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

9 points by Trent_11011 ↗ HN
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?

10 comments

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

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

quietthrow
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.
mytailorisrich
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.

Trent_11011
> 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.

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

b20000
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.
solardev
"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.

JSeymourATL
Sounds like a phishing expedition-

Worth calling them out,

I'm ethically and contractually bound not to disclose specific details around this work.

At a high-level I'm doing A)B) & C.

I imagine you expect the same standard from your team members.

Then turn the questions on them-

Relative to this role, help me understand what you're trying to accomplish.

What are you priority needs/wants? What does success look like?

As for your Job Search -

Don't focus on companies and openings.

Instead, look for the guy you can best serve.

There's a Senior Manager/Executive out there who needs your help.

On this, Linkedin Profiles are actually a useful tool.