SubscribeThe Right Family for a Nanny
Whether you have decided to become a nanny or you are a current nanny looking for a new family, there are many considerations to take into account before taking this leap of faith and ultimately accepting a nanny job.
The following section provides thoughtful tips, insight and perspective for a nanny to consider prior to making an employment commitment.
Look Out for Yourself
Prior to posting a nanny profile on the Internet and before walking in to a nanny agency, it’s wise to first make a list of your specific interests, qualifications and expectations. If you go into the family search process “blind” chances are, professionals will lead you through your search with little consideration as to your ultimate needs and personal fulfillment. The fact of the matter is simply that many childcare agencies are in business to make money (although they have good intentions). An agency’s goal is to get you hired in order to make a percentage when your employment contract is signed. You must take all the necessary steps to protect and look out for yourself in the nanny industry, just like any other job in the working world.
Plan In Advance
Planning ahead for your family search is perhaps the most important factor in finding a successful family match. If you would like to have a nanny position successfully negotiated one year from now, it’s best to get your information prepared, now. When using the Internet in your search, as a rule of thumb, post your information 6-months in advance to catch the attention of families nationwide. After filling out a questionnaire detailing your nanny qualifications and expectations, your profile will post within a day after being reviewed by online agency personnel. Within 24-hours, families nationwide will be able to contact you via email and phone to more thoroughly discuss the details of their job opportunity. Although it is a relatively efficient process, it is still recommended that you use your time wisely to scope-out a number of families. Never, ever, under any circumstances choose a family out of sheer desperation (a recipe for disaster).
Assess your Nanny Desires
Before you sit down and start hammering away at the computer keyboard, put some serious thought into your nanny occupational wants, needs, desires and ultimate expectations.
- How many hours will you be able to work?
- How much “take-home” money will you need on a weekly basis?
- Do you like to drive? Do you have adequate, safe transportation for the job?
- Do you want to live-in or commute?
- Do you enjoy pets and would you mind assisting with their care?
- How many children will you be comfortable with? What age group(s)?
- Do you prefer active/intense households or laid-back/stationary environments?
You get the picture. You need to present a realistic picture of your personal traits, talents, abilities, culture, lifestyle, level of activity and workload. A family will be looking at your online agency profile, just as you are reviewing theirs. The only source of information a family has to identify you with (and vice-versa) is the information you take the time to post. Be detailed and be honest.
Honesty is the Only Policy
Let’s reiterate a key point to make sure this is extremely clear: Just like any other job situation, it’s not going to work if you don’t tell the good with the bad. If you plan to have a family invest serious time in an interview; answer your questions with honesty and integrity; then meet with you, only to find out you have purple hair, 10 tattoos, are terrified of dogs, haven’t been to church in your life, and don’t know how to run a vacuum -you are wasting everyone’s time. Be as honest as possible. It’s a brutal truth, but if you have a particularly challenging driving record, detest chores and can’t stand teenagers, you had better make that extremely clear in your profile. Likewise, if you are a hard worker, enjoy pets, love children and happen to be a veteran short-order cook–make this explicitly clear. Then, make sure the salary offer coincides with your level of expertise.
How Online Agencies Do the Work
Once you have posted your detailed online nanny profile as well as job description, you are then also able to search through a pool of families whose criteria matches up with yours. You will be able to select from family situations and characteristics such as live-in or live-out, has a car for your use, separate quarters or personal bedroom and bath, salary ranges, full-time or part-time, full benefits or no benefits, etc. Once you have selected the families who meet your requirements, you are then able to make initial contact and sort out the details. Use this time to be particularly selective and probing so you are able to narrow your search down to three-to-five families. When visiting with the family members pay special attention to certain things such as how they communicate and if your personality meshes with theirs. These seemingly small things will mean a lot one day when you find yourself working in their home on a daily basis.
The Interview
Once you are ready to personally meet with your family prospects, prepare a list of questions that are vital to your personal needs so you are able to better determine which family is an ideal suit for your lifestyle and home culture needs. Don’t ask questions in a manner that can be answered with a simple yes or no. Rather, pose questions that elicit more thoughtful responses. For example, instead of asking, “Do you plan to offer benefits?” say something like, “Please tell me a little bit more about the benefits package you are offering.”
Also, while you are visiting with the parents and children, make it a point to observe the behavior of the children and the overall demeanor within the household (remember that most likely everyone will be on his or her best behavior). Finally, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the home extremely tidy or is the environment more laid-back?
- Are there pets in the house?
- Are the children and parents physically fit?
- Is it loud or calm within the household?
- How do the parents handle discipline if a situation warrants it?
- Are you comfortable within the family neighborhood?
All of these things may or may not mean anything to you. However, if you plan to spend the next few years living within the home, you absolutely must be as thorough as possible assessing the family situation which will help you develop impressions for making the final cuts.
Reference Checks
Once you and a family have selected one another, they may make an employment offer on the spot before you get away. Prior to hiring, however, many families will take the time to contact your references to reaffirm their instincts and favorable impression of you. In general, make the effort to list at least three references. As with any job opportunity, your prospective household employer will expect you to be honest and truthful with regard to your resume and contact information. Nobody is perfect, so people don’t expect you to highlight your shortcomings in black bold print. It is your job, however, to be honest with regard to your intentions and abilities. And, never, ever list a reference whom might be questionable with regard to giving you a glowing review.
Background Checks
Some online nanny agencies, as well as live placement services, offer background checks as part of their service fee. Keep this under consideration. Families will entrust you with their children, home and pets. Be certain your record is clear on all levels including criminal offenses, sex offenses and a clean driving record. If you have encountered some sort of infraction in your lifetime, lay that card immediately out on the table so there is no question with regard to your sense of character and honesty.
Sometimes parents make take circumstances into consideration and go with gut instinct. For example: If you had four parking tickets within a year’s span which went unpaid, there is a slim chance this sort of situation could have led to a bench warrant for your arrest. In this case, you should probably mention this infraction in case your driving privileges show up as temporarily “suspended” on your driving record. It is your judgment call; only you are privy to the events involved on your personal records. In the event that something is less than perfect, a direct discussion is the recommended course of action. Small offenses on an otherwise clean record are unfortunate. Ultimately, you will have to figure out the best way to approach the situation when it comes time.
Begin your Online Agency Search
There are a number of websites which cater to the online family-nanny match process. In order to post and complete a nanny profile you must register with the online agency and then create your profile and nanny job description. Most online agencies do not charge a fee for this process. What follows is a list of reputable online agencies which will help you find the family of your choice: