,Sits likes these happen all the time,don't feel ashamed and don't even provide any explanations,if your manager didn't put that fire at you and threatened with your termination you wouldn't have sought that opportunity in the first place...wish you much of luck!
SPT
Valued Contributor
1
Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances
Exactly. I literally am only job hunting because I've been told I'm "next" in the damn layoffs. Thank you 🙏
Maximas
Tycoon
0
Senior Sales Executive
Best of luck bud at your next step.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
4
Sales Rep
If you get the role you are interviewing for would you take it? Or are you just interviewing to see what is out there

I would just play nice with the manager, don’t show your hands that you are going to accept but more nervous about the layoffs.
oldcloser
Arsonist
4
💀
Sounds like there’s one person looking out for you in this situation- you. And your franager is a gossipy little weak fuq. He tried to pull the relationship lever because that’s all he’s got. It blew up in his face. You should do what you have to. He should prospect you a deal.
Pachacuti
Politicker
3
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
You did the right thing not telling him. He basically gave you a PIP. He’s probably looking too.

He confronts you, you say that of course your looking and that everyone should always e exploring their options. And in light of recent events, it only makes sense to have some feelers out there.
detectivegibbles
Politicker
3
Sales Director
I'd be willing to bet your manager is going to be laid off as well and it's not likely his call.

Stay civil with the manager. You gotta look out for yourself. If they want to help in that, great. If not, it's okay to turn the page.

Keep interviewing and good luck.

Shitty no matter which way you wipe it (#pooppun).
ZVRK
Politicker
2
Enterprise Account Executive
That`s one delusional manager :) First, he tells you he`ll fire you in three months and then is surprised by you looking? Jeez, just tell him yeah, I`m looking and at the same time looking to close the huge deal too :)

Joking aside, you got to be upfront and tell them that you have you have options considering the situation, that`s about it.
Diablo
Politicker
2
Sr. AE
Market is open for both you to find new roles and to them to find new candidates. Why will tell him? Because he’s my friend — no way!! If he found out it’s okay but you got to tell him about your insecurity seeing so many colleagues being laid off + you getting warned. I would rather work for fun over putting into do or die situation

I know so many people trying to act sane by confronting and getting laid off the same day. You don’t want to do that.
SPT
Valued Contributor
1
Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances
Do you mean being honest, then they get laid-off?
Diablo
Politicker
0
Sr. AE
Yep that’s what happened to some of my friends at different companies. But you have better insights about your company.
ChumpChange
Politicker
1
Channel Manager
Classic acknowledge and defer moment.
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
super awkward.

i would tell him that you were not "gossiping" about the lay offs.

Also i would level with him. "do you really expect me to not be interviewing right now broooo?"
SportsSalesGuy
Tycoon
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Classic hypocritical managerial bullshit. Says your jobs in jeopardy in an already sinking ship but then gets upset when he finds out your trying to protect yourself and have backup plan just incase you get laid off, like any smart rational person would.

He's probs mad cuz it looks bad on him that instead of you trying to save your job you rather leave. And if he knows your potentially going to leave, (which he basically said you where already by threatening layoff) he needs to start finding a replacement. A very selfish mindset from him and a perfect example of why there is so much poor leadership out here in corporate.
Gyro25
Notorious Answer
1
Account Executive
"I'm friends with my manager". That's where you might be wrong. I had work friends who did some pretty back stabby stuff. You're doing the right thing, but I wouldn't be so trusting of someone who has the ability to negatively impact your role as much as your manager.
0
Senior Vice President, Revenue Growth
My suggestion would be to say:
"Based on the recent changes and layoffs, I have to keep my options open and will be transparent with you. I am committed to putting my best foot forward for you and the company and closing sales while I am still here." That's it. You come first and should take care of you!
WheelofCheese
Opinionated
0
Sales Executive
WHY WOULDN'T YOU BE INTERVIEWING is the question! You've been given a very short "leash" to save your hide. Any reasonable person would be looking for an escape route. If you feel the need to respond to your manager about this-- I'd probably just state the obvious: The layoffs have you concerned and you are simply looking at options. Good luck!
RelationshipMaker
Opinionated
0
Head of Sales
Heeeeey, thanks for threatening me with the sack unless I bring in a kick-arse deal". It's either your boss trying to save his butt or throwing you under a bus. Either way, you're notfriends anymore.

The company where you're interviewing don't thrill me either. I doubt it's the HR recruiter but what's with the OP telling your boss? Not a nice place to be starting at.

What's the point of you telling your boss first? There is none.

Cast the net out there, far and wide. You're better than this, find a role that you deserve.
0
SVP of Sales
Keep looking, if this is your managers response to that, than he doesn’t actually have your best interests at heart. I’m an SVP of Sales and tell my leadership team and sales people they should take recruiter calls at a pace they’re comfortable with, but it’s healthy to be open.

My job is to make our sales org a great environment that people want to work in, if I fail at that, people will leave. Or, I make it a great one and every once in a while one of my sales people find a better opportunity I can’t give them. The latter is a good thing, and the former is a learning for me to do better.

It’s on your leadership, not you, find yourself a great role to kill it at. Good luck!
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RandyLahey
Politicker
2
Account Manager
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