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Our Company (Manufacturer's Rep) wants to hire a well qualified field technician away from one of our best customers.

What is the MT way to notify our customer's owner of our intent?

I imagine Horstman's Law - "Its All About People" [and relationships] is a major point in the MT guidance about this.

 

Brent

amanchauhan's picture

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Horstman’s law is about people‘s mind ability and personal behavior for relationships. That’s the best way to noticed this. I think you should do maximum research on that point.

mike_bruns_99's picture
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Hi Brent, sorry I missed this the first time.  

This is a business/relationship issue not a MT issue.  That being said, this needs to be handled as up-front and transparently as possible with the other company's management.

Handled correctly, this could be a win-win for both firms.  Perhaps the technician has reached his peak at the other firm, and a new opportunity would be perfect for both.  A manufacturer's rep who has a deep understanding of the product is invaluable to the principal.  

Handled incorrectly, the principal will feel that you "poached" one of their key people and will no longer have you represent them in the market.

amanchauhan's picture

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This is a business relationship. Don’t think too much about that. It has to be transparently as possible with the company’s management.

Jrlz's picture

Hi Brent,

I would advise to have the highest level executive at your firm, preferably one with an existing rapport with the customer, reach out to his or her counterpart at the customer.   Mike Bruns has a great idea of looking to frame the hiring as a win win.    I think by having this handled at a very high level you will increase the discretion required (in case the move never happens) and take some of the low level politics out of it.  For example, this employees direct supervisor may be steadfastly opposed to losing the employee for obvious reasons.  However, a senior executive may see more of the long term benefits. 

uwavegeek's picture
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I had an opening in my department.  One of my managers mentioned to me that one of our partners applications engineers was intersted in the position.  I phone screened him and, of course, he knocked the interview out of the park.  At the end I asked him how he heard of the position and he told me that my sub-manager (my direct) asked him if he was interesed while on a support call in our facility.  

I didn't persue the candidate any further and provided negative feedback to my direct.  If that apps engineer sought us out, I would have continued and brought him in for an on-site.  Actively soliciting your partners employees isn't ethical in my opinion and beyond ethics, it can disintigrate trust between strategic partners faster than anything out there.

 

Neil