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Idea stolen during an interview. What should I do?

29 points interviewwtf | 2 comments | 17 Oct 24 21:16 UTC | HN request time: 1.641s | source

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?

1. dsattt ◴[18 Oct 24 16:19 UTC] No.41880855[source]▶
If you can take the heat, public shaming always works and also makes other people aware. If you want to remain anonymous, moving on is probably the best option.

What happened to you is called brewdogging, named after a similar public shaming:

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=brewdogging

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/brewdog-...

Or brain rape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlwwVuSUUfc

Or getting free labour out of job candidates: https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/companies-are-using-job-c...

Ignore all the gaslighters telling you maybe the company didn't steal your idea and some fantasy happened where they thought about it themselves. They didn't, the CTO definitely stole it.

If it was me and I had proof I would send an invoice and then sue if not paid. If I didn't have proof I would just write about it and share everywhere and prepare to fight. When I was younger and more naive I also accepted it and moved on. That's also an option.

Whatever you do, be very very careful from now on. Job interviews and hiring changed, it's all about power and self-preservation now. The people doing the hiring will rob and destroy you if it makes them look good to their bosses.

replies(1): >>41889193 #
2. notahacker ◴[19 Oct 24 17:33 UTC] No.41889193[source]▶
Invoicing or bleating on social media is great advice if you want to (i) make some lawyers slightly richer, most of them at your own expense and/or (ii) spend the rest of your life wondering why you don't seem to be getting job interviews...

Following the suggestion of somebody who thinks that people who follow their suggestions should be invoiced for an arbitrary amount or publicly shamed would seem like a bad idea regardless ;)