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When you were hired, you may have been asked to sign a non-compete agreement. This agreement prohibits you from working with competing firms in the same business or industry after you leave your current employer, for a specified period of time and in a certain geographic area. [1] X Research source When you signed the agreement, you might not have thought much about it. After all, you recently started a new job – you probably weren't thinking about leaving just yet. However, when you do decide it's time to move on, a non-compete agreement can seriously limit your options in finding a new position. For this reason, many states have tough laws that restrict the scope of non-compete agreements, and judges are reluctant to enforce them – which makes it less difficult for you to get out of a non-compete agreement you signed. [2] X Research source