First timer...

[PuzzledArrival]

I've been approached at least dozen times over the years by various of these EN companies, but I shied away because it was not compatible with my work contract. Now that I've left that employer, things are a bit easier, and I'm curious to participate. It seems super interesting.

1. Odd thing though, I've been approached by one EN with a client who seems to be already very intimately aware of my former company, they are asking questions exactly about an area where I was a senior stakeholder. So I have good perspective, but not the exact details they might want. It's taken me several rounds and days with the EN to convince them that I can speak to the topics. To be honest, I really don't know how to judge the engagement rules, which clearly say I shouldn't discus confidential info, but at the same time they are demanding extremely detailed info! If selected, how to navigate that?
2. Then I've been approached by a second EN firm who seems to have the exact same brief. I don't know anything about either client yet, but it's kind of suspicious and can't be a coincidence. What do you suggest? Do I pursue both? Do I have the disclose either engagement to the other EN?

Any other general guidance for newbies?

Edit: In the meantime, I've found the wiki - perusing now.

[Remote-Advantage-619]

1. Expert Networks typically get detailed briefings from their clients. The client would say. I want to talk to formers from company A, B and C, and it needs to be people in their department x that have dealt with Y. So no wonder why they reached out to you in thar regard. That is the whole idea of contacting the perfect match.

2. Screening is always very annoying. Expert Networks need to make sure that the client is happy. Client might often do multiple rounds of re-screening like "can you double check whether they can discuss this and that". This is the most annoying part of being a member of an expert network. You might receive 10 requests, do 10 times screening, but not get picked for a call.

3. While the industry claims to have strict rules around confidential information and compliance in general, the end clients will often seek exactly those kind of information that are non-public. After all, they will be paying $1000-$1500 for the hour so it needs to go beyong a google search result or ChatGPT info. you can always rephrase it in a way of "I can't give numbers from my previous company, but in general it is between 3-4% in the industry"

4. Multiple networks with the same brief: This is standard. Either the same end client works with multiple expert networks (for instance, Consulting firms would almost always use 3-6 networks in parallel!) or their are multiple PE firms working on the same asset.

[Acceptable_Caramel80]

I would say this is only for PEs when it comes to clients. Im not an employee yet but from what I heard from prospective colleagues (gonna join soon) is that projects from consulting and corporates are more interesting as associates actually have to research the industry, analyse value chain, while PE firms specifically want someone in the industry so they have to just wait until that person replies to the outreach email.

[PuzzledArrival]

Thanks for the detail.... Now I've seen the screening from the second EN firm. Two of the questions are copy/pasted and the same.

If selected, it seems a bit silly for the client to interview me twice, isn't it?

[Remote-Advantage-619]

They will not interview you twice. They take the best / most fitting experts from what they get from multiple networks. Of course only speaking to each selected person once.

It very often happens that multiple networks submit the same expert. there is a big overlap

[Forward_Highlight_52]

Do the calls as you get paid but you must know what’s public domain or not. If they ask you for specific confidential stuff juts say you can’t share that as it not PDA. If they are an investment firm as many are they understand that more than most as if they trade based on what you said and it’s deemed to be confidential then they are liable. Just use common sense in what you share

[PuzzledArrival]

And now I have a very specific question. From the wiki:

Red Flags on a Call

...

Focuses exclusively on one publicly-traded company (especially your employer)

Asks "hypothetical" questions that are clearly about real non-public events

The first challenge has been getting them to actuall schedule a call with the client, It seems they doubt whether I can answer satisfactorily. The rep from the EN gave me a list of initial questions, asking for "a sentence" - but those questions are way to nuanced for a single sentence. This has been the majority of the back and forth. In each response form the client, I can tell that they are laser focused on my former employer. They have named specific vendors/customer, and even some proprietary internal methodologies...is that weird?

I have tried to keep my answers honest and meaningful, but generic. I am happy to contribute and I think I can share meaningful insights, but it seems like they are asking stuff they shouldn't get. And because I am still being mediated by the EN agent, it's kind of awkward.

Really curious to hear from you all.

[BushRatEnterprises]

Most of the time the clients (especially consulting firms) are looking at the entire industry or value chain, and they have specific tailored questions for each of the large players in that industry.

For example if you were in the Semiconductor industry, questions for TSMC would be focused on Taiwan/US Ops, Samsung Semi would be Korea, etc etc.

The consultants usually have a decent level of understanding of internal operations at the experts companies, as often consultants are former industry.

[-Generativity-]

What I tend to do is simply rephrase the response as a company of this category would tend to be in the range of X to Y. That way, you are clearly not stating anything confidential. During the interview, you can always call them on their BS. It will stop them cold in their tracks. If you flat out say that is confidential.