Ask the Headhunter 

My interviewer had asked me to create a proposal and email it over. I have heard horror stories where people submit plans and are completely ripped off and their ideas are stolen. I am a new grad and have never had to do this so I am not sure if this is an appropriate request. What are your thoughts? 

I am a big believer in submitting a business plan or proposal to a potential employer, especially if you are in the final round of interviews. You have to remember that you are in competition with 1 or 12 other candidates and these types of requests are common among larger companies and for executive roles. It is also pretty common with marketing positions. An interviewer will ask because they want to know if you have the ability to come up with solutions or ideas. If you aren't willing or able to provide input, then you might not be right for the job.



This actually reminds me of a story about one of my colleagues who had to relocated to Australia from the US due to her husband's job being transferred. She is a lawyer and had no connections or network built there. She researched multiple international law firms and approached a few companies with an aggressive offer. She told each firm that she would work for FREE for 30 days. If they'd want to hire her after 30 days, great, if not, no harm. A few companies took her up on her offer and she narrowed it down to one. For the next month, she was the first one in and the last one out of the office, willing to work with anyone on any project, and showed the company that she was the best candidate for the job. Her aggressive offer worked and she was able to work for the law firm she wanted and was able to negotiate a salary based on what the company knew she was worth.


This just goes to show that you have to do the work and show what you are capable of. Why should a company hire you based on your word? If you are asked to throw a plan together, do it! You don't have to put every thought on paper, but enough to show the company how good you are.


It really is uncommon for a company to rip off your ideas. Most of these are rumors or individuals who think they have too much experience and shouldn't have to prove themselves. There are ways to provide your work to a potential employer without giving them the rights to use it. Slap a copyright symbol on your pages. Create a link that can be opened once and taken down so that they don't have access to it down the line. Ask the employer if you can come in to present the ideas in person and print one copy that they cannot keep. If the interviewer asks you to submit the material for them to keep, you can politely decline and let them know the material is not for use without your consent.

Tom Johnston is the headhunter that headhunters seek to find talent for their firms. He is the CEO of SearchPath and has more than 18 years of experience in franchising, search and recruitment, and office development. Tom is recognized as a leader and authority in the executive search industry.

Ask The Headhunter

Dear Headhunter,

I recently interviewed for a job and had prepped with the original job description in mind. When I got there, the interviewer handed me a new job description and said he wanted to go in a new direction with the position. As if that wasn’t weird, the interviewer cut me off every time I went to speak, and asked me multiple questions about my thoughts on his business as if he himself had no idea what he was looking for. As he described his company, it was very clear that it wasn’t going to be a good culture fit and within 15 minutes, I knew I wasn’t the right person for the job, nor did I want to be. Is it ever okay to up and leave the interview?

This is definitely a difficult question but I honestly would say to wait it out. If you feel uncomfortable, your interviewer is making inappropriate advances, it's sexual harassment or you feel unsafe, get out of there!

If you are experiencing bad vibes or the interviewer is awkward, you always want to give them the benefit of the doubt. You never know what type of day the person is having and it is still important to hear them out and at least make the connection. You'll still get a sense on whether or not the job function is something you would want to pursue during your job search and on the plus side, it's practice. It may not be the job you want, but you never know what types of ideas you can draw from the conversation.

If you are interviewing with a good company, they want to put their best foot forward and make a good impression. If your interviewer really is rude or you get bad vibes, then it may be a sign of a bad company. Do your research! If others have said the same thing, then there is a reason for it. After your first interview, it is okay to politely and professional ask to be removed from consideration.

It is also important that hiring personnel remember that candidates decline positions just as much as they decline candidates. With review internet sites, a company that is not willing to put their best foot forward will ultimately suffer in the long run.

Tom Johnston is the headhunter that headhunters seek to find talent for their firms. He is the CEO of SearchPath and has more than 18 years of experience in franchising, search and recruitment, and office development. Tom is recognized as a leader and authority in the executive search industry.