At My Household Managed, we recognize that many of our candidates may work for high-net-worth (HNW) employers or within family offices, where direct contact with Principals is limited. We also understand that sometimes there can be challenges in obtaining references if you’re working in the private service industry. That’s why we’ve created a process that only requires your references to be verified through our agency one time. Read our guide on how to obtain references and why we insist that reference checks are an essential part of the My Household Managed recruitment process.

Why Are Reference Checks Important for a Household Employee?

Reference checks are crucial for validating your work experience and assuring potential employers that your history aligns with the position they need to fill. They also provide valuable insights into your performance in previous roles. A documented employment history and high-quality references are especially critical for roles serving high-profile families, where the risk of false references can be significant. A high-quality direct reference conducted through our agency, combined with a strong letter of recommendation, could be the deciding factor that leads a family to choose you over another candidate with similar high-level experience.

What Can I Do If I Can’t Obtain a Reference from my Previous Employer?

At MHM, we understand that there are occasionally some circumstances in which it can prove difficult to obtain a reference from your previous or current employer. That is why we always suggest asking for a letter of recommendation routinely as part of a performance review (that you should be having annually) that you can then use alongside any references you can submit in a check. If you’re not having an annual performance review, make sure you’re up-to-date on the benefits and compensation you should expect as standard industry practice as a household employee in a luxury home.

For candidates looking for a new role, here are the guidelines we provide for all MHM candidates looking to be placed in a household employment position:

If you’re unable to provide the name, phone number, and email address of a person you’re currently working for (due to confidentiality concerns) or if your previous employer is no longer available (e.g., they have passed away, are unwilling to be a reference, or cannot recall your employment), please consider the following tiers of references:

Tier 1: Ideal References

Direct References: References from employers we can contact directly. This should include your current employer whenever possible, but can also include former employers (within a reasonable timeframe).

Tier 2: Acceptable Alternatives (Best used alongside a direct reference)

Letter of Recommendation: A letter from your current or former employer. We recommend requesting an updated letter annually to ensure you have verification in case of management changes. A good employer will often be willing to provide a reference if the relationship ends on good terms. Read our blog on what we advise to include in a letter of recommendation here.

Tier 3: Alternative Verification Methods (To be used only when no other options are available)

Copy of NDA: An NDA doesn’t prevent you from sharing your employer's name for employment verification. Our legal team is happy to review and keep your NDA on file. Find out more about what an NDA is and whether you should have signed one here.
Pay Stubs or Bank Statements: Provide recent documents showing paystubs with direct deposits from your employer, confirming your ongoing employment and role.
Placement Agency Verification: The agency that placed you can confirm employment details while maintaining confidentiality.

Unacceptable References

Coworker References: Only acceptable in emergency situations (e.g., the death of an employer) and must be from the last 7 years. They are valid only alongside official employment verification during a background check and do not count toward our three-reference minimum.
Character References from people that you know personally.

What References do My Household Managed Require from Candidates?

If you are hoping to be placed with one of the many high-profile families or individuals that we work with, we have a strict “3 high-quality reference” policy to ensure the integrity and trustworthiness of each candidate that we work with.

What we look for in each reference at MHM:

Relevance: References (at least 3 in total) must be related to the field of private service.
Traceability: References must be identifiable and correspond to the work experience listed on your resume.
Documentation: Work experience listed on your resume without an accompanying reference or letter of recommendation will not be considered.

Note: An NDA does not prevent you from sharing the name of your employer

Whilst we want to ensure the integrity and trustworthiness of candidates before we place them, we also ensure that we have stringent guidelines for our clients too. In fact it is just one of the many benefits that you may find when working with a domestic staffing recruitment agency like My Household Managed. Read more about the other benefits here.

Looking for your next role as a nanny, house manager, property manager? Want to discuss where your career could take you in the luxury household staffing industry?

If you’re ready to take the next steps in your private service professional career, apply with My Household Managed today.