Help me decide how much $ to ask for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB. I would have said to simply tell them what you are currently making and then say that you have some room to be flexible on that given the likely difference in cost of living.

Given how they approached it I would say that while you have some room for flexibility that is barely more than half your current rate. Then allow the awkward silence and see what they do.

It's a negotiation - don't sell yourself short this early in the game unless you're desperate.

Good luck!!

agree. silence works for you in negotiation. tell them you make $20 now. be quiet and let them respond.
If they say 11 or anything under 15, say "wow, that's a lot lower than $20" and be quiet again and make them respond. If it ends up lower than $17, just say, "I'll need to think about it, and get back to you. Remember, going down to $17 from $20 will be a 15% paycut. That's bit. going to $15 will be a 25% paycut.

Seriously, $11 is terrible. That's poverty level. - MB

If she says $20 and then silence, they will say, "Thank you, anyway," and hang up the phone. That's not negotiating; that's an entirely different wage bracket, and they're going to know they can't come close.

OP, are there normal benefits with this job like PTO, taxes, and a nanny car or mileage? It just sounds like these are "babysitter" people, not nanny people, and they may not ever put together a job you could really manage, even if they meet you on hourly rate. Of course, if it's under the table, your take home will be more.

[Anonymous]

OP here. She offered 5 days PTO and she says they travel very often, like 6 weeks a year, in which case I'd get paid the same while they were gone. She said I can choose whether or not I want taxes taken out. She said I would use her car for outings. She was very adamant that I take them on outings everyday, even when the weather is bad. Which was also a little annoying to me. With my current job, I love having the freedom of taking my charge on outings if/when I feel like it. My MB doesn't freak out if we stay home one day. She knows her child is still getting enough stimulation.

She seemed to be experienced in having a nanny and seems to treat her current one very well, in all areas except for pay. I don't understand. She's coming from a HUGE city but only paying her full-time "rockstar nanny" (her words) $11/hr? She said things like "she's like my second brain, she knows the routine better than I do, we're devastated to be losing her". Their nanny has been with them since the 3 year old was 6 months old. So has she gotten raises and she used to make even less than $11? Maybe she started very inexperienced? Even then, I can't imagine that $500-ish a week is a liveable wage for anyone with any sort of bills or rent to pay.

I guess now I'm just venting, I already know this job isn't my first choice and I won't take it unless she agrees to pay me a lot closer to my current wage. Thanks for continuing to chat with me, DCUM.

[Anonymous]

MB here (one of the previous posters w/ lots of advice about how to negotiate.)

FWIW, I know it's incredibly tough when you desperately need a job, but this potential employer sounds like a nightmare. She's experienced enough to know damn well that she's not offering a competitive wage and it sounds like she's sweet talking you while trying to be incredibly cheap.

I'd be extremely wary of having to work with/for her. I hope you can find something better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. She offered 5 days PTO and she says they travel very often, like 6 weeks a year, in which case I'd get paid the same while they were gone. She said I can choose whether or not I want taxes taken out. She said I would use her car for outings. She was very adamant that I take them on outings everyday, even when the weather is bad. Which was also a little annoying to me. With my current job, I love having the freedom of taking my charge on outings if/when I feel like it. My MB doesn't freak out if we stay home one day. She knows her child is still getting enough stimulation.

She seemed to be experienced in having a nanny and seems to treat her current one very well, in all areas except for pay. I don't understand. She's coming from a HUGE city but only paying her full-time "rockstar nanny" (her words) $11/hr? She said things like "she's like my second brain, she knows the routine better than I do, we're devastated to be losing her". Their nanny has been with them since the 3 year old was 6 months old. So has she gotten raises and she used to make even less than $11? Maybe she started very inexperienced? Even then, I can't imagine that $500-ish a week is a liveable wage for anyone with any sort of bills or rent to pay.

I guess now I'm just venting, I already know this job isn't my first choice and I won't take it unless she agrees to pay me a lot closer to my current wage. Thanks for continuing to chat with me, DCUM.

Then your only possible response is, "This sounds like a great job, but my absolute minimum rate for the area is $15/hr." Then see what they say. You may find that they say, "No thanks," but call you back in a couple of weeks when they can't find anyone else.

If you're really open to a share, that seems reasonable to suggest, too.

I would caution against working for people who may try to wring every dollar's worth out of you if they pay more than they are comfortable with, but if you need a job, it may be one you start at and then move on.

[Anonymous]

If you do take it, make sure to have it in writing that you are not expected to pick up extra tasks when they go on their six weeks of vacation. No babysitting for the neighbor, no cleaning the house, etc etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. She offered 5 days PTO and she says they travel very often, like 6 weeks a year, in which case I'd get paid the same while they were gone. She said I can choose whether or not I want taxes taken out. She said I would use her car for outings. She was very adamant that I take them on outings everyday, even when the weather is bad. Which was also a little annoying to me. With my current job, I love having the freedom of taking my charge on outings if/when I feel like it. My MB doesn't freak out if we stay home one day. She knows her child is still getting enough stimulation.

She seemed to be experienced in having a nanny and seems to treat her current one very well, in all areas except for pay. I don't understand. She's coming from a HUGE city but only paying her full-time "rockstar nanny" (her words) $11/hr? She said things like "she's like my second brain, she knows the routine better than I do, we're devastated to be losing her". Their nanny has been with them since the 3 year old was 6 months old. So has she gotten raises and she used to make even less than $11? Maybe she started very inexperienced? Even then, I can't imagine that $500-ish a week is a liveable wage for anyone with any sort of bills or rent to pay.

I guess now I'm just venting, I already know this job isn't my first choice and I won't take it unless she agrees to pay me a lot closer to my current wage. Thanks for continuing to chat with me, DCUM.

Have you spoken to the current nanny? Has the family even offered her contact information? If she's such a rockstar and is only getting that amount, I would want to verify both things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. She offered 5 days PTO and she says they travel very often, like 6 weeks a year, in which case I'd get paid the same while they were gone. She said I can choose whether or not I want taxes taken out. She said I would use her car for outings. She was very adamant that I take them on outings everyday, even when the weather is bad. Which was also a little annoying to me. With my current job, I love having the freedom of taking my charge on outings if/when I feel like it. My MB doesn't freak out if we stay home one day. She knows her child is still getting enough stimulation.

She seemed to be experienced in having a nanny and seems to treat her current one very well, in all areas except for pay. I don't understand. She's coming from a HUGE city but only paying her full-time "rockstar nanny" (her words) $11/hr? She said things like "she's like my second brain, she knows the routine better than I do, we're devastated to be losing her". Their nanny has been with them since the 3 year old was 6 months old. So has she gotten raises and she used to make even less than $11? Maybe she started very inexperienced? Even then, I can't imagine that $500-ish a week is a liveable wage for anyone with any sort of bills or rent to pay.

I guess now I'm just venting, I already know this job isn't my first choice and I won't take it unless she agrees to pay me a lot closer to my current wage. Thanks for continuing to chat with me, DCUM.

Have you spoken to the current nanny? Has the family even offered her contact information? If she's such a rockstar and is only getting that amount, I would want to verify both things.