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Idea stolen during an interview. What should I do?

29 points interviewwtf | 10 comments | 17 Oct 24 21:16 UTC | HN request time: 1.217s | source | bottom

Keeping this intentionally vague.

I interviewed with a series B company a couple of months ago. During the interview with the CTO I proposed a way that could effectively 3X their MAU. They were genuinely impressed by it, and stated they didn't think of that. Like it seemed natural, and I'm considered an expert in this field.

I ended up not getting the job, and not thinking much of it. Fast-forward a couple of months, and it's their new growth strategy. I got no credit for this, and not even a call back. Is there anything I can do?

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curious_curios ◴[17 Oct 24 21:23 UTC] No.41873958[source]▶
Realistically the best thing you can do is let it go and have the satisfaction you were right. No interview is perfect, there are false positive and negative hires. Don’t take it personally.
replies(1): >>41873972 #
1. interviewwtf ◴[17 Oct 24 21:25 UTC] No.41873972[source]▶
This is what I'm thinking. I have no realistic way of proving it. Like in no way would I want to work in a culture like that. It just feels kinda slimy. Like "your ideas are valuable, but you're not."
replies(2): >>41874002 #>>41876188 #
2. dyingkneepad ◴[17 Oct 24 21:29 UTC] No.41874002[source]▶
Why slimy? They asked a question and you answered without charging for it. It's not their fault.
replies(3): >>41874028 #>>41874380 #>>41874724 #
3. interviewwtf ◴[17 Oct 24 21:31 UTC] No.41874028[source]▶
Idk I at least would've taken a "thank you for the idea". It's medical related so like I'm happy that I can help people. But, at least say thank you.
replies(1): >>41874457 #
4. ok_dad ◴[17 Oct 24 22:19 UTC] No.41874380[source]▶
No! This attitude is why we’re moving to a low trust situation in the modern world: because no one holds any morals and values beyond “get what’s yours”. People shouldn’t treat other people like this!

Name and shame them, OP.

replies(1): >>41875594 #
5. richard___ ◴[17 Oct 24 22:29 UTC] No.41874457{3}[source]▶
Obviously they cant do that. Would be inviting a lawsuit.
6. unethical_ban ◴[17 Oct 24 23:08 UTC] No.41874724[source]▶
Rule of Acquisition #3: Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to.
7. beefnugs ◴[18 Oct 24 01:34 UTC] No.41875594{3}[source]▶
Yeah the best you could do is devote your entire life to hurting them specifically: find out their customers, undercut their service fees. Poach their employees. Use software tools to overwhelm their hiring process with ruses. Get into their supply chain and increase their costs. Find out where the high level executives get their vices and disrupt them.

But would be a total psycho with an exhausting life for most people... So best to just learn that ideas are a dime a dozen, dont give them out for free if they are good

replies(1): >>41878183 #
8. arp242 ◴[18 Oct 24 03:49 UTC] No.41876188[source]▶
It's entirely possible they liked your idea but didn't think you were a good fit for other reasons. Or they found someone else who is a better fit. Or someone else had the same idea.

I don't think they should be obliged to hire you just because you had this one idea that helped them.

It's possible they were not interviewing you in good faith, but just wanted free advice. But that's impossible to prove, and several other explanations that don't require bad faith are entirely plausible.

9. designerbenny ◴[18 Oct 24 10:54 UTC] No.41878183{4}[source]▶
Ah, the old “Count of Monte Cristo” strategy.
replies(1): >>41886728 #
10. Gooblebrai ◴[19 Oct 24 09:33 UTC] No.41886728{5}[source]▶
Missing the part of disguising as a priest