Ten Useful Tips for Job Seekers and Employees

• Read what your employer gives you before signing anything, and keep copies.

• Be truthful on resumes and job applications.

• An employer can require you to sign a non-competition or non-solicitation agreement as a condition of employment.

• Breach of an agreement not to compete or solicit can take you to court, and cost you money.

• Revealing trade secrets can get you in legal hot water, even if you don’t have an agreement.

• Disclose the existence of non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements to a prospective employer up front.

• There may be room for negotiation if a severance agreement is offered, but you are not entitled to any benefit unless it is spelled out in the final agreement.

• Learn to recognize interview questions you don’t have to answer.

• If resignation is an option, evaluate the pros and cons.

• The principle of employment at will generally applies in New York.