Interesting job interview dilemma

[biosurfer1]

I have a job interview today. I have a current job which is fine but upward movement seems vague at best so I started looking into other options.

I just found out this morning from a co-worker that her boss was asked to help this new company with the job interviews I am 100% sure he is helping with the interviews for the position I have an interview for.

I used to work in his group before he had the job, and still interact with him a lot since my current job requires me to do so. I don't know him very well but isn't this a huge conflict of interest??

What should I do here? I know I have every right to interview with whoever I want, but this seems like a very sticky situation.

[porsche4life]

Does your employer know he is helping with the interviews? Seems that could be a very big no no. Also, can you email HR at the new place and let them know the situation and request he not be on the interview team to protect your current job.

[masraum]

Wow! Good luck. Yeah, seems like it's a situation that's not very good for you for several reasons.

[911SauCy]

Or, they suspect your fishing and want to freak you out so you don't go to the interview...

[biosurfer1]

Yes, current employer knows he is helping with the interviews. At least his direct manager does, its on his work calender.

This is a weird situation for me for sure, but I wonder if anyone on his direct team is interviewing!

I will be calling their HR department to talk about it but don't you think by this point he already knows I'm one of the interviews? I'm sure they were given the resumes to go over before conducting the interviews.

[biosurfer1]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

Or, they suspect your fishing and want to freak you out so you don't go to the interview...

They think I'm fishing so they contact a non-direct manager at another company and have him conduct interviews to freak out one person? I'm not sure I follow

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

They think I'm fishing so they contact a non-direct manager at another company and have him conduct interviews to freak out one person? I'm not sure I follow

Me either...haha

I thought it was a co-workers boss, who would be above you on the ladder...no?

[biosurfer1]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

Me either...haha

I thought it was a co-workers boss, who would be above you on the ladder...no?

Ah, I get it now. No, its a manager at my current company (whom I work with almost daily) who was asked by this other company to help with interviews. I happen to be one of those interviews.

[stomachmonkey]

What is the relationship between your company and this new one?

Are there common owners/investors?

That is about the weirdest thing I've ever heard.

The only explanation that is remotely reasonable in my mind, barring any mutual business arrangement, is the Manager is also jumping ship but it's being kept quiet.

[biosurfer1]

publicly owned municipal utility districts, both of them. I agree I didn't ever see this coming. He is basically helping a company interview for a position that would be a direct report to him at this company...the likelihood of one of his current direct reports applying for this job would be very high. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if some of them did. At least he isn't my direct report, but still very odd.

I suppose its possible he is leaving but I doubt it, only here a year plus its known he is helping this other company.

I talked with the HR department and they made it seem like its no big deal, to still come in and they would make sure everyone is comfortable with the process. That isn't the answer I was looking for and I'm already uncomfortable with the whole thing.

[stomachmonkey]

So not direct competitors due to municipal boundaries?

Just providing similar service in their territory.

I still find that extremely odd if not outright ****ing bizarre.

The new company is saying that they have enlisted someone to help interview people who may have a detrimental effect on his primary employer if they accept a position with the new company.

No one see's the obvious conflict of interest here?

[Z-man]

Sounds like the other company is using your current company's mgmt. (the guy they are asking to help interview folks) as a means of stealing talent from your current employer. Not a very ethical situation - and that poses as question: Do you want to work for a company that potentially uses such tactics to steal talent from a company?

-Z

[biosurfer1]

I couldn't agree more. I'm not worried about my current position but this is beyond weird.

We are not direct competitors but still, what if this guy thinks I can't be replaced at my current company, wouldn't that effect his judgement? They said they would ask any conflicts to step out of the room but why would you choose someone who can't be in all interviews.

I'm honestly thinking about pulling out of the interview...there isn't enough upside from my viewpoint.

[stomachmonkey]

Sure seems like someone is looking to get themselves sued.

I too would question going to work for an organization that thinks this is OK.

I'm not up on CA laws but I do know that in other states I've worked a current/former employer can not provide any information about an employee other than verify that they were/are an employee, title, service dates and separation.

This would seem to circumvent that as the Manager has 1st hand knowledge of certain candidates and it's simply not possible for him to be unbiased.

[Evans, Marv]

I think the damage (if any) is done. Since no doubt the interviewers already know who will be interviewed, it doesn't seem like it would improve the situation if you withdrew the day of the interview. Ideally an employer can't hold it against you (I said ideally) for wanting to improve your situation. I would think at this point, it would be more prudent to go ahead with the interview and let the chips fall where they may. On the bright side, there is a chance it might work out to your advantage in some ways.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Sure seems like someone is looking to get themselves sued.

Payday for biosurfer! You either get the job, or have "proof" of malfeasance that kept you from getting the job.

[biosurfer1]

well I pulled out of the interview. I don't know what the deal is but I don't want to be part of a hiring process that includes managers from my current company.

An HR person called me and I told her my concerns and she acted as if she didnt understand at all. They do this all the time, its very common in public entities since they need help hiring the right person, etc. She said they give the list to the interviewers at the beginning of the day and ask if they know anyone so he wouldn't be in the interview anyways but now he knows I'm looking for a job. I dont think he would say anything to my current management about it but at least I'll know where it came from if he does.

I won't apply for a job again at this company if this is how they treat candidates. I'm stumped at how this HR person couldn't see how using a manager from a competing company to help conduct interviews is bad for them in every way possible.

FYI, I know for a fact that this manager will need to hire 2-3 people for the EXACT same position at our company in a couple months....wonder where he'll pull potential hires from???

[Miguel Antonett]

This is a typical case of free enterprise...

You sure can interview and there are laws that protect you - I understand you already withdrew from it though - and tell them before the interview begins "this interview process must be kept private & confidential because of the potential and aparent conflict of intetrest between the parties; and furthermore, there should be no harrassment or discrimination due to the interviewer's/interviewee relationship."

That posture might NOT get you the job but at least you have peace of mind... On the other hand, the new employer might like it and hire you...!

So, decissions, decissions...

[Tobra]

It all sounds pretty shady to me.

[biosurfer1]

Yep, too shady to pursue.

Glad I'm not the only one who thought this whole thing was nuts.

btw, I did mark on the application it was not OK to contact my current employer, apparently they dont think they did anything wrong.