Did interviewer think I was asking if he wanted stolen code from my employer? [closed]

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I recently had an initial phone screen interview for a lead software developer role (the interviewer would have been my boss if I landed the role). During the phone screen I was describing a custom software tool that I had helped implement and was using at my current employer. After describing the tool I asked if it was something he was interested in, but I don't remember if I said: "would you be interested in something like that?" or "would you be interested in that?" After I asked him, he just bluntly said "No." and then there was an awkward silence. In retrospect, I think he thought I was saying that I was going to steal code from my employer for this custom tool so that it could be used at his company. Is it probable that this was the case, and if so, how could I reword what I said? I have no intention of stealing any code. What I was trying to impart were the concepts/use cases and asking if they applied to his situation. This custom tool is too specific to my current employer's situation to use much of any code from anyways.



The rest of the phone screen was fairly typical Q&A about what the interviewer is looking to accomplish in the future in regards to refactoring their codebases and processes and how my experience relates to that. Not the worst phone screen I have had, but don't have good vibes about hearing back about an on site interview.



If the interviewer automatically assumed I was asking if he wanted stolen code from my current employer, is that a red flag in any event?







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closed as unclear what you're asking by gnat, paparazzo, Michael Grubey, Mister Positive, GOATNine Aug 29 at 15:47


Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.










  • 4




    no way to tell what he was thinking
    – Kilisi
    Aug 28 at 20:16






  • 1




    How did the rest of the interview go? Is there an indication that there will be follow up from them? What do you hope to accomplish?
    – SiXandSeven8ths
    Aug 28 at 20:24
















up vote
-5
down vote

favorite












I recently had an initial phone screen interview for a lead software developer role (the interviewer would have been my boss if I landed the role). During the phone screen I was describing a custom software tool that I had helped implement and was using at my current employer. After describing the tool I asked if it was something he was interested in, but I don't remember if I said: "would you be interested in something like that?" or "would you be interested in that?" After I asked him, he just bluntly said "No." and then there was an awkward silence. In retrospect, I think he thought I was saying that I was going to steal code from my employer for this custom tool so that it could be used at his company. Is it probable that this was the case, and if so, how could I reword what I said? I have no intention of stealing any code. What I was trying to impart were the concepts/use cases and asking if they applied to his situation. This custom tool is too specific to my current employer's situation to use much of any code from anyways.



The rest of the phone screen was fairly typical Q&A about what the interviewer is looking to accomplish in the future in regards to refactoring their codebases and processes and how my experience relates to that. Not the worst phone screen I have had, but don't have good vibes about hearing back about an on site interview.



If the interviewer automatically assumed I was asking if he wanted stolen code from my current employer, is that a red flag in any event?







share|improve this question














closed as unclear what you're asking by gnat, paparazzo, Michael Grubey, Mister Positive, GOATNine Aug 29 at 15:47


Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.










  • 4




    no way to tell what he was thinking
    – Kilisi
    Aug 28 at 20:16






  • 1




    How did the rest of the interview go? Is there an indication that there will be follow up from them? What do you hope to accomplish?
    – SiXandSeven8ths
    Aug 28 at 20:24












up vote
-5
down vote

favorite









up vote
-5
down vote

favorite











I recently had an initial phone screen interview for a lead software developer role (the interviewer would have been my boss if I landed the role). During the phone screen I was describing a custom software tool that I had helped implement and was using at my current employer. After describing the tool I asked if it was something he was interested in, but I don't remember if I said: "would you be interested in something like that?" or "would you be interested in that?" After I asked him, he just bluntly said "No." and then there was an awkward silence. In retrospect, I think he thought I was saying that I was going to steal code from my employer for this custom tool so that it could be used at his company. Is it probable that this was the case, and if so, how could I reword what I said? I have no intention of stealing any code. What I was trying to impart were the concepts/use cases and asking if they applied to his situation. This custom tool is too specific to my current employer's situation to use much of any code from anyways.



The rest of the phone screen was fairly typical Q&A about what the interviewer is looking to accomplish in the future in regards to refactoring their codebases and processes and how my experience relates to that. Not the worst phone screen I have had, but don't have good vibes about hearing back about an on site interview.



If the interviewer automatically assumed I was asking if he wanted stolen code from my current employer, is that a red flag in any event?







share|improve this question














I recently had an initial phone screen interview for a lead software developer role (the interviewer would have been my boss if I landed the role). During the phone screen I was describing a custom software tool that I had helped implement and was using at my current employer. After describing the tool I asked if it was something he was interested in, but I don't remember if I said: "would you be interested in something like that?" or "would you be interested in that?" After I asked him, he just bluntly said "No." and then there was an awkward silence. In retrospect, I think he thought I was saying that I was going to steal code from my employer for this custom tool so that it could be used at his company. Is it probable that this was the case, and if so, how could I reword what I said? I have no intention of stealing any code. What I was trying to impart were the concepts/use cases and asking if they applied to his situation. This custom tool is too specific to my current employer's situation to use much of any code from anyways.



The rest of the phone screen was fairly typical Q&A about what the interviewer is looking to accomplish in the future in regards to refactoring their codebases and processes and how my experience relates to that. Not the worst phone screen I have had, but don't have good vibes about hearing back about an on site interview.



If the interviewer automatically assumed I was asking if he wanted stolen code from my current employer, is that a red flag in any event?









share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Aug 28 at 20:48

























asked Aug 28 at 20:10









user140989

11




11




closed as unclear what you're asking by gnat, paparazzo, Michael Grubey, Mister Positive, GOATNine Aug 29 at 15:47


Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.






closed as unclear what you're asking by gnat, paparazzo, Michael Grubey, Mister Positive, GOATNine Aug 29 at 15:47


Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.









  • 4




    no way to tell what he was thinking
    – Kilisi
    Aug 28 at 20:16






  • 1




    How did the rest of the interview go? Is there an indication that there will be follow up from them? What do you hope to accomplish?
    – SiXandSeven8ths
    Aug 28 at 20:24












  • 4




    no way to tell what he was thinking
    – Kilisi
    Aug 28 at 20:16






  • 1




    How did the rest of the interview go? Is there an indication that there will be follow up from them? What do you hope to accomplish?
    – SiXandSeven8ths
    Aug 28 at 20:24







4




4




no way to tell what he was thinking
– Kilisi
Aug 28 at 20:16




no way to tell what he was thinking
– Kilisi
Aug 28 at 20:16




1




1




How did the rest of the interview go? Is there an indication that there will be follow up from them? What do you hope to accomplish?
– SiXandSeven8ths
Aug 28 at 20:24




How did the rest of the interview go? Is there an indication that there will be follow up from them? What do you hope to accomplish?
– SiXandSeven8ths
Aug 28 at 20:24










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
2
down vote














If the interviewer automatically assumed I was asking if he wanted stolen code from my current employer, is that a red flag in any event?




No, it's an interview, it's important to prepare and make sure everything you say is clear. You only have a brief time to make a good impression and often they have no prior knowledge of you at all.



Apart from paperwork, what they see and hear is all they have to judge on and they're already looking with a critical eye.



For the rest of the question, there is no way of knowing what he was thinking or if that was even a factor.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Next time don't ask that question. It doesn't really make sense to ask someone if they want something like that, unless you're not interviewing and instead are selling.



    And if you are selling then asking someone that question also doesn't make any sense, unless you spent the last 30 minutes talking to them about what their problems were, and then you just rephrased their problem back as a solution, and said you were selling that.



    But asking an interviewer if they want something you built doesn't make sense - you're not going to be able to rebuild it, and they're not hiring you to build a small tool.



    What you want to sell, so to speak, when you discuss past performances is:



    1. Your ability to succeed

    2. You ability to win people to your way of thinking, leading to success

    3. Tangible measurements of your success

    4. Your problem solving, problem finding and execution abilities (aka point 1).

    So it doesn't matter if you made the next big thing, or a small toy database, what you really need to sell when interviewing for a job is how you hit those 4 points.






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      It sounds like the implication of your question was that you didn't do research on the company, or... had a brain freeze. You sound like you realize the tool is company specific and wouldn't fit elsewhere.



      It makes you sound clueless is all to put it bluntly, not something you'd want to hire for in a leadership position, so definitely don't ask it again, but I seriously doubt it has anything to do with stolen code.






      share|improve this answer



























        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes








        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        2
        down vote














        If the interviewer automatically assumed I was asking if he wanted stolen code from my current employer, is that a red flag in any event?




        No, it's an interview, it's important to prepare and make sure everything you say is clear. You only have a brief time to make a good impression and often they have no prior knowledge of you at all.



        Apart from paperwork, what they see and hear is all they have to judge on and they're already looking with a critical eye.



        For the rest of the question, there is no way of knowing what he was thinking or if that was even a factor.






        share|improve this answer
























          up vote
          2
          down vote














          If the interviewer automatically assumed I was asking if he wanted stolen code from my current employer, is that a red flag in any event?




          No, it's an interview, it's important to prepare and make sure everything you say is clear. You only have a brief time to make a good impression and often they have no prior knowledge of you at all.



          Apart from paperwork, what they see and hear is all they have to judge on and they're already looking with a critical eye.



          For the rest of the question, there is no way of knowing what he was thinking or if that was even a factor.






          share|improve this answer






















            up vote
            2
            down vote










            up vote
            2
            down vote










            If the interviewer automatically assumed I was asking if he wanted stolen code from my current employer, is that a red flag in any event?




            No, it's an interview, it's important to prepare and make sure everything you say is clear. You only have a brief time to make a good impression and often they have no prior knowledge of you at all.



            Apart from paperwork, what they see and hear is all they have to judge on and they're already looking with a critical eye.



            For the rest of the question, there is no way of knowing what he was thinking or if that was even a factor.






            share|improve this answer













            If the interviewer automatically assumed I was asking if he wanted stolen code from my current employer, is that a red flag in any event?




            No, it's an interview, it's important to prepare and make sure everything you say is clear. You only have a brief time to make a good impression and often they have no prior knowledge of you at all.



            Apart from paperwork, what they see and hear is all they have to judge on and they're already looking with a critical eye.



            For the rest of the question, there is no way of knowing what he was thinking or if that was even a factor.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Aug 28 at 20:38









            Kilisi

            96.6k53221380




            96.6k53221380






















                up vote
                2
                down vote













                Next time don't ask that question. It doesn't really make sense to ask someone if they want something like that, unless you're not interviewing and instead are selling.



                And if you are selling then asking someone that question also doesn't make any sense, unless you spent the last 30 minutes talking to them about what their problems were, and then you just rephrased their problem back as a solution, and said you were selling that.



                But asking an interviewer if they want something you built doesn't make sense - you're not going to be able to rebuild it, and they're not hiring you to build a small tool.



                What you want to sell, so to speak, when you discuss past performances is:



                1. Your ability to succeed

                2. You ability to win people to your way of thinking, leading to success

                3. Tangible measurements of your success

                4. Your problem solving, problem finding and execution abilities (aka point 1).

                So it doesn't matter if you made the next big thing, or a small toy database, what you really need to sell when interviewing for a job is how you hit those 4 points.






                share|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote













                  Next time don't ask that question. It doesn't really make sense to ask someone if they want something like that, unless you're not interviewing and instead are selling.



                  And if you are selling then asking someone that question also doesn't make any sense, unless you spent the last 30 minutes talking to them about what their problems were, and then you just rephrased their problem back as a solution, and said you were selling that.



                  But asking an interviewer if they want something you built doesn't make sense - you're not going to be able to rebuild it, and they're not hiring you to build a small tool.



                  What you want to sell, so to speak, when you discuss past performances is:



                  1. Your ability to succeed

                  2. You ability to win people to your way of thinking, leading to success

                  3. Tangible measurements of your success

                  4. Your problem solving, problem finding and execution abilities (aka point 1).

                  So it doesn't matter if you made the next big thing, or a small toy database, what you really need to sell when interviewing for a job is how you hit those 4 points.






                  share|improve this answer






















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote









                    Next time don't ask that question. It doesn't really make sense to ask someone if they want something like that, unless you're not interviewing and instead are selling.



                    And if you are selling then asking someone that question also doesn't make any sense, unless you spent the last 30 minutes talking to them about what their problems were, and then you just rephrased their problem back as a solution, and said you were selling that.



                    But asking an interviewer if they want something you built doesn't make sense - you're not going to be able to rebuild it, and they're not hiring you to build a small tool.



                    What you want to sell, so to speak, when you discuss past performances is:



                    1. Your ability to succeed

                    2. You ability to win people to your way of thinking, leading to success

                    3. Tangible measurements of your success

                    4. Your problem solving, problem finding and execution abilities (aka point 1).

                    So it doesn't matter if you made the next big thing, or a small toy database, what you really need to sell when interviewing for a job is how you hit those 4 points.






                    share|improve this answer












                    Next time don't ask that question. It doesn't really make sense to ask someone if they want something like that, unless you're not interviewing and instead are selling.



                    And if you are selling then asking someone that question also doesn't make any sense, unless you spent the last 30 minutes talking to them about what their problems were, and then you just rephrased their problem back as a solution, and said you were selling that.



                    But asking an interviewer if they want something you built doesn't make sense - you're not going to be able to rebuild it, and they're not hiring you to build a small tool.



                    What you want to sell, so to speak, when you discuss past performances is:



                    1. Your ability to succeed

                    2. You ability to win people to your way of thinking, leading to success

                    3. Tangible measurements of your success

                    4. Your problem solving, problem finding and execution abilities (aka point 1).

                    So it doesn't matter if you made the next big thing, or a small toy database, what you really need to sell when interviewing for a job is how you hit those 4 points.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Aug 28 at 21:01









                    bharal

                    11.4k22453




                    11.4k22453




















                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        It sounds like the implication of your question was that you didn't do research on the company, or... had a brain freeze. You sound like you realize the tool is company specific and wouldn't fit elsewhere.



                        It makes you sound clueless is all to put it bluntly, not something you'd want to hire for in a leadership position, so definitely don't ask it again, but I seriously doubt it has anything to do with stolen code.






                        share|improve this answer
























                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          It sounds like the implication of your question was that you didn't do research on the company, or... had a brain freeze. You sound like you realize the tool is company specific and wouldn't fit elsewhere.



                          It makes you sound clueless is all to put it bluntly, not something you'd want to hire for in a leadership position, so definitely don't ask it again, but I seriously doubt it has anything to do with stolen code.






                          share|improve this answer






















                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote









                            It sounds like the implication of your question was that you didn't do research on the company, or... had a brain freeze. You sound like you realize the tool is company specific and wouldn't fit elsewhere.



                            It makes you sound clueless is all to put it bluntly, not something you'd want to hire for in a leadership position, so definitely don't ask it again, but I seriously doubt it has anything to do with stolen code.






                            share|improve this answer












                            It sounds like the implication of your question was that you didn't do research on the company, or... had a brain freeze. You sound like you realize the tool is company specific and wouldn't fit elsewhere.



                            It makes you sound clueless is all to put it bluntly, not something you'd want to hire for in a leadership position, so definitely don't ask it again, but I seriously doubt it has anything to do with stolen code.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered Aug 28 at 21:16









                            RandomUs1r

                            68929




                            68929












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