Please click through to the full post on LinkedIn to read the rest…
I'll make this one quick, though it is a bit nuanced.
When searching for employment in Private Service, past employer references are 100% necessary. If you have an ironclad NDA in place with your high profile employers you MUST include some provision for future employment verification at the least. We understand if this can't happen with one, maybe two, past clients who are adamant about it, but in 20 years the only clients I've worked with who won't verify past employment simply have nothing good to say about the candidate. There are exceptions, of course. Some clients are mean or vindictive when you leave. I get it. However, there is always a “back door” or “side” reference like a payroll company, attorney, vendor, other staff member, or similar who should be glad to recount your positive employment tenure at that household. If not, something isn't right. Like I said, you may get a “pass” on one or two of these situations, especially if it's more than ten years ago, but if that's the case with a majority of your work history, I'm not buying it. Sorry to say it: A professional in this business has the burden of proof on all their past employment claims. You just can't hide a bad reference with “I have an NDA.”
The other, recent gray area we're seeing more of is the “Contract” or “Consultant” employment arrangement. Claims of assisting a family on a short term MUST be validated with a reference or actual contract copy showing the prearranged project or timeframe of employment. If not…
Source: NDA's, References, and Social Media in the Job Search