Leaving to go it alone - do I tell the truth?

[Airlie]

hi all,

Planning on leaving my job to set my own business doing the same thing I do now, just for myself. Do you think I should be honest about my reasons for leaving, or just make life easier and say I’ve taken another job?

Not actively trying to steal clients but naturally ill be a competitor, nothing in my contract so no issues there.

Interested to hear peoples thoughts.....cheers.

 

[estwig]

Be true to yourself, don't hide, tell them as a commitment to yourself that you are going to make a success of it.

 

[Mr D]

hi all,

Planning on leaving my job to set my own business doing the same thing I do now, just for myself. Do you think I should be honest about my reasons for leaving, or just make life easier and say I’ve taken another job?

Not actively trying to steal clients but naturally ill be a competitor, nothing in my contract so no issues there.

Interested to hear peoples thoughts.....cheers.

Don't expect them to jump for joy.
But better to be honest than lie.

 

[arnydnxluk]

What's the point in lying? You will look daft when they find out, all for the sake of perhaps making life a tiny bit easier when explaining your reason for leaving. It's quite normal for professionals to leave employment and work for themselves.

Just tell the truth... you never know, your old employer may want some work from you as a self employed person from time to time. Likewise you may decide you want your job back 12 months from now. Don't burn your bridges!

 

[Anonimouse]

For all the reasons Mike said, be honest regarding your departure. Suffice to say, if you’re planning on becoming a competitor, eventually your ex-employer will discover that you’re running the business.

What’s the worst that could happen? Best case scenario is that they outsource jobs to your company!

 

[Mr D]

What's the point in lying? You will look daft when they find out, all for the sake of perhaps making life a tiny bit easier when explaining your reason for leaving. It's quite normal for professionals to leave employment and work for themselves.

Just tell the truth... you never know, your old employer may want some work from you as a self employed person from time to time. Likewise you may decide you want your job back 12 months from now. Don't burn your bridges!

Indeed.

Had an old school friend who trained as an electrician. Went it alone a few years later and was honest with his old boss.
Over the years he has done subbing for his old boss.

 

[Mark T Jones]

As above. Tell the truth

Initial reaction won’t be great, but you might well end up collaborating

 

[myko007]

Looks like this forum is full of honest people giving great honest advises. I join them up and agree with all above.

 

[Noah]

I did it even earlier. At a job interview, told my prospective employer I wanted the experience before starting up my own business - but I would not be competing in the same geographic area. Employer took me at face value - or maybe it was my good looks, charm, and wit. Things pretty much worked out the way I told them they would.

 

[DontAsk]

With at least one ex-employer of mine, telling them you were going to a competitor (whether true or not) would result in "gardening leave" on full pay, rather than having to work your notice period

 

[Deleted member 59730]

Employer took me at face value - or maybe it was my good looks, charm, and wit.

I had neither good looks, charm or wit but my first employer actually helped me go freelance under his studio roof.

 

[Jeff Nev]

I would say that honesty is always the best policy in these situations, as others have said, there could well be opportunities for future collaboration on projects.

I wish you the very best with your future venture.

 

[estwig]

My 17 year old daughter works as customer services at Argos. At the interview 18 months ago, they asked her where she thought she would be in 5 years time, instead of the usual tosh about being a manager for Argos, she told them she wants her own beauty salon. They thanked her for her honesty and gave her the job.

 

[Davek0974]

Don't start a new venture on a lie - if you cant front your boss with your wishes it does not bode well for running a business - just my 2p worth

 

[Financial-Modeller]

Immediate thoughts:
1. don't leave and THEN set up your company. Get everything set up in advance so that you are both committed to it and ready to work, invoice etc ASAP, which might be before or after you leave your current employment.
2. treat your departure as a challenge / sales pitch. Presumably you want everybody who might become a client in future to know what your plans are, so tell them! Remember that some of your junior colleagues today may be senior decision makers in future, at their current employer or elsewhere. Also remember that people in both directions along your supply chain may need your services in future. Talk to them, whilst you're being paid by somebody else!

 

[paulears]

Also - make sure you have any personal stuff held on one of their computers because first thing is usually to block access to important stuff. When I left my college, I'd forgoten loads of things I'd stored on their servers for backups. Luckily most I still had, but the photos and audio files I lost were a pain. Leaving with integrity is always best.

 

[estwig]

treat your departure as a challenge / sales pitch. Presumably you want everybody who might become a client in future to know what your plans are, so tell them! Remember that some of your junior colleagues today may be senior decision makers in future, at their current employer or elsewhere. Also remember that people in both directions along your supply chain may need your services in future. Talk to them, whilst you're being paid by somebody else!

There's a line here somewhere, this is stepping over it.

 

[The Online Accountants]

Again, honesty is the best policy then you won't always be looking over your shoulder and can just go ahead and get on with your life and business.

 

[Noah]

There's a line here somewhere, this is stepping over it.

Agreed.

 

[Jessica A.]

Since there is no non-compete clause, then might as well disclose it rather than them finding it out from another source later on. You might become a competitor but sometimes competing companies tend to merge at some point.

 

[Dario.c]

It would be 100% better that it comes to light from you than for them to find it out further in the time. Your ex employer could be a useful source of lead, specially in the beginning of the business where you will try to attract even the small fishes.