What information is considered a trade secret?

Trade secrets include non-public formulas, source code, internal financial projections, customer lists, and proprietary business strategies that provide a competitive advantage.

How can I describe my work without violating an NDA?

Focus on the 'how' and 'what' of your skills rather than the 'who' or 'why' of the company's internal data. Use generalized metrics and industry-standard terminology.

A TermScore is an AI-generated risk rating from 0 to 100 that evaluates the fairness and risk level of any legal document. A score of 86-100 means the contract is highly favorable, while 0-30 indicates dangerous terms you should walk away from.

What types of documents can TermScore analyze?

TermScore analyzes any legal document including freelance contracts, employment agreements, residential leases, NDAs, brand sponsorship deals, SaaS vendor agreements, and rental applications. Upload PDFs, Word documents, or images.

How much does TermScore cost?

TermScore offers a free plan with 3 scores per month. The Team plan is $15/month for 30 scores, and the Professional plan is $50/month for 500 scores with team collaboration features.

Is my document data secure?

Yes. Documents are processed in memory and analysis results are stored encrypted. TermScore never shares your document data with third parties and you can delete your data at any time from your dashboard.

Does an employment NDA stop me from listing my job duties on my resume?

No. An NDA generally prohibits the disclosure of trade secrets and proprietary information, not your general professional experience. You are legally entitled to describe your skills and responsibilities, provided you do not reveal confidential data, client lists, or internal intellectual property.

Key takeaway: Your right to earn a living and market your professional skills is protected by law; an NDA cannot be used as a blanket gag order to prevent you from summarizing your career history.

Understanding the Scope of Your NDA

Most employment NDAs are designed to protect specific, identifiable assets. They are not intended to prevent you from claiming credit for your work. To determine if your resume content is safe, you must distinguish between general professional experience and confidential information.

What You Can Safely Include

Job Titles and Tenure: These are public facts.
General Responsibilities: Describing your role (e.g., "Managed a team of 10 developers") is standard.
Skills and Tools: Listing software, programming languages, or methodologies used is permitted.
Public Achievements: If a project was announced in a press release, it is no longer confidential.

What You Must Exclude

Proprietary Algorithms: Never share specific code or technical architecture.
Internal Financials: Avoid citing non-public revenue figures or profit margins.
Client Lists: Do not name specific clients if your contract explicitly classifies them as confidential.
Strategic Plans: Do not disclose upcoming product launches or internal business pivots.

Action Item: Review your NDA for a "Confidential Information" definition section. If the information you want to list is not explicitly defined as confidential, it is likely safe to include.

How to Describe Accomplishments Without Violating NDAs

The key to resume writing under an NDA is abstraction. You want to demonstrate your impact without exposing the "secret sauce" of your former employer.

Confidential Detail	Safe Resume Alternative
"Increased revenue for Client X by 20% using our proprietary algorithm."	"Increased client revenue by 20% through data-driven optimization strategies."
"Managed the launch of Project Alpha, a secret AI platform."	"Led the end-to-end launch of a high-scale enterprise AI solution."
"Handled a $5M budget for the internal marketing team."	"Managed a multi-million dollar departmental budget."

Strategies for Compliance

Use Industry Benchmarks: Instead of internal metrics, use industry averages or percentage-based growth.
Focus on Methodology: Describe the process you used (e.g., Agile, Six Sigma) rather than the specific outcome of a confidential project.
Anonymize Clients: Refer to clients by industry or size (e.g., "Fortune 500 retail client") rather than by name.

Action Item: Rewrite your bullet points to focus on the transferable skill rather than the specific project outcome.

Jurisdictional Nuances and Legal Risks

While NDAs are common, their enforceability varies by jurisdiction. In states like California, for example, courts are highly skeptical of overly broad restrictive covenants that prevent employees from practicing their trade. However, even in employee-friendly jurisdictions, you are still bound by the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA) or the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) at the federal level.

Red Flags in Your NDA

Overly Broad Definitions: If the NDA defines "Confidential Information" as "anything learned during employment," it is likely unenforceable.
Lack of Time Limits: NDAs should ideally have a sunset clause (e.g., 2-5 years).
Non-Compete Overlap: If your NDA is actually a disguised non-compete, it may be void in states like California, Oklahoma, or North Dakota.

Key takeaway: If you are unsure whether a specific detail is protected, err on the side of caution. A resume is a marketing document, not a legal disclosure; you do not need to provide granular detail to prove your competence.

Final Checklist for Resume Safety

Before hitting send on your job application, perform this final audit:

Does this bullet point reveal a specific, non-public process?
Does this bullet point name a client that requested anonymity?
Does this bullet point reveal internal financial data?
If I were the employer, would this information give a competitor an unfair advantage?

If the answer to all these is "no," you are likely in the clear. If you are still concerned about specific clauses in your employment contract, TermScore can automatically analyze your documents to identify high-risk language, ensuring you know exactly what you can and cannot disclose before you start your job search.