Negotiation Expert Cautions Against 'Theft at Interviews'

Offers Seven Precautions for Requests for Information and Creative Efforts

NEW YORK, February 22, 2011 - 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

Alan L. Sklover, Attorney, Author and Blogger, +1-212-757-5000, info at SkloverWorkingWisdom.com