Should I tell them the truth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am often contacted on care.com by parents for jobs I never applied for. I have a weekday job that I am happy with and am only seeking weekend work. My rate on care.com is $20-$25 an hour.

When the parents contact me, they always know that I have a full-time weekend job and ask me if I would consider leaving my current position -- and then when I check out their ad they are offering less than $20 an hour.


Okay... why? I don't understand their reasoning. Why bother contact someone who you know is already working and then offer less than she has stated she will accept? I am not being snarky - I really don't understand how they think they can sway me.

Of course when I respond to them I always thank them and decline, simply saying that I am very happy in my weekday position. I never mention that I wouldn't even consider them if I were looking to switch jobs based on their salary range.

I think it's because you are just that awesome.
And MANY families have experienced more Care.com nannies who inflate their rate and never update their profiles, so worth a shot inquiring.

Yes, I am that awesome and there is no such thing as inflating your own rate. You can quote anything you want as your rate. If a sensible person thinks you are not worth it or simply cannot afford it, they should pass and NOT contact you.

[Anonymous]

I agree OP that it would be annoying to receive message after message w/these types of issues.

However there is really nothing you can do to stop them from coming in your message box aside from terminating your profile.

In life, there are many dumb people we have to share this planet with. Unfortunate, but true.

Simply offer a tactful "No thank you..." & move on. I am quite sure it will take less than 1/2 a minute to do.

[Anonymous]

Re: nannies inflating their own rates - yes, it happens. Nanny posts rate of $20-25, contacts me for job listed at $15-20, asks for a starting rate of $20. I say "thanks for your interest, you sound like a qualified candidate, but we won't be paying $20/hr". Candidate them emails back and says "well how much will you pay?" or "I can be flexible" or "my range is actually $17-20 but I want to leave room to negotiate" or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Yep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re: nannies inflating their own rates - yes, it happens. Nanny posts rate of $20-25, contacts me for job listed at $15-20, asks for a starting rate of $20. I say "thanks for your interest, you sound like a qualified candidate, but we won't be paying $20/hr". Candidate them emails back and says "well how much will you pay?" or "I can be flexible" or "my range is actually $17-20 but I want to leave room to negotiate" or whatever.

That wouldn't be the professionals. We know what our rates are, we don't fish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re: nannies inflating their own rates - yes, it happens. Nanny posts rate of $20-25, contacts me for job listed at $15-20, asks for a starting rate of $20. I say "thanks for your interest, you sound like a qualified candidate, but we won't be paying $20/hr". Candidate them emails back and says "well how much will you pay?" or "I can be flexible" or "my range is actually $17-20 but I want to leave room to negotiate" or whatever.

Happens all the time.

[Anonymous]

The two MBs that posted are correct. Honestly I think you're overthinking it and taking it too personally. There are thousands of ads, some of which have old details, and parents are, just like any recruiter, casting a wide net and seeing what they come up with. Similarly, when I post a nanny ad, 9/10 responses are either generic form letters or don't match my clearly stated requirements even a little. Do I think it's because I'm such a special mom they're just specifically targeting me and begging? No. Do I think they're just dying to work with my kids? No. Do I think they're just the best nanny ever and surely I'd want to hire them even if they don't meet my requirements? No.

I assume they're contacting a ton of positions in the hopes they'll find something that works out.

Don't take it personally OP and don't assume the parents even think about it enough to be thinking they're going to steal you away. They probably glanced at your ad, thought maybe it was old info or didn't look closely in the first place, and included you in their multiple emails they sent out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Re: nannies inflating their own rates - yes, it happens. Nanny posts rate of $20-25, contacts me for job listed at $15-20, asks for a starting rate of $20. I say "thanks for your interest, you sound like a qualified candidate, but we won't be paying $20/hr". Candidate them emails back and says "well how much will you pay?" or "I can be flexible" or "my range is actually $17-20 but I want to leave room to negotiate" or whatever.

Happens all the time.

Yep this too. So you don't want to miss out on a good candidate who would take the rate you're offering.

[Anonymous]

What would be the point of telling them the truth? "I am unavailable to consider your position as I love my current job and would never accept your cheap rate regardless of my current state of employment"?