Let's say that you've been looking at a fantastic company for possible job opportunities for some time. You're positive that this company has everything you look for in a great place to work. However, there’s only one problem, the company is your employer’s direct competition.

This might feel problematic, but in reality it's usually okay to look for a job with a competitor to your company. But just to make sure that you approach the situation appropriately, let’s take a look at a few tips to help you move in the direction of your current employer’s competition for a job.

Find Out Whether You’ve Signed a CNC

Your first issue with approaching a competitor of your employer is to know whether you’ve signed a non-compete clause, also known as a covenant-not-to-compete (CNC). Often times, it’s difficult to know everything that you signed when you were thrust a ton of papers during your orientation, which is why it’s that much more important that you dig through them to see if you’re contractually prohibited from working with direct competition.

If you discover that you have signed a CNC, this is the time to read the terms of the contract. In many cases, you'll be legally unable to sign a contract with a competing company until you haven't been with your current employer for one year. Some contracts require more or less time. If you feel that your CNC doesn’t offer a fair time period, you may need to consult with a lawyer who specializes in employment law. In any case, it's very important to pay attention to the CDC agreement portion of your contract if you end up signing on with the prospective employer.

Make Special Adjustments to Your Resume

When developing your resume for a competitor, you want to make sure you’re as discreet as possible. In other words, you may want to leave off some things that you could be penalized for later. You definitely don’t want to bad talk your current employer in any way. You also don't want your specific accomplishments to show times that you'd helped your old employer compete with the company you're applying to. You gain nothing by mentioning your current employer disparagingly, as you'll be far more impressive if you show respect to both parties.

As for how much information to disclose about your current employer, it’s a good idea to disclose as little as possible. Where the name of a company might typically be listed in your employment history, you should consider replacing your current employer's name with something like "company confidential," and note that you're working in the same field as your current employer. You might also note that you're not under a CNC in this area, as it will make the hiring manager less apprehensive about bringing you in for an interview.

There is no doubt that a competitor could hire you; in fact, some companies enjoy luring employees away from their competition. However, if you’re lucky enough to get hired into a better position with a better company, you still may want to walk on egg shells for a while – not mentioning your previous employer unless necessary. You don’t want to burn the bridge you just crossed since you may one day have to cross back over it.