STORY 95

I was terminated from my dream job this year after reporting my VP's sexual advances to my director. I hired a lawyer and made it very clear early on that I would not sign an NDA. 1 month after filing a harassment claim with the EEOC, my former employer reached out to my lawyer to negotiate a settlement. I reminded my lawyer that I did not want to sign and NDA. My lawyer insisted that it was the only way. She used scare tactics to encourage me to sign... warning that it would be hard to defend me in court and that I don't have much physical evidence and that it could go on for years and be really ugly for me. I knew I didn't have the means to fight a corporation and ultimately decided it was time to move on and put the whole thing behind me.  I accepted the settlement and NDA. The specifics of the NDA are quite vague. I asked for clarification and was told to just say "I can't talk about this". So here I am job searching... my former employer can verify employment for me and that I'm not re-hirable but I'm not allowed to defend myself in any way.  When asked why I left my job... what am I supposed to say?????  I can't say that I was terminated. I can't say that we settled out of court. I can't say that I was pushed to sign an NDA but didn't want to. I can only say that I cannot disclose that information or LIE. If I lie, it will likely come out and some point in the hiring process. My career is ruined.