Student Question
Hello, Master. I work in real estate, and our department’s sales have been declining for over three months now. My superiors have been putting increasing pressure on us to turn things around.
For more than a month, I’d been desperately hoping to find an experienced sales veteran — someone who could inject new energy and turn things around. Finally, I came across a very promising candidate.
The moment I met him, I had an unusually strong gut feeling: this is the person I’ve been looking for. The deeper our conversations went, the more I felt this was a heaven-sent opportunity. Not only did he have solid marketing experience and a deep understanding of how the industry works — he had also held a key position at one of our direct competitors.
Things seemed to be moving in a good direction. He came on board, and his performance was outstanding. He solved a number of real problems, and I supported him fully.
Then one evening, we had dinner together privately. The conversation flowed easily. At some point he mentioned he had something important to give me the next day.
The next morning at the office, he pulled out a USB drive. He held it like it contained something priceless, then asked me if I could guess what was on it. He then told me: it held information from his former company — detailed client records and a number of their internal marketing plans. He said he would continue providing more information like this going forward.
This has left me in a genuinely difficult position. I humbly ask for Master Chi’s guidance.
Master Chi’s Response
First, let me say that you actually handled the situation of reading and evaluating this person quite well.
You created an environment where he felt at ease — comfortable enough to speak candidly and without reservation. This allowed you to gain a clear picture of who he truly is, giving you the foundation to make a real decision.
By patiently observing him over time and allowing him to fully reveal both his abilities and his inner calculations, you gave yourself exactly what you needed to make a sound judgment.
But what he did next tells you everything.
He leaked client data and marketing plans from his former employer — a direct competitor — and he offered it to you in that manner. That single act disqualifies him, regardless of anything else.
Even if, on paper, he is the most capable person for this role — my advice is: do not hire him.
Because someone who does this to a former employer will eventually do the same to you. And when that day comes, the trouble he brings will be far greater than any sales numbers he could have helped you achieve.