I think the only non compete i've had was for one of my 4-month co-op jobs. I think it lasted only a few months, and it was not to work at a software company in the same field. Which was fine, as I would be at school during that time anyways.
I have signed agreements where anything I do on the company laptop is considered theres. So I just made sure to only use it for work, and put nothing else on it.
> I have signed agreements where anything I do on the company laptop is considered theres. So I just made sure to only use it for work, and put nothing else on it.
That is (or should be) pretty standard both on the company's part and on yours. As someone who spends chunks of his days as an IT admin for clients, work systems should be used for work, personal devices should be personal devices and in addition should not be allowed connection to company/internal wifi.
I'm sure that "you" are the most brilliant and secure flower in the field, but if we don't have and enforce policies against personal use then it gets harder to crack down on Boris in the mailroom who wants to check his personal email on Yandex and download every elf bowling attachment that gets sent his way.
I have signed agreements where anything I do on the company laptop is considered theres. So I just made sure to only use it for work, and put nothing else on it.