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AIBU?

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Original poster

NDA for job description

36 replies

Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:06

I have been approached for what seems a very senior role in a bank. However, before they disclose more details to me they want me to sign an NDA. This is not for the interview but to even talk about the role. Aibu to think this is suspicious?

OP posts:
mytearsricochet · 07/10/2022 23:07

Wow. I’ve never worked in a bank but I can’t think why an NDA would be needed for a job description. How did they approach you? Does it seem to be legitimate in line with what your current role is?

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 07/10/2022 23:08

I was approached about a job this week and was told that the details of the employer had to be kept confidential. No NDA but the recruitment consultant did stress it

I didn't think it was suspicious.

Incognito19 · 07/10/2022 23:09

Think it’s quite common in senior roles.

PrincessButtercupToo · 07/10/2022 23:10

Suspicious how? The fact that a position is open or that the current holder of it is about to be sacked can be very commercially sensitive.

Original poster
Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:10

@mytearsricochet approached by recruiter which looks legitimate. Line of work can be sensitive but that may make sense to sign one before the interview.

OP posts:
CheshireSplat · 07/10/2022 23:10

I've never worked in banking but maybe they have a particular problem that needs fixing and want to keep it quiet. A governance issue, am IT problem maybe. They need someone who can lead the fix so need to disclose something of the problem. I wouldn't have a problem signing a NDA for a job discussion.

I could be completely wrong!

MarmiteCoriander · 07/10/2022 23:12

I have no idea- but is it Coutts, secret Swiss or Cayman Islands bank where discretion is needed??? Is there a VIP section for celebrities/royalty/very wealthy?

Sorry, I don't work in a bank and just trying to think of possibilities? I worked in a private health setting and had to sign one (once employed though) because we had many celebrities attend.

Original poster
Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:13

@PrincessButtercupToo your second point makes me wonder. I have heard of recruitment beginning before someone has been informed that they have been sacked. I wonder if it legal though.

OP posts:
PrincessButtercupToo · 07/10/2022 23:18

Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:13

@PrincessButtercupToo your second point makes me wonder. I have heard of recruitment beginning before someone has been informed that they have been sacked. I wonder if it legal though.

It is, and it’s not so unusual. Senior people tend to leave by negotiated settlement, and expect that their replacement will be waiting ready to start straight away.

DH is / was a senior investment banker who was replaced earlier in the year out of the blue. There was no legal route to move him on, so they had to agree to pay him the best part of a million pounds to waive his employment rights.

I think that what you are being asked to do is pretty normal, and definitely not a risk to you.

Cn120 · 07/10/2022 23:20

My husband is senior in IT and it’s quite normal for home to have to sign NDAs before recruiters will even talk about a role - they won’t even disclose the basics such as which company it’s for etc before signing. I wouldn’t be suspicious at all.

Original poster
Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:20

@PrincessButtercupToo thanks that makes sense. There isn't any end date to the NDA however if the case is that the incumbent is about to be sacked then clearly once the new person starts in the role the NDA would be invalid as this would be public knowledge?

OP posts:
PrincessButtercupToo · 07/10/2022 23:23

Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:20

@PrincessButtercupToo thanks that makes sense. There isn't any end date to the NDA however if the case is that the incumbent is about to be sacked then clearly once the new person starts in the role the NDA would be invalid as this would be public knowledge?

I don’t really know the legal details, but given they don’t know how long the process is it’s not surprising that it doesn’t have an end date.

Unless you were planning to run to the papers or do a bit of insider trading it’s sort of academic; you’re only agreeing to act as you would probably do anyway.

Original poster
Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:27

Thanks, the information is very helpful. Last time I moved jobs was a long time ago and not senior at all 😀

OP posts:
PrincessButtercupToo · 07/10/2022 23:29

Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:27

Thanks, the information is very helpful. Last time I moved jobs was a long time ago and not senior at all 😀

Good luck with the interview, I hope it goes well.

They are unlikely to be asking for an NDA for anything that pays poorly.

Shamoo · 07/10/2022 23:29

Happened to me because the incumbent didn’t know they were losing their job yet, so they wanted to be super careful. Was completely legitimate. Not unheard of at all.

BeanStew22 · 07/10/2022 23:29

Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:20

@PrincessButtercupToo thanks that makes sense. There isn't any end date to the NDA however if the case is that the incumbent is about to be sacked then clearly once the new person starts in the role the NDA would be invalid as this would be public knowledge?

^ this is a likely scenario.

I was contacted about a job a few weeks ago & had to sign an NDA to see the JD/company name: it was because someone was on long term sick leave /possibly being pushed out

Its unusual in my experience but I can see why it happens

donutosaurus · 07/10/2022 23:34

My husband works as a CFO and as others have said this seems to be common when recruiting for senior roles.
Good luck 👍🏻

Original poster
Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:35

@BeanStew22 yes that is the most likely scenario as in my mind as well. The other I can think of is if I am being contacted as I fulfill there diversity requirements. Again this is all new to me so I wonder if companies have to keep this quiet.

OP posts:
Quitelikeacatslife · 07/10/2022 23:38

My husband works as a consultant in finance and I don't know who the end user is he works for as he had to sign nda

BirdinaHedge · 07/10/2022 23:39

I’m aware of this happening in some branches of research in universities and research labs.

PrincessButtercupToo · 07/10/2022 23:40

Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:35

@BeanStew22 yes that is the most likely scenario as in my mind as well. The other I can think of is if I am being contacted as I fulfill there diversity requirements. Again this is all new to me so I wonder if companies have to keep this quiet.

Companies don’t like risk or uncertainty. If they can remove it through a simple agreement then they will. I really don’t think that they are planning or thinking of anything nefarious here, it could even just be that (for example) they may need to ask you a question about how you’d deal with a named potential client.

Original poster
Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:44

@PrincessButtercupToo yes totally get it. It's just that it is an non ending agreement and many things are discussed over time in this process. Just wondering how all of it will be bound to be kept confidential for ever. The agreement is very broad. Definitely over thinking it!

OP posts:
JacquelineCarlyle · 07/10/2022 23:46

I've had this multiple times for senior roles in organisations. It's not necessarily because someone is being pushed out but could be because they don't want competitors to know they're recruiting for a certain type of role etc.

Regardless, this is legitimate in my experience. Good luck!

pinkpanel · 07/10/2022 23:47

What are your concerns? I mean do you think they could be trying to trick you into signing something other than an NDA?

From experience it could be to work on the integration of a merger that's not public yet? Launch of a product or service that's not been shared publicly?

PrincessButtercupToo · 07/10/2022 23:50

Rp735 · 07/10/2022 23:44

@PrincessButtercupToo yes totally get it. It's just that it is an non ending agreement and many things are discussed over time in this process. Just wondering how all of it will be bound to be kept confidential for ever. The agreement is very broad. Definitely over thinking it!

Like you said above, it’ll all become moot once the information becomes known a little bit down the road.

Also, they aren’t going to be revealing who killed JFK or where the alien spaceships are held, it’ll be mundane corporate information, and no-one’s going to be listening in to your calls afterwards. As long as you aren’t getting a taxi to their competitor straight after to try to sell information then I think that it’s just not a “thing.”