# Working for a competitor

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-for-a-competitor/768537>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 14, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-for-a-competitor/768537 "2016-10-14T18:45:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-for-a-competitor/768537/1 "2016-10-14T18:45:46Z")

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So sorta funny story, a few months ago we interviewed a guy from one of our main competitors. I was one of the interviewers but not the person making the final decision, just gave my feedback. He was offered a job but didn’t take it, no hard feelings. I think it came down to money. It happens, too bad, he was a nice guy.

Anyhow, I recently got a call from competitor’s HR department. Apparent he referred me for a job? My only connection to this guy is that I interviewed him. We have a few common linkedin friends but anyone I’ve talked to in the past year. But, I supposed he can say he met me through so-and-so.

So, story aside, what are the … ethical concerns, with leaving to work for a competitor? Is it always a bridge burner? These are both giant corporations, not exactly in the same space, but for the project I work on they are a direct competitor. But, I can always say I won’t work on X, and if that is the only reason they are interested they don’t have much reason to keep talking to me.

Also if anyone remembers my [last thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=804113) about taking a new job or accepting a counter offer, I did take the counter offer. I admit, that probably does make you wonder why I am asking this question now, I don’t have a great answer for that.

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**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-for-a-competitor/768537/2 "2016-10-14T19:26:41Z")

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I work with a guy who left a corporation twice and came back twice. Some places actually see it as a plus as he had knowledge of a competitive company’s strategies, policies etc. It was a good way to learn if your competitor had a better way of doing things than you.

Also, the guy in your example sounds like he may have been scouting instead of shopping for a new job. Some companies will do a little dirty work by sending an employee to scout for talent by interviewing with people in their field in other companies.