Broadcom asking too much about current project during phone interview

Broadcom Ltd. / Eng
headbanger

Go to company page Broadcom Ltd. Eng

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Intel, Broadcom Ltd.
headbanger
Mar 12, 2019 17 Comments

I left Broadcom last year. A third party headhunter recently approached me for a position at Broadcom. I was of course open about going back and two phone interviews were scheduled. One with the director and one with the lead. They both insisted on getting details about the current project I’m working on at my current employer. I politely reminded them of my NDA and that I could not dive into details. The director guy seemed to understand but the second phone interviewer got upset about it. What the heck do they expect?! I know Broadcom also has NDAs and I’m not supposed to go around and give away details about their projects in my job interviews. What the heck is wrong with these guys?!

At the end of the second phone interview, I said if I could ask a bit about the job duties of this particular position and the guy mocked me: oh I don’t know if I can give you top secret information. I had to politely remind him I was not asking about the details of his project and that I was asking about the job itself to see if it was in line with my career goals. What a freaking jerk!!

Current TC: $235K

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TOP 17 Comments
  • Did you put your current project on your resume? If you put it in but not be able to talk about it in detail. Then it kinda defeat the point.
    Mar 12, 2019 1
    • Broadcom Ltd. / Eng
      headbanger

      Go to company page Broadcom Ltd. Eng

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      Intel, Broadcom Ltd.
      headbanger
      OP
      Nope. There’s no mentioning of the project at all. There’s no name of the project there. There’s no explanation of what the project does. None of that. I am not that dumb to get myself into trouble with my current employer. I’ve been in this business for 18 years. Nothing about the project can be mentioned until it reaches production and becomes public knowledge.
      Mar 12, 2019
  • So, whats on your resume that cause them to interview you? Should be talking about that.
    Mar 12, 2019 9
    • Why is it difficult keep it abstract enough concentrating on the problem and keeping vital details out? Don’t We do it all the time while posting some work related questions on public forums
      Mar 13, 2019
    • Broadcom Ltd. / Eng
      headbanger

      Go to company page Broadcom Ltd. Eng

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      Intel, Broadcom Ltd.
      headbanger
      OP
      That’d be a question for the interviewer who interviewed me. He insisted on knowing about the details of the the chip I’m currently working on. Instead of focusing more on my skill set and problem solving abilities. I think HW jobs need something like SW leetcode to avoid these situations. Unless of course he was just fishing info on what the competition was doing...
      Mar 13, 2019
  • Intel / Eng
    007agt

    Go to company page Intel Eng

    007agt
    Project name is secret at Intel, except the one that is announced to public.
    Mar 12, 2019 2
    • Broadcom Ltd. / Eng
      headbanger

      Go to company page Broadcom Ltd. Eng

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      Intel, Broadcom Ltd.
      headbanger
      OP
      Yup. I also do work at Intel now. My second time around at Intel. The project I’m working on is classified top secret. So I cannot even mention anything at all about it. Not just the name of it.
      These guys at Broadcom also have to take similar trainings every year. I am surprised both these guys insisted on details of the chip I’m working on. It makes me think they’re fishing for info about what Intel is up to. Considering that both companies directly compete against each other, that is a possibility.
      If they were fishing, I’m starting to think the US gov’t is not talking out of their rear end when they accuse Hock Tan of stealing US 5G technology for the Chinese.
      Mar 12, 2019
    • Intel / Eng
      DonaldDD's

      Go to company page Intel Eng

      DonaldDD's
      ^You have to believe that China is a real threat. That analysis isn't just from a politician, but from our independent federal intelligence agencies. Half of their job is security clearances, which is literally protecting the nation's information
      Mar 13, 2019
  • Please open the interviewer so that Hock can order audit those guys
    Jun 14, 2019 1