How to Poach a Former Colleague Without Upsetting Your Ex-Boss
It helps to remember everyone in this situation is an adult
Jessica Powell, the former Google vice president who wrote The Big Disruption and told you how to quit your job, is here to answer your common but tricky work questions. Check back every other week for more management advice with a tech inflection.
I’ve just started a new job that’s requiring me to make a few hires, and I’m trying to navigate poaching a former colleague. I know it would upset my former boss, who I’m on good terms with, but I feel like it would be a good fit for my new company and a great opportunity for the former colleague. What are the rules here?
Before you tie yourself in knots over this, put yourself in the employee’s shoes: Think how upset you would be to find out that someone didn’t offer you a job because they didn’t want to irritate your current boss. If it were me, I’d feel like a total cog in the wheel and would think less of the person for it.
A good manager will be upset about the loss of an employee, but will see the bigger picture. Lots of times, a new job is a better opportunity for the employee (think of someone who is moving from a middle manager position at a big company to running a department at a start-up). If a manager cares…
