Why aren't these nannies calling me back for our position?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, how would nanny get a break during the day with 5 yr old probably not napping? does she/he have a quiet time? With 10 hr a day on their feet, nannies need a break, and maybe they feel there isn't going to be one.

5 year olds should not need a nap.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone. We live in a much much lower COL area, and nanny finding as rvices say what we’re offering is suitable for a college sitter/nanny and we’ve had a lot of bites with rate we’re offering. I agree we’d probably get more bites with higher rate, but I think our kids are pretty easy. On those long days both kids wil probably be asleep in the morning and the baby will nap for 2-3 hours. 5 yo does not nap but will take some quiet time to read books. I thought DH being here may be a bonus (in that nanny/sitter can leave earlier some days), get a break. We’re also happy to pay overtime for over 40 hrs- which we’ll do for nannies that want it,I don’t think we need it. I thought this would attract sitters that are looking to have a job but not one that is all consuming (meaning that they can go out at night, enjoy some of the summer day). I did not know that you check references after meeting them, thanks for that tip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone. We live in a much much lower COL area, and nanny finding as rvices say what we’re offering is suitable for a college sitter/nanny and we’ve had a lot of bites with rate we’re offering. I agree we’d probably get more bites with higher rate, but I think our kids are pretty easy. On those long days both kids wil probably be asleep in the morning and the baby will nap for 2-3 hours. 5 yo does not nap but will take some quiet time to read books. I thought DH being here may be a bonus (in that nanny/sitter can leave earlier some days), get a break. We’re also happy to pay overtime for over 40 hrs- which we’ll do for nannies that want it,I don’t think we need it. I thought this would attract sitters that are looking to have a job but not one that is all consuming (meaning that they can go out at night, enjoy some of the summer day). I did not know that you check references after meeting them, thanks for that tip.

Again, your ad sounds geared more toward college students, HS students or none professional nannies aka a sitter. Someone who has bills to pay wants a more stable long term job and more money. Your husband being there is not a bonus. Your kids being easy doesn’t relate to wage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, how would nanny get a break during the day with 5 yr old probably not napping? does she/he have a quiet time? With 10 hr a day on their feet, nannies need a break, and maybe they feel there isn't going to be one.

5 year olds should not need a nap.

Nannies for kids 4+ get a break by having kids play at the park or in the backyard. They need to be able to play with each other and independently of adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone. We live in a much much lower COL area, and nanny finding as rvices say what we’re offering is suitable for a college sitter/nanny and we’ve had a lot of bites with rate we’re offering. I agree we’d probably get more bites with higher rate, but I think our kids are pretty easy. On those long days both kids wil probably be asleep in the morning and the baby will nap for 2-3 hours. 5 yo does not nap but will take some quiet time to read books. I thought DH being here may be a bonus (in that nanny/sitter can leave earlier some days), get a break. We’re also happy to pay overtime for over 40 hrs- which we’ll do for nannies that want it,I don’t think we need it. I thought this would attract sitters that are looking to have a job but not one that is all consuming (meaning that they can go out at night, enjoy some of the summer day). I did not know that you check references after meeting them, thanks for that tip.

Yeah, no one wants their references to get tired of being called. The reference check comes after the interview, if you are serious about offering them the job (or have offered them the job contingent on the reference check).

A parent at home usually makes the nanny's job harder, and can undermine her authority. If he's there, you need to have somewhere in the house that he works and is out of sight and sound of the kids. If he's popping in and out, or they know where he is and want to see him, it can get really hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, we don't live in the DC area, we live in a much, much lower COL area and we're hoping to hire a summer nanny. We posted an ad (with the rates) and received several inquiries. We're paying $15/hr for a minimum of 40 hours/week (with the option to work more if they're interested) for 2 kids (5 and 1). No weekends, no overnights. We can be really flexible as DH works from home, however he travels on average a day a week (sometimes 2 days) and I am in medicine (but a resident - so not making a ton of money) so on the days he's traveling nanny needs to arrive pretty early, but on the days he's here, nanny can come in much later (9 or 10) and can even leave the house with the 5 yo when the one year old is napping since DH is here. We plan on having museum memberships, pool memberships, etc. Is it the varied schedule that is scaring off the nannies? I have liked them for the most part, but they always say the plan to email me their references and schedule a visit to our house and then we don't hear from them (this has been 2 nannies so far). I'm getting frustrated and am not sure what to do.

OP a few issues I see:

- you are only looking for work for three months - most nannies want a long-term job
- your husband working from home would be a pain in the neck - most nannies hate it when a parent works from home
- I don't know where you're finding your nanny candidates, but having two flake out isn't out of the realm of possibility when you're dealing with people who may be fielding multiple offers
- you don't offer overtime, you have to pay it

I hope you find someone!

[Anonymous]

My guess is work at home is unappealing

[Anonymous]

I mean most nannies prefer working for parents that work outside the home

[Anonymous]

Nannies will likely be turned off by the lack of a set schedule and having your DH working from home. I did a summer job where the DB was home and kept making comments and changing the schedule on me according to the needs of his day. I quit that job early out of frustration.

[Anonymous]

Because your husband works from
Home. No one wants the boss watching over them
All day.