NDAs are fine, but non-competes? You have to be kidding. They're of questionable legality and amount to an agreement to not use your one of your more valuable assets - domain knowledge.
After long thought (years, really), I'm convinced that this is the real secret to Silicon Valley's long running success. It's certainly the only thing totally unique about California WRT to high tech.
Have you had non-compete clauses? I've been in UK software roles for the last 15(ish) years but never really had a non-compete... always assumed it wouldn't really fly here.
A quick search on the web says this is a grey area - in the UK non-competes are only ever enforcable if the business can prove loss beyond simply increased competition. A generic non-compete seems worthless.
Not so much non-competes, but restrictions on working on side projects while employed at a company, even if on my own time and with my own resources and on something not directly related to the companies area of business. Tbf, I'm still quite young and have only worked for one company, and so wasn't in much of a position to negotiate when I interviewed.
No thanks!