By far, limiting the IP clause is most important thing to get while you're in the negotiation stage. HR and legal will move mountains to get a key hire made, b

By far, limiting the IP clause is most important thing to get while you're in the negotiation stage. HR and legal will move mountains to get a key hire made, but once you're in, all the power is in their hands. I recommend asking to exclude any ideas developed on personal time OR not formally documented or manifested in specs or code. You don't want to be worried that if you have a conversation with a colleague about some problem which sparks an idea for a product that just the vague idea becomes company property. Any of your ethereal ideas that your employer doesn't execute on should never be at risk of getting claimed later if you decide to do something with them. Get that in writing before you start.