What to Do If You Are Asked to Sign an NDA Before a Job Interview

Being asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement before an interview is not always a red flag — some companies legitimately want to discuss proprietary information during the process. But you should read every word before you sign, paying special attention to scope, duration, and what exactly it restricts. A reasonable NDA covers specific confidential information shared during the interview. An unreasonable one might try to restrict your ability to work for competitors or claim ownership over your existing ideas.

If the scope is too broad, you can ask to narrow it. A professional company will respect that request. If they pressure you to sign immediately without reading, or if the NDA is unusually long and complex for a simple interview, trust your instinct — that tells you something about how they treat boundaries.