Headhunted and fired within a month
Discussion
long term member posting under anon account... I will try be as brief as I can.
I had been working in sales for a big company who are the market leader in their industry for near 18 months. I recieved a call from a recruitment consultant a few months ago asking if I was interested in a move to a new startup backed by a very well known company. I listened to what they had to say and decided to have a chat to the director of the startup and listen to what he had to say. It sounded good and I had an interview for them which went well.
In the interview we spoke about what customers I could bring to the business and what I wanted from them which was carrer progression. I had a lot of big customers who I could have potentially taken with me and would be great for their buisiness.
We agreed a package (which was pretty much the same as what I was on) and I was told about the opportunity for progression etc. It all sounded good so I handed my notice in and started in the new company a month later.
On my first day I went to head office to have my induction and do the HR stuff. (I was put up in some hurrendous hotel the night before) When I turned up I met the new Sales Director had a chat and started speaking about what he thought the direction for the company should be etc.
I was told it had been decided we wouldnt deal with certain types of industry as it wasnt inkeeping with what the backers of the startup wanted.
A lot of my big customers were in these industries which I thought were strange but I just thought I would carry on regardless.
I was shown the company hierarchy structure and there was a space for a regional sales manager and I was pulled to one side by the 2 guys who interviewed me and told that as long as my figures were good the job was mine in a few months.
Before I went I was given my laptop and told that they didnt have my company phone or buisiness cards yet but I would recieve them soon........... neither of these ever came.
In the next 3 weeks I experienced a company who didnt know who they were or who they wanted to be.
I did some deals with customers I had spoken about in my interview and some new customers only to be told that only 1 of these was of the right quality and the others we wernt interested in working with.
Last Friday I spoke with the sales director who told me they had changed a few things and would like me to go for a differnt type of customer. He told me that we needed this type ofhigh end of customer and he was aware they would be a 'longer sell' but not to worry as he understands this and he knows I will get them with perseverance.
On Wednesday we got an email telling us the structure of the company had changed and all sales staff would report directly to the sales director and they had done away with the regional managers.
This Friday I get a call from the sales director telling me that I am not providing the required level of buisiness and I am not paying for myself and he would have to let me go with immediate effect.
I was bewildered and angry that I hadnt even been given a chance. I had only been there 3 and a half weeks. I didnt even get the tools I should have to do my job. (Phone, Business cars, Wireless dongle)
I suppose my question is.. Is this even legal? Can they pluck me out of a company where I was one of the top salespeople and had been there 12 months+ and then fire me less than a month later telling me I was too expensive to keep?
Do I have to just put this down to experience or do I have any chance of recompense?
I think I know the answer to this question but I am hopeful the collective might of pistonheads can help me somehow!
I am feeling really hard done by to say the least but I will pick myself up and I am sure I will have a job by the end of this week.
I had been working in sales for a big company who are the market leader in their industry for near 18 months. I recieved a call from a recruitment consultant a few months ago asking if I was interested in a move to a new startup backed by a very well known company. I listened to what they had to say and decided to have a chat to the director of the startup and listen to what he had to say. It sounded good and I had an interview for them which went well.
In the interview we spoke about what customers I could bring to the business and what I wanted from them which was carrer progression. I had a lot of big customers who I could have potentially taken with me and would be great for their buisiness.
We agreed a package (which was pretty much the same as what I was on) and I was told about the opportunity for progression etc. It all sounded good so I handed my notice in and started in the new company a month later.
On my first day I went to head office to have my induction and do the HR stuff. (I was put up in some hurrendous hotel the night before) When I turned up I met the new Sales Director had a chat and started speaking about what he thought the direction for the company should be etc.
I was told it had been decided we wouldnt deal with certain types of industry as it wasnt inkeeping with what the backers of the startup wanted.
A lot of my big customers were in these industries which I thought were strange but I just thought I would carry on regardless.
I was shown the company hierarchy structure and there was a space for a regional sales manager and I was pulled to one side by the 2 guys who interviewed me and told that as long as my figures were good the job was mine in a few months.
Before I went I was given my laptop and told that they didnt have my company phone or buisiness cards yet but I would recieve them soon........... neither of these ever came.
In the next 3 weeks I experienced a company who didnt know who they were or who they wanted to be.
I did some deals with customers I had spoken about in my interview and some new customers only to be told that only 1 of these was of the right quality and the others we wernt interested in working with.
Last Friday I spoke with the sales director who told me they had changed a few things and would like me to go for a differnt type of customer. He told me that we needed this type ofhigh end of customer and he was aware they would be a 'longer sell' but not to worry as he understands this and he knows I will get them with perseverance.
On Wednesday we got an email telling us the structure of the company had changed and all sales staff would report directly to the sales director and they had done away with the regional managers.
This Friday I get a call from the sales director telling me that I am not providing the required level of buisiness and I am not paying for myself and he would have to let me go with immediate effect.
I was bewildered and angry that I hadnt even been given a chance. I had only been there 3 and a half weeks. I didnt even get the tools I should have to do my job. (Phone, Business cars, Wireless dongle)
I suppose my question is.. Is this even legal? Can they pluck me out of a company where I was one of the top salespeople and had been there 12 months+ and then fire me less than a month later telling me I was too expensive to keep?
Do I have to just put this down to experience or do I have any chance of recompense?
I think I know the answer to this question but I am hopeful the collective might of pistonheads can help me somehow!
I am feeling really hard done by to say the least but I will pick myself up and I am sure I will have a job by the end of this week.
tty way to be treated. Condolences.I guess this is what happens when you get greedy for short term gain, rather than 'playing the long game'.
Not a lot you can do about it - you saw pound signs and followed them.
I note you were at the previous company for 'more than 12 months'. I'd probably phrase that 'just 12 months', and it makes it sound like you hop around a lot - in which case, this would appear to be suitable payback for lack of loyalty from yourself.
I know this will sound harsh, but that's just how it looks.
Not a lot you can do about it - you saw pound signs and followed them.
I note you were at the previous company for 'more than 12 months'. I'd probably phrase that 'just 12 months', and it makes it sound like you hop around a lot - in which case, this would appear to be suitable payback for lack of loyalty from yourself.
I know this will sound harsh, but that's just how it looks.
No help, but I know someone who relocated abroad for a great new job only to be replaced by what sounded like a severe case of nepotism within a month. No comeback at all, and this was somewhere with good employee protection law.
I suspect, as Lotus Notes suggests, that your next move hinges on whether you were on a probationary period.
I suspect, as Lotus Notes suggests, that your next move hinges on whether you were on a probationary period.
Chicarito said:
I guess this is what happens when you get greedy for short term gain, rather than 'playing the long game'.
Not a lot you can do about it - you saw pound signs and followed them.
I note you were at the previous company for 'more than 12 months'. I'd probably phrase that 'just 12 months', and it makes it sound like you hop around a lot - in which case, this would appear to be suitable payback for lack of loyalty from yourself.
I know this will sound harsh, but that's just how it looks.
Not how I read the OP. He said the package he moved for was about the same, and that in this new job he was led to beleive there would be oppertunity for progression.Not a lot you can do about it - you saw pound signs and followed them.
I note you were at the previous company for 'more than 12 months'. I'd probably phrase that 'just 12 months', and it makes it sound like you hop around a lot - in which case, this would appear to be suitable payback for lack of loyalty from yourself.
I know this will sound harsh, but that's just how it looks.
Sounds entirely reasonable to me, not greed by any stretch.
Chicarito said:
I guess this is what happens when you get greedy for short term gain, rather than 'playing the long game'.
Not a lot you can do about it - you saw pound signs and followed them.
I note you were at the previous company for 'more than 12 months'. I'd probably phrase that 'just 12 months', and it makes it sound like you hop around a lot - in which case, this would appear to be suitable payback for lack of loyalty from yourself.
I know this will sound harsh, but that's just how it looks.
This reply doesnt make any sense. Not a lot you can do about it - you saw pound signs and followed them.
I note you were at the previous company for 'more than 12 months'. I'd probably phrase that 'just 12 months', and it makes it sound like you hop around a lot - in which case, this would appear to be suitable payback for lack of loyalty from yourself.
I know this will sound harsh, but that's just how it looks.
There wasnt any short term gain as I took the new job on the same salary I was on at the old job.
I was looking at the long term as all the managment is concentrated in London in my old company so there was no chance to progress.
I generally dont hop about job wise I was with the company before for 5 years.
mrmr96 said:
Not how I read the OP. He said the package he moved for was about the same, and that in this new job he was led to beleive there would be oppertunity for progression.
Sounds entirely reasonable to me, not greed by any stretch.
Every employer promises every candidate for half decent jobs that they'll give them great progression etc.Sounds entirely reasonable to me, not greed by any stretch.
It's how many employers get away with poaching staff for very little initial pay rises.... you'll always get people who fall for it based on them believing they'll be doubling their salary in a short space of time.
If you're successful and have only been with a company for circa 12 months, why would you move on?
As I said above all the management in my old employer is concentrated in London and I would have to move there to progress which I didnt want to do. In the new company they were supposed to have regional managers who could still be based at home and just travel down south a few times a month.
My probationary period with the new employer was 3 months.
As I said I sort of knew the answer to my question but I am just feeling a little hard done by and had to get it off my chest I suppose.
My probationary period with the new employer was 3 months.
As I said I sort of knew the answer to my question but I am just feeling a little hard done by and had to get it off my chest I suppose.
blazed said:
As I said above all the management in my old employer is concentrated in London and I would have to move there to progress which I didnt want to do. In the new company they were supposed to have regional managers who could still be based at home and just travel down south a few times a month.
My probationary period with the new employer was 3 months.
As I said I sort of knew the answer to my question but I am just feeling a little hard done by and had to get it off my chest I suppose.
I think you've been very hard done by. My probationary period with the new employer was 3 months.
As I said I sort of knew the answer to my question but I am just feeling a little hard done by and had to get it off my chest I suppose.
I think one lesson you could take with you is to research the company you are considering the move to and talk to others. It sounds like you were given a sales pitch, and then the new start up company couldn't follow through, but that didn't seem to cross your mind as much as it should have. This is very difficult to do with a start up company, but maybe an experienced hand could have got you to ask more or the right questions...
It's a sales job, people move, 12 months can be enough in one company...depends on the product/service.
I wouldn't spend too much time/effort looking for any form of retribution, you'll get your chance at some point in life...Karma can be slow burning.
Can you go back to your previous company?
blazed said:
We agreed a package (which was pretty much the same as what I was on) and I was told about the opportunity for progression etc. It all sounded good so I handed my notice in and started in the new company a month later.
Have I missed something here? You moved to an unknown quantity for the same money???? 
WTF.eliot said:
Headhunted - hmm. So a BS term.
Unless they were to call me on my personal phone and know everything there is to know about me over the last couple of years and know exactly what opportunity would press all the right buttons - then they are just a recruitment consulant imo.
The effect is the same. Unless they were to call me on my personal phone and know everything there is to know about me over the last couple of years and know exactly what opportunity would press all the right buttons - then they are just a recruitment consulant imo.
This happened to me ( and I AM a headhunter) I left a place I had been at for 9 years, I was in a decent position, long term relationships etc. I moved to a new firm, setting up a london office. No problem I thought, they even guaranteed my salary for the first six months before the commission kicks in. All Good.
Eight weeks in, pulled the rug on the London office completely, I was out, before the end of my probation, I got four weeks money. I cannot tell you how different the pitch and the reality was, honestly it was shocking to me, and I am not exactly naive.....
OP I wish you the best of luck, but the reality is you have to suck it up, there realistically is nothing you can do. Except post YOUR experience on www.glassdoor.com and maybe save someone else from making the same mistake.
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