We agree that it is annoying and embarrassing to constantly ask previous employers for references, and that it is unacceptable for agencies to burn them out by bothering them too often or take advantage of this to offer their services, but it is not possible to get a nanny position (at least a well-paid nanny position) without references.
The luxury nanny industry is attracting more and more people who have no business being there, and more and more applicants are willing to (and indeed do) lie to get a position especially if it pays well, so agencies can’t just rely on what’s written on your CV to recommend you, and parents need to be reassured before hiring you.
References matter a lot in this industry. If you want to be hired, you must have at least 2 or 3 recent ones, they must be credible and above all verifiable!
Parents can’t feel confident hiring you if you can’t prove you have the experience you claim to have…
So if you want to land a position, update and prepare your references, inform your former employers that you are looking for work and ask their permission to share their contact details.
Obviously, don’t fake your references, people will inevitably find out if you lie.
And of course, be careful before sharing your references as they can be misused, remember that you don’t have to share them right away!
