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23 March 2011

If you knew there was someone better for the job... ...would you recommend them at your own expense?→[More:]

So, I've got a pretty cushy side gig where I provide an extraordinarily obscure service for which I have become particularly known. My major client has hired me for a few gigs which allow me to travel around the world free of expense with pay on top. In working with them over the past year, I've come to believe that my expertise is just slightly to the left of what they need by a matter of degrees. I can function and I get the job done, but I don't have that instant snap of precise knowledge that gets them the brass ring that much sooner. (At least, that's my neurotic take. I actually have no idea what they think.)

Very recently, I've discovered another fellow online who not only lives quite nearby, but seems to match me in expertise and is actually precisely attuned to the needs of my client. I'm having a moment where I think for the betterment of their own work, he might be the guy to bring on board. There's a distinct possibility that they'll catch on to him directly someday. I should instinctually be conditioned to mark him as COMPETITION, but my great failing is that I always think about what will best serve the project, not my own ego or whatever.

Does anyone else get these career-lemming thoughts? What would MeCha do?

post by: mykescipark at: 02:43 | 12 comments

Say you do recommend the guy, your client hires him, he takes your client to the next level, his abilities are recognized and hired away, and your client is left alone. Who they gonna call?

posted by Ardiril 23 March | 02:54

The corollary to 'karma's a bitch' is 'make karma your bitch'.

posted by Ardiril 23 March | 02:56

Um, no. The client gets to decide whom they want to hire for the gig. They chose you, yay! It's entirely possible that you bring something to the job that they especially value. It's also possible that they know of this other guy and they don't like him or just don't want to use him for some reason.

Do the job as well as you possibly can - sounds like you already are. That's what you owe your client.

Unless, of course, I'm the person that you're thinking could do a better job at this. If that's the case, by all means you should tell your client. I'd be awesome at traveling around the world on somebody else's dime.

Where are you off to next?

posted by Kangaroo 23 March | 04:20

Are you independently wealthy? Otherwise, I would not do this.

posted by JanetLand 23 March | 04:30

I agree with all of the above. If they weren't happy with you, why would they keep paying you? If your field is small and specialized, they are probably aware of this other guy.

posted by JoanArkham 23 March | 09:51

You have an obligation to provide the best service possible. You have no ethical obligation to promote the competition. And, you may not be accurately valuing your own work.

posted by theora55 23 March | 09:53

You've proven to be reliable and get the job done in the amount of time and for the amount of money that the company wants to pay, so they continue to hire you.
Other Fellow might have skills that more closely align to the job but maybe he is a flake or maybe he costs 8x what you do.
Usually companies are fully aware of who is out there and have already done their cost/benefits analysis.
Keep doing what you are doing.

posted by rmless2 23 March | 11:00

Another note, people tend to undervalue reliability and proven results when it comes to assessing their worth. If I was the employer (and I have been in other contexts) I would rather stick with the dude I know will do a good job at a good price because he's done it for me before than keep trying out new people possibly with bad results.

posted by rmless2 23 March | 11:02

Looking at your site, you have a very specific area of expertise. An Association of %yourtypeof Sound Engineers might be a useful thing, and help all of you refer each other to appropriate work.

posted by theora55 23 March | 11:26

I would consider it but, like those above, I would decide that my first obligation is to myself/family/others who depend on my income. Your responsibility to the client ends with providing the best possible service you can. It's almost certain that the client is already aware of the other person (if you found him on-line, so could they). Don't discount the likelihood that they have already discovered him and decided to stick with you.

Longer term, you might like to investigate a bit and find out what you can do to better match your abilities to the client, just in case ...

posted by dg 23 March | 17:05

Definitely not. Just step up your game to match what you think he offers.

posted by bearwife 23 March | 18:56

Expertise can change and develop - ask yourself what you can do to move those extra couple of degrees rightwards, towards what you perceive this other guy can do.

In any case, I'm sure if the client were unhappy with what you are doing they would let you know. I know this doesn't appease your perfectionist nature, but there's no need to involve your client in your neuroses (we all have them, that wasn't supposed to sound harsh).

posted by altolinguistic 24 March | 11:49

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