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Original poster

Taking a job where previous holder has been managed out

27 replies

Pissedoffandcovidy · 05/08/2023 23:00

Anyone ever done this? I’m very wary that the atmosphere could be terrible. I believe the previous holder has been in the company for 10 years.

OP posts:

BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 05/08/2023 23:31

Are you an external coming in, or already there?

obladeeobladah · 05/08/2023 23:35

DH did this. He lasted six months and his mental health took a dive. The staff took their fury with management out on him and basically made it totally untenable for him to carry on working there. I wouldn't do it!

DinnaeFashYersel · 05/08/2023 23:38

Every job I've ever had my predecessor has been sacked or managed out or resigned seeing the writing on the wall.

It means I'm picking up and fixing a mess. But it's much easier to make a big impact that way. And more interesting too.

Squarepegroundholee · 05/08/2023 23:41

Run or you could tarnish your own reputation when they turn on you !

Aprilx · 06/08/2023 02:00

I wouldn’t know and I was see it as irrelevant anyway.

Oblomov23 · 06/08/2023 02:56

I wouldn't do it. Speaks volumes about the company if they are managing out someone who had been there 10 years.

Caprisunny · 06/08/2023 05:53

Yes the role I am in now. It was a tad uncomfortable at first. But there was enough teams members that were open to change and also agreed with the reasons the previous person had been managed out.

I dealt with that by listening to the ones that weren’t happy. Sympathising and then making it clear we needed to move on. I have loved on from that role now and many of my team members have also been promoted. When people see you actively investing in people and supporting them to advance, they quickly forget about any residue feelings they had for an old boss. Or at least leave them at the door.

Original poster

Pissedoffandcovidy · 06/08/2023 07:17

I would be external and on the face of it would know the industry much less than the person before me. So I’m having a crisis of confidence.

OP posts:

drpet49 · 06/08/2023 07:24

DinnaeFashYersel · 05/08/2023 23:38

Every job I've ever had my predecessor has been sacked or managed out or resigned seeing the writing on the wall.

It means I'm picking up and fixing a mess. But it's much easier to make a big impact that way. And more interesting too.

My experience too.

howdoesyourgardengrowinmay · 06/08/2023 07:39

I'd say it depends on why the previous incumbent was managed out and how their relationship was with their staff. Maybe everyone will be relieved to have a new manager.

DinnaeFashYersel · 06/08/2023 11:21

In my experience the person who has been managed out needed to go and apart from personal friends most staff are very relieved that person has gone.

Crimeismymiddlename · 06/08/2023 14:17

My job now, my predecessor was demoted rather than managed out, like they should have been. Honestly for the first few years it was a disaster, I kept going for no other reason that I knew I was doing all they right things. Now, it’s going great but it was a long hard slog.

Original poster

Pissedoffandcovidy · 17/08/2023 23:29

So I’ve been offered the job for definite. My current job can be stressful at times, but in general it’s a mutually supportive collaborative environment and I’m worried this new job might be a bit more cutthroat than I’m used to (I had a horrible dog eat dog job 10 years ago and I’m terrified of going back to that). But then I’m thinking I shouldn’t be such a wuss given how senior I am….I don’t know! Not sure the salary increase is worth it.

OP posts:

Original poster

Pissedoffandcovidy · 18/08/2023 08:20

it seems like very mixed thoughts from those who replied ( and thanks for your responses!) so just wanted to see if any other thoughts….

OP posts:

ilovetomatosoup · 18/08/2023 08:36

It could go either way. I have know people managed out as they were either a) just not getting the job done or b) bullies & difficult to handle. Others were just unfair & political.

Sometimes there was a high sigh of relief once it has gone, sometimes bitterness if it was unfair. It is hard to tell.

BadSkiingMum · 18/08/2023 09:03

I would say go in with your eyes wide open. I have done this and unfortunately the culture turned out to be quite insular and unhealthy. I only stayed a year but things rapidly went downhill and I was glad to leave, for unrelated reasons.

I never met or spoke to my predecessor, but information in the public domain shows that they have gone on to be successful in the field elsewhere. As have I, in a slightly different field.

anniegun · 18/08/2023 09:07

Often the team will be very happy a poor manager has gone and welcome a better one arriving

StupidHip · 18/08/2023 09:09

I love a job where you've got to go in and sort it out. You can only improve things.

DinnaeFashYersel · 18/08/2023 09:12

If you are still concerned go back and ask a few more questions before you accept.

I always ask these at interviews (should always be a 2-way process) although it should be fine to ask now too. If not then that tells you something.

What is the culture like
What do they think the biggest issues are that need addressing
What are their expectations of you in the first 6 months
What do those interviewing me like about their jobs.
Is there anything they think you should know before accepting the job.

Original poster

Pissedoffandcovidy · 18/08/2023 11:44

I asked some of those questions at interview, I didn’t get a very concrete answer as to what needs fixing. Part of the problem is I do love my current job (I was headhunted) so I feel I have a lot to lose if it doesn’t work out.

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Pip1402 · 18/08/2023 12:36

I think it really depends on why they were managed out. I 'managed' somebody out of a job once and the person who took their place was understandably a little apprehensive about job security coming into the role.

The reality was that it was the first (and so far last) time it had happened in an otherwise incredibly supportive and stable team. The person who was managed out was truly terrible, not just incompetent but deceitful and lazy. We were being kind not to just fire them, which we had plenty of grounds to do.

So I guess what I'm saying is it massively depends on the context but you can't necessarily judge the company's culture based on this one action.

Spirallingdownwards · 18/08/2023 13:03

It might be absolutely fine. The other staff may be relieved and delighted to see the back of someone who had been there a long time but not performing their role properly and thus impacting their own workloads and roles.

LookingForRubies · 18/08/2023 15:44

How much is the salary increase? Is this the only perk? Being happy in your job is very important.

Original poster

Pissedoffandcovidy · 18/08/2023 16:09

Salary increase depends on whether you include bonus or not. Without bonus 10% increase, or potentially even less than I’m making now as my current bonus is almost as good as guaranteed. Whereas new bonus could be 30- 40% more but much more target and performance based.
Not many other perks - slightly longer commute, 2 less annual leave days, one more day in the office and more overnight travel (but not too much more, maybe 2-4 days a year).
The move would expand my skill set and probably make me more marketable in the future.

OP posts:

rwalker · 18/08/2023 16:19

in my experience and workplace the overwhelming majority of people who have been managed out deserved to be

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