# How to handle a recruiter when I have inside information that we might buy said company very soon? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2014, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144 "2014-04-02T05:24:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/21 "2014-04-02T16:40:17Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Dear Recruiter: > > Thank you for reaching out to me. The advanced widget maker position is definitely interesting. Unfortunately, this particular position is not a good fit for me at this time. > > Would I be able to contact you in the future to discuss other possibilities? > > Best wishes, > > OP Yes, this is the kind of thing I’d do. No reason to close the door and no reason to be overly specific about the other company. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/22 "2014-04-02T19:48:22Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I think it’s weird that anyone would even ask this question. > > It’s a unsolicited spam from a recruiter. I get like 5 a day (mostly for crap jobs I wouldn’t want even if I were unemployed). You may feel free to ignore it without worrying about offending the sender. > > Since this particular position appears relevant to you and it doesn’t hurt to have this contact you might actually want to respond. > > Because the position is for a company that is about to merge with your company, you probably want to respond “thank you, but I’m not looking to make a move at this time”. Changing jobs during a merger, particularly between the two companies that are merging is not the best idea. Depending on the size of the companies, it would be ate best weird (if the companies are small enough that you would encounter your old coworkers) or at worst make you appear as a good “last in first out” candidate as a new hire at the acquired firm. That other people from the OP’s company are getting the message makes me think that they are not targeting it, except in the sense of trying to raid a competitor. So a “thanks but not interested” is about the most one should do. HR people go first - the HR person who sent the message might not even be there in six months. The job might not be there also. And after the acquisition it becomes an internal transfer which is a lot different. If the HR person lasts there will be a lot of amusement about this situation. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/23 "2014-04-02T19:51:20Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Do you trust your boss enough to have a frank discussion about this? > In the ideal case, where you believe your boss really is looking out for you (and not just for himself and/or the company), trust that she can actually make things happen, and know that he really likes your work, she might say “I’d hate to lose you but this is a great opportunity for you; you should go for it. If we do merge, I’d make sure we kept you on afterwards one way or another.” > That’s the ideal case, of course, but since you’ve already brought this up to your boss, you’re halfway to having this kind of conversation anyway. > Obviously you know your industry better than us, and know whether that’s a reasonable outcome or not. I’m going over to that other ship. But it’s sinking! Sure, but the food over there is really good. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/24 "2014-04-02T19:58:02Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > I’m going to disagree with the ‘ignore it’ advise, because if your company DOESN’T acquire that company, than you would definitely be interested in the position, right? > > So go with the ‘Thanks and yes i would be interested but personal circumstances mean I’m not available until \’ message. And you would be asking them to wait for you? If I got a response like that the resume would go into the circular file, since I’m not going to hold up my recruiting to wait for someone, unless they walked on water and I was specifically targeting the person for some reason. Which is not the case here. Easy enough to contact them more or less out of the blue if it seems warranted. However, since it is a competitor, even if this happened I’d be looking closely at any who jumped ship to see if any proprietary information was involved. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/25 "2014-04-03T11:30:15Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > And you would be asking them to wait for you? If I got a response like that the resume would go into the circular file, since I’m not going to hold up my recruiting to wait for someone, unless they walked on water and I was specifically targeting the person for some reason. Which is not the case here. > > Easy enough to contact them more or less out of the blue if it seems warranted. > However, since it is a competitor, even if this happened I’d be looking closely at any who jumped ship to see if any proprietary information was involved. The second-best career break I ever got was when someone called me six months later about a job I had declined to interview for, because I was committed to the project I was on at my then-current employer. The person they hired didn’t work out, they remembered me, and I ended up getting a job with relocation to be near my family. I’ve also had a candidate tell us two days after interviewing that she had accepted another offer at a smaller company (like $1bn rather than $20bn) Two years later we called her again and she was ready for a higher level position, which might not be available at the smaller company for many years. People move back and forth between companies in our industry all the time. Always good to leave doors open. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/26 "2014-04-03T15:17:34Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > And you would be asking them to wait for you? If I got a response like that the resume would go into the circular file, since I’m not going to hold up my recruiting to wait for someone, unless they walked on water and I was specifically targeting the person for some reason. Which is not the case here. Really, you’d put it in the circular file, not the file of “people to contact if the job search has to be re-opened in three months for whatever reason”? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/27 "2014-04-03T15:52:34Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Frankly, I wouldn’t involve HR in anything like this: the backstabbing weasels. Getting HR involved sounds like the best way to produce the worst result from a situation like this. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/28 "2014-04-03T17:01:35Z")
“Normally, I’d be very interested in this job, but the timing isn’t very good with my current position - I need to see some things through before I could consider this. Can you keep me in mind for the future?” ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/29 "2014-04-03T17:07:33Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > “Normally, I’d be very interested in this job, but the timing isn’t very good with my current position - I need to see some things through before I could consider this. Can you keep me in mind for the future?” Poifect! ---
**Author:** ![ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisUsernameIsForbidden)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/30 "2014-04-03T17:11:11Z")
Just string them along until you find out more about the merger/buyout. In the meantime, research the other company to see how solid they are financially. Look at statements from key figures regarding acquisitions, problems, debt. If it is the case that your company is buying out the other company, you’d be a fool to take a position with the other company, unless you may be retiring very soon. Also, try to find out who left the position. Did they leave because of the buyout? Why would you want to put yourself in the same position? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/31 "2014-04-03T19:35:56Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Really, you’d put it in the circular file, not the file of “people to contact if the job search has to be re-opened in three months for whatever reason”? In my industry right now if they were good they’d have another job in three months. Like I said, if they walked on water it would be a different matter. BTW, the acquisition is the critical factor here. If it weren’t for that the OP might want to go for it. And of course once management knew about it all bets are off. That company B is contacting lots of people makes the call less valuable. It is an interesting situation where standard job hunting advice does not apply. Now, if company B were acquiring company A, instead of vice versa, it might be a different story, but then the OP wouldn’t be aware of it. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/32 "2014-04-05T02:10:44Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Yep, they go out to a lot of people. I supposedly sent out well over 1,000 invites from linkedin. They have lost all credibility. ehh…this one is pretty specific. Specific industry, specific title. I’d estimate probably 50-100 people in the US that would be good matches. Not that it’s incredibly difficult, it’s just incredibly specific to our industry. I probably don’t have the experience yet for it, but background I’m there. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/33 "2014-04-05T04:02:09Z")
I’m not a fan of management. I would say just tell the recruiter they might be acquired. Why should it be a secret to the employees? It gives them more time to plan for the future. It is unfair that executives get to hoard this information and not give employees a say in it. Ideally, employees of any public corporation should be able to nominate a percentage of people to represent them on a corporate board so this kind of thing is done in the open ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/34 "2014-04-05T04:16:28Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I’m not a fan of management. I would say just tell the recruiter they might be acquired. Leaking this kind of thing is a really bad idea. If management found out who did it they would fire you in an instant, and it could hurt your reputation so badly that you might never find another job in the same industry. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/35 "2014-04-05T14:30:13Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Leaking this kind of thing is a really bad idea. If management found out who did it they would fire you in an instant, and it could hurt your reputation so badly that you might never find another job in the same industry. Worse, if the companies are publicly traded, the SEC could come after you should anyone trade off the information. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/36 "2014-04-05T16:42:27Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I’m not a fan of management. I would say just tell the recruiter they might be acquired. Why should it be a secret to the employees? It gives them more time to plan for the future. It is unfair that executives get to hoard this information and not give employees a say in it. Ideally, employees of any public corporation should be able to nominate a percentage of people to represent them on a corporate board so this kind of thing is done in the open This is pretty good advice…if your goal is to get fired immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/37 "2014-04-05T17:07:06Z")
I dunno, I’d maybe try to wring an attractive offer out of them. The interview and hiring process can take months, and if the acquisition doesn’t happen… not every proposed merger or sale comes to pass. Nobody says you have to TAKE an offer if you get one. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/38 "2014-04-07T14:32:21Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Leaking this kind of thing is a really bad idea. If management found out who did it they would fire you in an instant, and it could hurt your reputation so badly that you might never find another job in the same industry. > [@RaftPeople](#): > > This is pretty good advice…if your goal is to get fired immediately. I understand that it would end with bad consequences for the person telling the recruiter, but my response was more along the lines of what should happen, not what does happen. It bothers me that employees don’t get transparency on matters like this and that management makes these decisions that affect the employees most of all without any of their input. They should consult employees and give them a voice and that should be how its done. The fact that it is not done that way is detestable ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/39 "2014-04-07T16:02:15Z")
Yog-Are the employees receiving a paycheck that clears? If yes, they have all they need. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144/40 "2014-04-07T17:29:57Z")
Same thing with management right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-handle-a-recruiter-when-i-have-inside-information-that-we-might-buy-said-company-very-soon/685144.md?page=3)