Am I Paranoid?

Dear Deb:

I am interviewing for a high level R&D position top tier global company.   I signed non-disclosure agreements before the second in-person interview, which is somewhat standard in this industry and at this level.  However, I wonder if they were spying on me during the ride back to the airport. They arranged my car.  The driver quizzed me about the company…if I liked them…where else I was interviewing…to what other cities I have traveled for interviews…my thoughts on companies that I’ve seen.  It was either the nosiest driver in the world – or they paid him to gather intel.

Am I paranoid or does this happen? 

Thank you,

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous:

This is not standard practice, but it does happen in various situations, including job interviews. Based on the questions, it does not seem as though the driver was asking you anything unethical. Also, it could be a case of a very bored driver who has been deprived of human contact all day.

My advice would be to always be careful about revealing your inner thoughts to those that you do not know.  Also, revealing details of other opportunities can impact future negotiations with this company. Keeping things friendly and superficial is advisable.

Regarding the company: If they did ask the driver to probe a bit for information, think about how that makes you feel.  Does this change your interest in the company? Don’t assume they used the driver as a spy and base your entire impression on that.  Instead, do some research and networking to form a more complete impression of the company.  Beyond your inner network, try websites such as Glassdoor to hear about other’s interviewing and work experiences.

All the best,

Deb