I handle the borrowing and stealing question by having my new staff members sign an NDA and Non-compete agreement. That is not foolproof but will disuade many from trying it, and give some recourse if they do.

On the other hand, I certainly cant blame employees that want to better their position and do some of their own stuff to earn extra money, as long as it is done on their time and not mine. In fact, I find that level of motivation to be pretty attractive.

I hire people that both have industry experience and those that dont. I agree with Ken in that it is sort of a chemistry thing. Some employees work out and some dont, not unlike any other industry I have ever worked in.

I do sort of like the no experience = no bad habits to break thing, as long as they are reasonably fast learners.


Quote Originally Posted by Xstr8guy
I find it hard to fathom someone who works in this industry for someone else and doesn't at least have their own side projects going. I would worry that they are borrowing ideas or stealing trade secrets. And then they quit and start being competition.

On the other hand, people outside the business may never grasp it. They may possess or learn relevant technical skill but it's no guarantee that they will get adult. Or they may get the porn aspect but never learn the technical side.

Either way, it's a crap shoot.