Serious job search question here

[Gold Metal Flake]

I work for a highly technical company owned by a ginormous corporomonstosity (lets say Spacely Sprockets). I am considering contacting our biggest competitor (Cogswell Cogs) about employment. I happen to know that Cogswell is deficient in the area of my expertise. What I want to know is, what are my responsibilities with regard to disclosure? I would certainly pass on any real written offer, that is required. But what about just talking? (Clearly, I understand my responsibilities with regard to export of tech and proprietary info)

This is real concern. If I move forward, I would be looking at locating to another city. But, I would be taking my Big City home equity with me and I could buy a house free and clear. There are houses near work. Could end my double-digit mile comute and bicycle to work (really!). By not having a mortgage and saving on gas, the childrens college fund will be fullfilled in less than a decade! As it is I am way behind. So this is VERY, VERY important. But, if fuck up, I fear I could be stuck where I am, unemployed.

Lay some wisdom on me, please!

[NightWatcher]

1. there are issues regarding proprietary information

your current employer owns the info and/or technology and you cannot take that with you. This is called corporate espinonage.


There are 'trade secret' laws involved

[Gold Metal Flake]

4. Sigh.

Please see the parenthetical comment at the end of the first paragraph.

[Gold Metal Flake]

12. Nevermind my first post.

We have frequent ethics and export training. I've instituted new security measures as well. I'm not gonna violate those rules. The other guys would not be willing to accept such violations anyway. Your warning is valid.

[flvegan]

2. Contact them and don't fuck up.

There's your wisdom.

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. Will do!

Ya smartass!

:spank:

Oh, in my mind it's all minefields and broken bottles. But this could be a sweet move.

(writes "don't fuck up" fifty times)

[flvegan]

8. No, seriously

Play your cards close to your chest. Sounds like you have something they need.

Hey, there is no "sweet move" that isn't little more than minefields and broken bottles.

[Gold Metal Flake]

11. I worked with a friend at asmall company years ago.

Different industry that where I am now. Small biz, owned by a type hyper-A who then married a type hyper-mean-A. We were miserable. I left and when I got to the new place I blasted off with energy. When I talked to my friend, I would use the cinematic evil ghost voice and say "get out!". Eventually, he did, and he had the same high-energy reaction. It really is a great feeling when you escape a stressful environment.

Now, my current gig is sweet, but I have so much to gain. You words have wisdom, I don't mean to say otherwise. I'm gonna start the ball rolling.

[MANative]

3. Do you have a contract with your current employer?

Did you sign a non-compete agreement when you were initially hired? If you have either, you could be in a world of hurt. If you have a non-compete, it usually specifies a period of time from when you leave your current role to when you can begin working for a direct competitor - 6 months is common, but I've seen them as long as 2 years. If you have neither and/or live in an employment at will state, you'd be in better shape. In any case, you clearly know how discreet you'd need to be about the whole thing. The next big issue is whether they would be doing employment check and insist on speaking with a current supervisor. Many do this, especially in highly technical roles or specialties. I've seen this happen, then the company decides for whatever reason not to make an offer, and then you are in serious shit all the way around.

Good luck, but tread carefully, and be REALLY sure what current employment agreements are in place with your present job.

[Gold Metal Flake]

7. Good points.

No and no, and employment can be confirmed by discussing other recent employee "exchanges". What we do is specialized. It's a small community. If I contact them, they will know immediately how sensitive the sitch is. I believe they will be discreet.

I think I can do this. Just nervous as hell.

[MANative]

10. You're not in too bad shape, then.

The only other thing to consider is whether there is any "arrangement" between the 2 companies - would be more common in a vendor situation than a competitor, though. Try to get someone you know to give you a direct link/introduction to the person for whom you'd be working or would be making the final hiring decision. Avoid going through HR if you can possibly help it.

Again, good luck!
(BTW, I'm a partner in a consulting firm that works exclusively with recruiters/staffing firms, so this is stuff I deal with every single day.)

[Gold Metal Flake]

13. Thanks for the advice.

As it happens (I am being vague here, but I am sure you understand, this being the intertubes and all) the factory closer to "a major coast" than the other has managed to poach several employees over the years from the more inland place, with little delay between initiating contact and filling the cubicle. I mean FAST.

[MANative]

15. You're welcome!

I totally get the vagueness, and wholeheartedly support that strategy! Sounds like "trades for a player to be named later" are not uncommon in this game ;)

[Xipe Totec]

6. You can't say anything for a year

after that you're free (going by standard NDA IP contracts).

You can't take any documents, software, samples, etc.



But, what you carry in your brain is yours.

[Gold Metal Flake]

9. Yeah, that is the "export" stuff I refered to in the OP.

But better, faster, cheaper is what I do. There need be no unauthorized tech transfer to improve their bottom line.

[PVnRT]

14. Meh...you don't really have to tell them anything

You are required to give them as much notice that you're leaving as they are in giving you notice that you're fired. It really depends on how you feel about your co-workers and boss, and whether or not you're fine leaving them twisting in the wind.

In the end, unless you're under some kind of contractual obligation to your current employer, they can't stop you from leaving. Just make sure you didn't sign a non-competition agreement thing.