Can I discuss my job duties in an interview if I signed an NDA?

Yes, you can generally discuss your general job duties and professional experience. However, you must avoid disclosing trade secrets, proprietary processes, or confidential client data protected by your NDA.

What constitutes a breach of a confidentiality agreement?

A breach occurs when you disclose non-public information, such as internal financial data, proprietary software code, customer lists, or strategic business plans that are explicitly defined as confidential in your contract.

How can I prepare for an interview without violating my NDA?

Focus on the 'what' and 'how' of your skills rather than the 'who' or 'why' of your employer's internal business. Use public-facing metrics and results rather than internal, non-public data.

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.

Is it legal to discuss my job duties in interviews if I signed a confidentiality agreement?

Can You Discuss Job Duties Under an NDA?

Yes, you can legally discuss your general job duties and professional experience during an interview, provided you do not disclose proprietary information, trade secrets, or non-public data. An NDA prohibits the disclosure of confidential business assets, not the discussion of your own professional skills and responsibilities.

Understanding the Scope of Your NDA

Most NDAs are designed to protect a company's competitive advantage, not to prevent you from seeking future employment. Courts generally view overly broad non-disclosure agreements that prevent an individual from discussing their own work history as unenforceable restraints on trade.

What You Can Safely Discuss

General Responsibilities: Your job title, daily tasks, and the scope of your management duties.
Soft Skills: Leadership, communication, and problem-solving methodologies.
Publicly Available Results: Projects that have been released to the public or covered in press releases.
Tools and Software: Proficiency in industry-standard software or platforms.

What You Must Keep Confidential

Trade Secrets: Proprietary algorithms, source code, or unique manufacturing processes.
Financial Data: Internal revenue figures, profit margins, or non-public budget details.
Client Lists: Specific customer identities or sensitive contract terms with third parties.
Strategic Plans: Upcoming product launches, mergers, or internal restructuring plans.

Key takeaway: If the information is available on your public LinkedIn profile or a company press release, it is generally safe to discuss. If the information is stored on a private internal server, treat it as confidential.

The Risk Assessment Table

Information Type	Safe to Discuss?	Risk Level
Job Title & Role	Yes	Low
Public Project Outcomes	Yes	Low
Internal Revenue Data	No	High
Proprietary Code/Methods	No	High
General Management Style	Yes	Low

How to Navigate Interview Questions Without Breaching

When an interviewer asks for specific details about your current or past work, use the following strategy to protect yourself while remaining transparent.

Generalize the Context: Instead of naming a specific client, refer to them as a 'Fortune 500 retail partner' or 'a high-volume SaaS client.'
Focus on Outcomes: Discuss the percentage of growth or efficiency gains rather than the raw internal data that led to those numbers.
Use 'Public-Facing' Language: Frame your answers around what the company has already made public.
Decline Politely: If asked for sensitive data, say: 'Due to my confidentiality agreement, I cannot share the specific internal metrics, but I can explain the methodology I used to achieve those results.'

Legal Considerations and Jurisdictional Differences

Jurisdictions like California have strict laws (such as Business and Professions Code Section 16600) that limit the enforceability of restrictive covenants. However, even in states with employee-friendly laws, you are still bound by common-law duties regarding trade secrets. Always check if your NDA has a 'carve-out' clause that allows for the disclosure of information required by law or information that becomes public through no fault of your own.

Key takeaway: Never assume an NDA is unenforceable. Even if a provision is legally questionable, being sued for a breach is a costly and time-consuming process you want to avoid at all costs.

Practical Steps for Your Next Interview

Review Your Contract: Locate the 'Definition of Confidential Information' section in your signed agreement.
Prepare Your Narrative: Draft your 'STAR' (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories in advance, ensuring they contain no proprietary data.
Practice the Pivot: Rehearse how to pivot from a question about sensitive data to a discussion about your transferable skills.

If you are unsure whether your specific contract language prohibits certain disclosures, TermScore can automatically analyze your NDA to identify high-risk clauses and provide a plain-English summary of your obligations, ensuring you interview with confidence and legal clarity.