Discussing projects in interviews

[Danish Shaukat]

Hi !
I am a software engineer working in J2ME and other wireless technologies for the last two years. Afew days ago I had applied for a job in another company. They have called me for an interview. They have asked me to write all the projects that I have done for my current company on a CD and give that CD to them.
Now frankly speaking, I think this is immoral and illegal. Those projects with or even without the source code are the intellectual property of my current company. They do not belong to me. So I have absolutely no right to give these projects to other companies who may be the competitors of my current employer.
I have some questions regarding such issues.
1- Do you agree with me that it is illegal and immoral to give projects of one comany to another company ?
2- Will it be morally right to give this potential employer a demo of the projects of my current company and then bring the CD back. I do feel that there is a slight chance of a bad scene being created if they try to copy stuff and I try to stop them. Moreover my curent company has yet to market some of the applications and again spreading their ideas would be morally wrong.
3- After all when I am looking for a new job, a potential employer will certainly ask about the projects/work I have been doing for my last company. So how do I discuss this. What are my limits. Can I just write the name of every project on a piece of paper and give it to them. During the interview I could discuss the projects, but no details should be given in written. And while discussing what is the depth that I can go in ?
Regards,
Danish

[Tim Baker]

Well no you definately can't give them any source for any projects you worked on as an employee at another company. If you've got your own projects then you could but I still wouldn't.
To demonstrate the software you would need the companies (who own the product) permission. They might be willing to do so, but it sounds a bit funny. If you've got a laptop that would be the ideal way to demonstrate.
Basically I think their request is totally unreasonable.
You can certainly describe the nature of the projects you have worked on without any problems, you don't even have to name the projects or products. Just describe the type of work you did, what technologies you used etc.
I know you've been in the industry for a few years but if you have any old university work this is the type of work you can easily show them, because you can give them the report, design, and full or sample code and testing if you wish.

[Mark Herschberg]

Iagree with Tim. This is wrong. But don't say, "no" say "I can give you descriptions of the work I did."
If they want to see products, I think it's ok as long as, a) it's on your computer and b) they products have already been released and are now publically known (this is key).
At this point, I'd see a big yellow flag at this new company--although maybe it's a misunderstanding.
--Mark

[Don Stadler]

Yes. Once I was working for a big digital switch outfit and interviewed with a competitor as my contract was coming to an end. I was asked what I would 'bring over' from my current employer. I told them nothing and asked how they could trust me if I did? I would sell them out as easily as I would my current outfit.
In the end I got an offer and turned them down. I didn't like their style.

[Manish Hatwalne]

Originally posted by Mark Herschberg:
Iagree with Tim. This is wrong. But don't say, "no" say "I can give you descriptions of the work I did."
--Mark

I agree with this totally. Don't give these projects to them, and make it clear politely. If they want to see your work, maybe you can write a small demo app (a small game like tic tac toe, guess a word sort of thing) using J2ME and put these .jad file(s) on a free hosting server and give them this URL. You can demo it ith your mobile and/or simulator. Tell them that your previous work is IPR of your previous employer and you cannot give it to someone else.
HTH,
- Manish

[imre leber]

Or, ...
Maybe they are just testing you to see what you would do/say.