Discretion in job applications

September 7, 2013 6:43 AM

I would like to send out job applications to companies that are close to my own company. For example one company is located in the same building as my current employer and everyone eats lunch in the same canteen. I would also like to apply to companies that are working on joint projects with my company -- where I am one of the representatives of my current company in the project/collaboration. Two questions: should I explicitly ask for discretion? Or is that a given and/or kind of shady sounding? Also, is it bad form to apply to the companies that are working with us where I am a team-member?
posted by anonymous to Work & Money (4 answers total)

should I explicitly ask for discretion?

Yes, unless you ask otherwise, the potential employer will assume that you have no problem with taking you to lunch anywhere. It's pretty hard to explain away a lunch with people from other companies without lying. Asking to keep the interview confidential from your current employer should be sufficient to indicate to them that you are trying to keep your current job while looking for other opportunities.

Also, is it bad form to apply to the companies that are working with us where I am a team-member?

You should check if you have a non-compete agreement in place that would prevent this sort of employment relationship. Further, you will be bound by your employment agreement with your current employer, which prevents any transfer of proprietary information to the new employer and the term "proprietary information" can be quite extensive. Finally, you might find that your potential employer doesn't want to hire you to avoid these sorts of potential problems. It's not really bad form, but it's not as easy as applying for a company unrelated to what you do right now.

For what it's worth, in situations I've seen this happen, people from the company the employee left will look a little bit strangely at the employee when they see them working on the same team but for a different company.
posted by saeculorum at 7:38 AM on September 7, 2013

It is absolutely okay to ask for discretion, and not a lot of explanation is required.

"As your firm is located in the same building as/is engaged in current projects with/etc my current employer, I'd like to discuss this opportunity with you in as discreet a manner as possible. Thank you for your understanding in this."
posted by colin_l at 8:08 AM on September 7, 2013

I am on the job market at the moment. Each prospective employer, when they have called me have asked "Are you OK to talk at the moment?", I assume that's to make sure I'm not in an environment (ie - current employer's office) where it would be difficult to talk. I'm also sure they'd be fine if I suggested a different location for "meetings/interviews" away from the office. These people are in the market of discretion.
posted by Diag at 9:00 AM on September 7, 2013

/Each prospective employer, when they have called me have asked "Are you OK to talk at the moment?", I assume that's to make sure I'm not in an environment (ie - current employer's office) where it would be difficult to talk.
Or it is just polite. I was taught to ask people I call "is now a good time?"

I would be careful about having anything but the most discreet conversations with teams that work with your current employer.
posted by jander03 at 6:13 PM on September 7, 2013