Resume vs Non-Disclosure Agreement How to Talk About Your Past Projects

Resume vs Non-Disclosure Agreement How to Talk About Your Past ProjectsResume vs Non-Disclosure Agreement How to Talk About Your Past ProjectsMost of us have already signed one but only few of us have bothered to read it. Yes, were talking about the infamous NDA - a formidable document that prevents you from talking too much about your work.In other words, the non-disclosure agreement is a legal contract that helps companies make sure their employees wont leak any confidential information.However, these juicy details may come in extremely handy when writing a resume, creating an online portfolio or getting ready for a job interview. Read on to learn how to cope with the limitations posed by the NDA and make it work towards the outcome you really want.First, pick up your NDA and read itIn fact, adding confidential accomplishments to your resume or online portfolio is not forbidden. It just requires you to think smart and master the art of possible.Even if you had to sign an NDA, ther es no reason to freak out. These documents arent supposed to silence the employees but rather protect the company issuing them. The first thing you should do, then, is bestattungs the copy of your NDA and read it through. Understanding the agreement is your key to be able to push its boundaries. Take your time to study it over and over again until you fully understand it along with the caveats it entails.Different NDAs, different rulesFirst, you need to realise that not every NDA contract is the same. The thing is, NDAs reference the information not to be disclosed as confidential in nature. That generally concerns technical documentation, information which is non-public and which would be detrimental to the company interests if it were to get out. However, NDAs vary pretty widely in whats forbidden to be talked about. Some agreements are extremely restrictive, whereas others are pretty loose and hiding the clients personenname is enough. And some NDAs are even set to expire after a certain time period (go check that first).Most of them wont let you discuss the details of the project but - perhaps except for the CIA - most of them do let you discuss the existence of the said project. As long as you dont slip out any information a competitor might glean an advantage from, you should be perfectly fine.Non-disclosure agreement vs resume Focus on the resultsYou may be thinking everybodys eager to hear about the final product. But, in fact, its not your destination but your journey that reveals the most about your work - your expertise, personality or skills.Remember, those who are reading your resume dont necessarily need to know the project itself. They want to see the results, and as far as you can describe those, youve done your job well.Rather than disclosing any confidential details - such as techniques used or client names - focus on the value that you brought to the process. Describe the lage in terms of technologies, size or objectives and refer to yo ur job responsibilities and achievements. The description of your work, without breaching the NDA, could then sound something like thisLead international business teams that included members from multiple Fortune 100 companies, ensuring successful delivery of multi-year, industry leading projects.Developed and implemented client service program for a leading tech company, which expanded small-to-medium client base 35%.Advised three Fortune 500 companies on database performance issues.Even if your projects happen to be under an ironclad non-disclosure agreement, theres always a way to deal with it.By using adjectives to hint at your employers prestige and including the Fortune ranking lists, youre free to discuss any responsibilities and achievements you deem particularly important.Online portfolio Communicate the value of your workHeres another scenario.Youve just finished your best work to date and realized adding it to your online portfolio would give your career an intergalactic boost. However, NDA has shattered your plans of discussing crucial parts of your project that make your skills stand out.A real bummer, that is. Or maybe not. First, dont let the NDA make you lose heart. Try to explore various different ways to communicate the value of your protected material. Depending on the type of your NDA, you may have to think beyond the project to achieve the same resultsWrite a short blog post about what you learned working for Company XYZ to describe your journey and highlight your expertise.Turn your attention to a side project in which you demonstrate similar skills as in your protected project.Drop the name of Company XYZ in the clients section of your portfolio to show you have collaborated with them or worked for them.Remember, a signed NDA should never be an excuse for an empty portfolio. You need to identify the value of your work and look for alternative ways to communicate the desired message.Dont miss the chance to stir up some dramaJob applicatio ns hardly ever cause recruiters to raise an eyebrow. So why not put in a little teaser to spice things up a bit? Mention the NDA on the margins to let them know you must take extra care to avoid violating the agreement.Its far more interesting to reveal a bit of something and then say that you cannot talk about it any further. Sounds terribly juicy, to say the leastLets throw in an example or two to help you get the ideaEvaluated mission-critical information for a confidential project at industry dominant company (subject to a non-disclosure agreement no further details available)Managed a multi-million budget for a confidential project (subject to NDA, no further details available) at Fortune 100 company.Dont worry, though, your prospective employer will definitely respect the confidentiality of the information. Whats more, they may even appreciate your professional integrity in sticking to the NDA, which in turn may boost your credibility and trustworthiness.And that sounds like a great win-win situation, doesnt it?Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments