Ask HN: How to deal with Interviewer/HR trying to extract information?

#1

Post by Trent_11011 » Mon, Oct 23, 2023, 11:31 PM UTC

I applied for a job at our main competitor. I've had two interviews with them so far and I'm really disappointed. It seems that their HR and the hiring manager is more interested what my current company is doing rather than what my expertise is.

Question: How do you navigate such questions? I feel like I ethically can't share non-public information with competitors. But their HR was pushing hard for more detailed info that I basically refused to share.

In the current market, I don't have a lot of options so I'm between a rock and hard place. What do?

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with Interviewer/HR trying to extract information?

#2

Post by KuriousCat » Mon, Oct 23, 2023, 11:52 PM UTC

You can say that you signed an NDA or your employment agreement with the company forbids you from sharing those details. It might also be the case the interviewers are testing you and assessing how easy it is go get proprietary information out of you. If the HR insists, be polite and repeat your message. Explicitly mention that you are not comfortable to disclose information related to your previous company and happy to share more details about your expertise.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with Interviewer/HR trying to extract information?

#3

Post by codingdave » Tue, Oct 24, 2023, 12:33 AM UTC

"I ethically can't share non-public information with competitors."

Yep, say that. If they don't accept it, walk away.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with Interviewer/HR trying to extract information?

#4

Post by quietthrow » Tue, Oct 24, 2023, 1:20 AM UTC

I would question why you are still talking to these people. Do you really want to work there? If you do (not judging you) then tell them You are under a NDA and hence can’t share the specific detail. My two cents would be to keep morality out of it. Sounds counterintuitive but it’s a better way to go about these situations.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with Interviewer/HR trying to extract information?

#5

Post by winderwoman » Tue, Oct 24, 2023, 3:46 AM UTC

What did you expect when you decided to go work for a competitor?

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with Interviewer/HR trying to extract information?

#6

Post by mytailorisrich » Tue, Oct 24, 2023, 6:27 AM UTC

quietthrow wrote: post #4

I would question why you are still talking to these people. Do you really want to work there? If you do (not judging you) then tell them You are under a NDA and hence can’t share the specific detail. My two cents would be to keep morality out of it. Sounds counterintuitive but it’s a better way to go about these situations.

Because everyone does that, it's fair game to try. It's also professional not to share confidential information.

I would simply say that I can't discuss these details, if pushed then make the point stronger why saying that I won't discuss them.

But it can also be useful to hint that you know a lot. You should be selling yourself after all.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with Interviewer/HR trying to extract information?

#7

Post by b20000 » Tue, Oct 24, 2023, 8:59 AM UTC

i’ve had experiences at FAANG where they ask me how i did x or y engineering accomplishment at my company as a founder. then, all that matters is the coding interview, but i feel like i got played and my know how stolen, and my experience dismissed all at the same time.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with Interviewer/HR trying to extract information?

#8

Post by Trent_11011 » Tue, Oct 24, 2023, 1:30 PM UTC

quietthrow wrote: post #4

I would question why you are still talking to these people. Do you really want to work there? If you do (not judging you) then tell them You are under a NDA and hence can’t share the specific detail. My two cents would be to keep morality out of it. Sounds counterintuitive but it’s a better way to go about these situations.

> I would question why you are still talking to these people.

I'm under pressure to find a job because of upcoming lay-offs in my department. There aren't many jobs out there and competition is fierce. This is the perfect job for me but I'm really put off by their way of trying to extract information.

I agree with you, I will just mention NDA and see how it goes.

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with Interviewer/HR trying to extract information?

#9

Post by solardev » Tue, Oct 24, 2023, 8:59 PM UTC

winderwoman wrote: post #5

What did you expect when you decided to go work for a competitor?

Maybe "Why did you want to switch?" or "What do you think we can offer you that our competitor didn't?" or even "Is this position something you plan on staying a while at, or will you jump ship to the next best offer as soon as it arrives?".

Not "Hey, by the way, what are your current company's trade secrets?"

Re: Ask HN: How to deal with Interviewer/HR trying to extract information?

#10

Post by solardev » Tue, Oct 24, 2023, 9:03 PM UTC

"I'm sorry, I can't discuss confidential information. That's not something I can share outside the company. However, if you have specific scenarios/architectures/services in mind, I can discuss in how I might go about building or upgrading such a thing?"

If they keep pressing, walk away, man. That's just setting yourself up for a protracted legal battle between the two companies, and the new employer would probably throw you under the bus as soon as it happens ("We'd never do something like that, the new guy volunteered the info!")

If you actually have a NDA, now's the time to use it. If you don't, but feel icky about it, just be firm that you can't share confidential information. It's not worth sacrificing your professional and personal integrity.