To be put off by NDA pre-interview

[NCforNDAQuestion]

I'm searching for a new job at the moment - I've been through screening with internal recruiter for a US Tech company and I'm being moved to the stage of first interview.

However...before they will arrange the interview they are asking me to sign a NDA - basically to ensure that I will not disclose any confidential information shared with me in the interview for 5 years or they can sue me. It's an IT role and only mid-level with no people management.

I've just asked my OH and he said it's not a big deal which has surprised me as he usually gets cross if he's asked to stop at a traffic light.

My question is - AIBU to be put off the company by this? I just think they must have major paranoia/trust issues in the culture and also I really don't like that I'm not being offered legal advice before signing and that it's in no way reciprocal in offering to protect anything I tell them.

I've only been through 2 applications in the past 3 years but neither had anything like this.

So the vote is:
YABU - I'm being unreasonable to be worried and shouldn't give it a second thought and just sign it.
YANBU - it's a bit of a red flag and they're likely muppets to work for.

Have you had a look on glassdoor to get a feeling what others have to say about their interview process and what they are like to work for?

I had to sign one when I interviewed at a vfx firm. I found it very exciting! Isnt it just because you might see or discuss projects that aren’t public knowledge yet?

Em I would think maybe the interview has a tech component that they share real life examples in or maybe if they feel a candidate is well suited they share some of their own journey to be open on how the organisation is but don’t want that banded around to competitors. I thinkYABU. You can sign the NDA go for the interview and see who’s theory is right your paranoia one or my company insights one.

I agree good to look on glassdoor. Personally, I would not be put off by this. I expect it is more common in US companies and in tech sector. I'd take it as a sign they want to have a free and frank discussion at interview, if things go well. Employment contracts typically include confidentiality obligations.

I'd say that was reasonable for a tech firm tbh. Or any other company which makes proprietary items.

I decline to engage once there is reference to signings NDA. This is a red flag for me as company is clearly not sure of their USP. NDA Only make sense if you are going for a board position as information at this level is more in-depth.

Just standard procedure. It means the interviewers can talk more openly about the role and it’s projects without you running to their competitors as soon as you get out the door. The industry I work in uses them because aspects of the business would be interesting to the Daily Mail. My BIL works in computer games and it’s standard to sign one before entering the office.

Not a problem to sign unless you plan on gossiping afterwards.

I’ve signed a few of these albeit for short term contracts, it’s always just been to protect product and project details from being released to the public before the company’s official launch. Nothing sinister so far, and generally quite unnecessary in my view but especially Americans like to cover their back.

That wouldn't put me off.

It wouldn't put me off. If you were going to be working on an NDA project then how could they explain about what you would need to be skilled in without revealing what it is
I have 5 internal NDAs at the moment, so they are very normal to me

dchange that's how I feel too . BUT I will take all the feedback on board - thank you all. Glassdoor has mostly positive feedback so I will give it a whirl.

I'm not sure I'll be able to shake off the feeling of 'who do they think they are' though but it will be interesting to see how the interview goes.

I think asking you to sign an NDA is unusual but not unreasonable.

I would be asking for a mutual NDA though, if they didn’t want to accept the same obligations I would be a bit

I wouldn’t have even given this a second thought if I was asked this.

I would just assume it was to allow them to have a more open conversation during the interview process which is surely a positive thing.

I do think you are overthinking this OP

I think that could potentially be exciting - lots of innovation, enterprise and invention. On the other hand it could be because the director likes putting his hands up women’s skirts.

I worked for a US technology company as a contractor, in fact had to sign an NDA before I even knew the salary. It was a great job, I loved it and could see why the NDA was there really. It means you can get stuck in and see information really quickly, far fewer levels of people to hide it in. Only downside is makes it impossible to brag about in job interviews and the like and looks a bit weird on a CV.

But as an interviewee you wouldn't disclose anything you weren't allowed to or didn't want to anyway? It's within your control.

I signed an NDA for a Customer Service Manager role. It was for a very big name and turned out the job role was being created as part of a restructure that would lead to job losses etc and so many things linked that they wouldn't have been able to properly discuss the job role if I hadn't signed. I saw it as been open about the business I was potentially going to join.

Yeah, I'd think it's more about access to tech files etc that they don't want sharing.

They're covering their backs but that can be taken as them being prepared and professional rather than as something sinister.

You are being ridiculous. It's just to protect their intellectual property. As a master's student (in biology) we all had to sign NDA s before a class on fictional business proposals...just in case any of them were actually any good. It's nothing threatening to you. Just don't steal their information and you will be fine