So you’ve decided to hire a live-out nanny. Now what? Finding suitable candidates to fill your position is what comes next. However, before you can jump in and start your nanny search you’ll need to clearly define the job you’re looking to hire for and the type of candidate you are seeking to take the job.
Defining the Job Description
When it comes to hiring a live-out nanny, you’ll need to determine if you need full or part-time care. Full-time, live-out nannies typically work 40 to 60 hours per week and part-time, live-out nannies typically work less than 30 hours per week.
In addition to knowing the amount of care you need, you’ll need to define the live-out nanny’s workload. You’ll want to consider the days of time you need childcare coverage and you’ll want to make a list of the duties, tasks and responsibilities that you wish your nanny to undertake.
As you consider your family’s caregiving needs and the duties, tasks and responsibilities you wish the nanny to assume, the more specific you can be the more likely you are to attract compatible caregivers. While all nannies are typically responsible for preparing the children’s meals and snacks, keeping the children’s areas clean and doing their laundry and transporting the children to and from appointments and activities, if you require your nanny to take on tasks, duties and responsibilities outside the scope of typical nanny work, like caring for a family pet or doing the family’s laundry, you’ll want to mention that in your job description.
You’ll also want to include information about your children and family in your job description. Most nannies have an age-range preference when it comes to working with children. Some nannies, for example, prefer to start working with a family when their baby is an infant and some prefer to work with preschool age or older children. Since some nannies won’t work for families with a stay at home parent, it can also be helpful to include if you’re a dual career family or if one parent stays or works from home. Including information about your family’s lifestyle or caregiving preferences can also help to attract the right candidates for your position.
Depending on your care needs you may require a nanny with a specific type of experience or a specific skill set. If you’re seeking a nanny for a newborn, you may prefer to attract candidates who have extensive newborn experience. If your child has allergies or a medical condition, including a general statement about it can also help to attract candidates who have experience caring for children with similar conditions. Some parents require their nanny to have a college degree or teaching certification. Others require their nanny to be bilingual. Stating your minimum criteria for hiring consideration can help to deter unqualified caregivers from applying.
While you don’t need to include the exact salary you wish to pay a nanny, mentioning a salary range and if benefits are included can help to attract caregivers who can work within your budget. While offering benefits isn’t requires, parents who offer a competitive salary and benefits package can attract and retain top-notch help.
While your initial job description will include only key job points, having a longer, detailed job description will come in handy during the interview process and while drafting a work agreement. Clearly communicating all the duties, tasks and responsibilities you wish the nanny to undertake will decrease the chance of miscommunication and misunderstanding.
Sample Job Description
Busy Houston based dual career couple seeks a college educated live-out nanny to provide full-time childcare for their two-month-old twins. Nannies should have at least three years of experience caring for infants and previous experience caring for multiples. In addition to typical nanny duties and responsibilities, the nanny will be responsible for caring for the family’s cat. Monday through Friday 8 am to 6 pm. $14 to $16 per hour and health insurance offered. Vehicle for work use provided.
Recruiting Tools
Just like there are many ways to skin a cat, there are many ways to recruit nannies for your position. The important thing to remember is that all recruiting tools can generate effective leads to potential nannies and regardless of how you find the nanny you want to hire, the ultimate screening and hiring decision falls with you.
One of the most tried and true methods of recurring nannies is through word of mouth. Now with the advent of social media, parents can reach those within their network in seconds. Simply posting that you’re seeking a live-out nanny may generate viable leads in minutes.
And the Internet makes the do it yourself model easier than ever. While parents can certainly still put an ad for a nanny in their local paper, with online nanny recruiting sites like www.enannysource.com and nanny specific classified sites like www.nannyclassifieds.com , placing ads and reviewing nanny profiles is as easy as ever. Most reputable online sites even let your browse for free and only require you to pay should you find a candidate you wish to contact to interview.
For those who wish to outsource their nanny search completely, nanny placement agencies can be a huge help. Reputable placement agencies take the time to understand your family’s care needs and present to you only prescreened candidates who are qualified to do your job. Unlike any do it yourself model where you’d have to wade through applicants and interview and screen those you were interested in hiring, for a fee, a reputable nanny agency will present you with appropriate matches and do the prescreening and background check for you.
Since nannies tend to be the highest paid childcare workers, preschool teachers and daycare workers are often eager break into private childcare. Many preschool teachers and daycare workers have landed their first nanny job after being approached by a parent to provide private, in-home care.
For parents who know other parents who have a great nanny, breaking into their nanny’s nanny network can be like striking gold. Many nannies are connected to nanny support groups and professional nanny organizations and those who are tend to pass along information about any job opportunities that they learn about, which can put you on center stage in front of your target audience.
