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There are three broad types of employment agreements that can restrict what you can do after you leave your job: non-compete, non-disclosure, and non-solicit. These agreements are called restrictive covenants and an employer can require you to sign one your first day on the job or as a condition of remaining employed in a job that you have held for years. A non-compete prevents you from working for any company in the same industry of your current employer, usually for one or two years.  A non-disclosure agreement requires you to keep secret any confidential information of your employer such as technical processes, customer lists, or pricing strategies. Finally, in a non-solicit you agree that you will not lure away the employees and/or customers of your former employer. Since signing one of these agreements, especially a non-compete, can prevent you from getting another job (even if your employer fires you), it is important to negotiate changes to the agreement before you sign it. Contact one of our non-compete lawyers to discuss your options.