Revealing technicial secrets during a job interview

[BobbyParticipant 140]

I’m getting at least middle-aged now and have done a large number of different projects over my lifetime.

One of my last projects was working for myself. The project is almost unique in the world. It has at least five, possibly over ten different competing products. But the way it does things is different to all the other projects. It has done quite well and brings in a reasonable amount of money. The reason it does things in a unique way, is because the way I chose is difficult. It is almost a black art to do things the way I did. None of this will be obvious to anyone outside the niche area. You can do things a different way and get the same results and to do it will be 100x easier, but I guess some customers will prefer one way to another.

Anyway I had a job interview a little while ago. The interviewer questioned me on my project. I spoke about it for maybe 5 – 10 minutes. He then inadvertenly moved on to an area in my project, one stage removed from its technical secrets, although he wasn’t to know that. Anyway at that stage I said I couldn’t talk anymore about it. He then replied that unless I spoke about my project he couldn’t evaluate me.

Anyway I got told after by Human Resources they wouldn’t give me a job. I did tell the HR woman that I couldn’t reveal technical secrets about my project. She spoke to my interviewer and tried to get him to budge from his decision, but he would not. The main work of the company that people from the outside see is totally different to my project.

The company I interviewed for has a world famous reputation and everyone says how wonderful it is to work there. Working there could have changed my life.

Did I do the right thing by not spilling all about my project during the interview? I guess the interviewer asks everyone about their projects. If it is a university project or a run-of-the-mill thing, I guess talking about it does not matter. But if the project generates real money and you rely on it for your income, you would be more protective.

[Jan SobieskiParticipant 28791]

Or steal your idea.

Love is just alimony waiting to happen. Visit mgtow.com.

[Freeman_KParticipant 3524]

Bobby wrote:

Did I do the right thing by not spilling all about my project during the interview?

Yes you did the right thing.

You would not want to work for a company that insists on revealing technical secrets anyway, this sets the stage very early regarding the boundaries of how much abuse with storm your way. I was working once for a “company with world famous reputation and everyone says how wonderful it is to work there”. It was the worst job experience in my life.

The choices we make, not the chances we take, determine our destiny

[KeymasterKeymaster]

Bobby wrote:

Did I do the right thing by not spilling all about my project during the interview?

You can always say you signed a non discourse agreement and are not permitted to speak about it for 2 years. Tell them revealing company secrets is not your business and you are only interested in the type of company who respects that – and expects the same from their own employees.

Don’t forget, you’re also interviewing THEM.
This is what HR t~~~ts and hiring managers always seem to forget.

If they had any sense of value, they would respect that “you can keep a secret” and that’s worth a lot on its own. Clearly they don’t have respect for that, so they can’t expect the same from their employees.

It was a s~~~ test, and there is a high probability it REALLY had nothing to do with you not getting the job. Are they looking for the BEST person? Or are they looking for the best ass licker who stuffs his tongue up their murky hoops and polishes it clean.

ALWAYS show them The Great and Powerful OZ.
Never let them see the little man behind the curtain.
They don’t deserve it.

Show them WHAT you’ve done –>> but never HOW you did it.
That’s what makes you marketable.

Freeman_K wrote:

I was working once for a “company with world famous reputation and everyone says how wonderful it is to work there”. It was the worst job experience in my life.

Plus that ^^

If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.

[CPilotParticipant 79]

That is good s~~~…”you are also interviewing the company.” I have never seen that as an interview tip or was taught that.

A man that stops caring is a big deal.

[The Laughing ManParticipant 1020]

Keymaster wrote:

Don’t forget, you’re also interviewing THEM.
This is what HR t~~~ts and hiring managers always seem to forget.

This, always have that in the back of your mind.

I thought what I'd do was I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes...or should I?

[KeymasterKeymaster]

The Laughing Man wrote:

This, always have that in the back of your mind.

It’s extremely important.

Also never forget who placed the ad. Remind them if you have to.

“So tell us… why are you looking?”.

“I …. don’t …. understand the question. You placed an ad. I merely responded to your need for someone like me. So that’s my question. Why are YOU looking?”.

And that’s flipping the script on them.

Subtly let them know you will work tomorrow whether they hire you or not, but they won’t necessarily have found the right person. Women operate like that too.

“Sorry I’m not intrested”.

“Oh honey, I didn’t come over to find out if YOU were interested. I am here to find out if > I < could be interested, first.".

It’s important to remind them you have to WANT to work for them.

In an interview situation….

YOUR job is to give them 101 excellent reasons why they would want you.
THEIR jobs to give you AT LEAST ONE reason to want to work for them.

You can even say that out loud when they ask you that dumb vaginized question about “salary requirements”. Their job is to give you one reason to want to work there and they can start with an OFFER. If they aren’t even willing to do that much, you do NOT want to work there.

You can even say that out loud before they try to disqualify you. They should be looking for reasons to qualify you anyway. If they are looking for reasons to DIS-qualify a positive character value….. they are the wrong company.

If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.

[narwhalParticipant]

It’s not just the interview, but the entire time that you are employed with them.

I once had a performance review where a manager tried to tell me that my poor rating was a good thing because it inspired me to work harder. He was surprised when I informed him that it was bad because my efforts were obviously not appreciated. The whole thing was s~~~ anyway as it was a not so cleverly disguised seniority ranking, performance really didn’t matter.

Ok. Then do it.

[KevinStylesParticipant 2580]

That’s too bad, sucks to loose a job hire for that reason. But to me you demonstrated your integrity to protect former employer trade secrets and taht should have been recognized.

[RockmaninoffParticipant 1641]

What I usually do is say: “Unfortunately, they had me sign a bunch of NDAs, so I can’t talk too in detail. I can tell you, however, that it was [really general idea of project].”

I find no one will push farther than that. They’ll like that you have respect for your current employer.

Keymaster wrote:

You can even say that out loud when they ask you that dumb vaginized question about “salary requirements”. Their job is to give you one reason to want to work there and they can start with an OFFER. If they aren’t even willing to do that much, you do NOT want to work there.

Having given this a bit of thought, I’ve decided that I disagree. I think a professional would know exactly what he’s worth and wouldn’t be afraid to ask for it.

If they say that what you want is too high for the budget for this position, you now have the upper-hand: you can say “well, then, why should I take this position for less? What do YOU have to offer?”

". . . elle, suivant l’usage des femmes et des chats qui ne viennent pas quand on les appelle et qui viennent quand on ne les appelle pas, s’arrêta devant moi et m’adressa la parole"—Prosper Mérimée

[GrumpParticipant 14]

narwhal wrote:

It’s not just the interview, but the entire time that you are employed with them.

I once had a performance review where a manager tried to tell me that my poor rating was a good thing because it inspired me to work harder. He was surprised when I informed him that it was bad because my efforts were obviously not appreciated. The whole thing was s~~~ anyway as it was a not so cleverly disguised seniority ranking, performance really didn’t matter.

Excellent advice.

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