"Hey Sean we've got a role that you seem perfect for, just sign this NDA so we can talk." I look at the NDA and it includes a noncompete for the duration of the project + 12 months after. The nda is also not mutual so the noncompete and nondisclosure is only binding on me not the other party. In fact I don't even know who the other party is or what they do. Only if I sign this then for an undisclosed period of the project + 12 months _whether or not I get the job_ I can't compete with them whatever they do.
I get back to the agent and say there's no way I can sign a noncompete until I know what it is I'm committing not to compete with.
The guy spends several days trying various desperate negotiating tactics "I spoke to my boss and he says there really is no risk to you if you sign this, it's totally standard"... "I spoke with our CFO and you have to sign for us to proceed"....(That's great for your boss and CFO but I'm the one on the hook here if I sign, not them) "The noncompete really doesn't commit you to anything, but you have to sign..." (if it doesn't commit me to anything there's no downside to you removing it) ... "The client is so secretive and the project such a big deal we can't risk it leaking..." etc. At each point I just held firm and said there's no way I can sign a noncompete unless I know what I'm committing not to compete with.
After one more go of "there's no way we can go ahead without an NDA in place" (even though I've already said I'm happy with the NDA as long as they strike the noncompete clause) I said "OK well in that case it's 'no thanks' from me".
24 hours later they get back to me with "What about if we tell you who the client is, will you sign then?". I'm just letting them marinade for now...