Negotiation Expert Cautions Against 'Theft at Interviews'

NEW YORK, February 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Offers Seven Precautions for Requests for Information and Creative Efforts

A noted expert in "negotiating for yourself at work" sees a growing trend of interviewers inappropriately asking job applicants for creative ideas and confidential information.

Noted author, attorney and blogger, Alan L. Sklover, has just posted an insightful article on his blogsite, SkloverWorkingWisdom.com entitled "Theft at Interviews," in which he observes a rising incidence of such requests during interviews, and offers these "Seven Prudent Precautions:"

    
    1. Be Prepared and Ready to Respond: Consider what you would say, and how
       you would respond to requests for your creative ideas or confidential
       information. Your ease of response may be the most important message 
       you send.
    2. Avoid Specific Discussion of Your Present Employer's Business:
       According to Sklover, interviewees often don't realize the question 
       posed may elicit confidential information. As guidelines, he suggests 
       (a) stick to publicly-known information, and (b) avoid sharing details 
       of present, ongoing or future business activities of your present 
       employer.
    3. Requests for Sharing Confidential Information should be Politely
       Denied: Consider these a test of your honesty and grace under 
       pressure. Acknowledge your inability to share confidential 
       information, and politely "steer" the conversation to safer subjects 
       including industry trends and published articles about recent events.
    4. Creative Works Should be Labeled "Stamped as Owned": When sharing
       portfolio material or design ideas, place labels over work submitted 
       for review, such as "Property of John Smith - Not for Reproduction or 
       Use Without Written Consent."
    5. Substantial Creative Efforts Should Be Paid for and Credited:
       Especially for freelancers, requests for substantial efforts 
       requiring, say, ten hours or more of effort, may deserve a respectful 
       suggestion of payment for time and effort.
    6. If Sharing Business Opportunities, Use Non-Disclosure Materials: Those
       presenting unique business opportunities, commonly termed "Value
       Propositions," are wise to consider prior non-disclosure agreements, 
       whether formal or informal.
    7. Don't be Afraid to Acknowledge Discomfort: Though these represent
       "ticklish" situations to navigate for eager job applicants, it's 
       better to be candid about your concerns than be "stung." Otherwise, 
       you could even lose your present job.

Such insights - and free videos, sample memos and letters, and career coaching and counseling - are available at SkloverWorkingWisdom.com. Subscribe for free.

    
    For Further Information:   Alan L. Sklover, Attorney, Author and Blogger
                               +1-212-757-5000

                               info@SkloverWorkingWisdom.com