Stolen ideas - no job offer
I little while ago I had an interview for a new marketing job. THe employer asked me to bring in some ideas for their website and some of their social media pages. I shared them all the while this guy was taking notes on what I said. I thought the interview had gone pretty well. Turns out I didn't get the job. Oh well, whatever. I just looked the company up again out of pure curiosity and noticed the ended up doing 80% of what I had mentioned in the interview!!! They completely stole my ideas and i got NOTHING for it! I'm so pissed this happened!
Welcome to the party. Graphic designers of the world. Keep trying...
Leo,
Firstly, their actions show what creative genius you are and what losers they are. Moreover, it shows that you wouldn't want to work for an employer that STEALS! Believe you me, if they did this, it's no telling what else that they would do. Their actions are thievery in the lowest form! I know there is something far greater and better for you, a place where your ideas will be accepted and show cased in the right way!
I think eventually only the lucky ones don't get burned at some point. One time I accepted a writing position, and I was 4 essays in before i realized nobody was going to pay me. Another time i went on what i thought was an interview ended up being me giving free consulting and the serious run around. i agree with another poster, even if it isn't successful, you need to make them feel your wrath and be wary of doing this to any one else through an appeal followed by a litigation threat, followed by actual litigation. I didn't do that, but hey, that's what SHOULD happen. problem is, they know you are unemployed and vulnerable and therefore not likely to bite back.
You should never "put all your cards on the table" during an interview. Consider it a lesson learned and don't do it again. You'll never get anything from those people because you can't prove they stole your ideas.
Confront them in a professional manner but unless you have any legal binding on paper nothing you can do except let them know you feel that they're interview process is a scam for free advice
Happened to me as well. I had to do a marketing project, which they loved, and then hired someone else.
What business was that?
Leo:
Sorry to hear you went through this. Unfortunately, it is a common business practice. I once worked for a startup tech firm. The HR director found it much cheaper to put an ad out for a job and then use the interviews to get free consulting than to just hire a consultant.
As it was suggested, consider giving feedback on what they are doing now as opposed to concrete suggestions on how to fix it. Bring samples of your work from the past. Show potential employers WHAT you did but don't share HOW.
Consider this a lesson learned. No use in reaching back out to the company. Besides, you probably wouldn't want to work for such a company anyway. And it's highly doubtful that they will comp you for the ideas you provided.
I am trying to be careful about this as well. I have a company asking for work samples on new product released and I am password protecting everything. I am also stamping every document I send to them. I am hoping that is enough...I don't even know what to do, if this happens to me. I would be devastated! I am so sorry that happened to you, its not right and not ethical.
This occurs a lot...I had a similar situation happen to me. I've adjusted my ideas to be more abstract without offering technical details. Good luck in your search!