Interview went great until...

[Anonymous]

MB told me she would pay me 1/3 my going rate when baby is sleeping, the baby is 6 weeks old. Newborns sleep about 14-28 hours out of 24 hours if I remember correctly, I thought that was ridiculous but she expects light housekeeping (baby laundry, dishes, keeping nursery tidy, which I do anyways)...so essentially this woman wants me to show up for a 10 hours a day and only get paid my going wage ($15 an hour) for what, three hours tops? So when the baby is sleeping can I leave? I am SO disappointed because this job on paper sounded amazing, FT to a little bitty baby girl, ugh, I so wanted this job, I miss having infant charges.

I suppose their is no point in being like "uh, are you serious"? I should just move on, and see what poor sucker falls for this.

[Anonymous]

I too love taking care of little babies - but that Mama is crazy! What did you you say/do?

[Anonymous]

I don't believe it's possible to sleep up to 28 hours in a 24 hour day.

OP, you should have told her "That's fine, but I charge triple when the baby cries and if the baby cries for 10 minutes, I still need the whole hour paid."

Also, can you PLEASE politely decline and let her know the reason why.

[Anonymous]

You don't need a reference from someone you're simply interviewing with-simply tell her that she's nuts. You know how many interviews she's going to have to go through to find the idiot that agrees to this? Maybe that will clue her in.

[Anonymous]

There is no point getting offended. You can either decline or offer a counter offer lower than $15 average per hour.

If you really love the job as you say you do then you can offer something else. Its silly to whine that you can't do the job that you love under the terms that you want. Most situations involve some give and take. If you counter offer, you can respond that sleep schedules are variable and you need to rely on a regular weekly pay amount. You can offer a lower rate than $15 average an hour or you can offer to more tasks (all laundry, cooking, dusting, changing bed sheets, mopping floors etc)) during nap time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no point getting offended. You can either decline or offer a counter offer lower than $15 average per hour.

If you really love the job as you say you do then you can offer something else. Its silly to whine that you can't do the job that you love under the terms that you want. Most situations involve some give and take. If you counter offer, you can respond that sleep schedules are variable and you need to rely on a regular weekly pay amount. You can offer a lower rate than $15 average an hour or you can offer to more tasks (all laundry, cooking, dusting, changing bed sheets, mopping floors etc)) during nap time.

STFU!!!& go away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no point getting offended. You can either decline or offer a counter offer lower than $15 average per hour.

If you really love the job as you say you do then you can offer something else. Its silly to whine that you can't do the job that you love under the terms that you want. Most situations involve some give and take. If you counter offer, you can respond that sleep schedules are variable and you need to rely on a regular weekly pay amount. You can offer a lower rate than $15 average an hour or you can offer to more tasks (all laundry, cooking, dusting, changing bed sheets, mopping floors etc)) during nap time.

maybe you should go take that job then since you seem like you'd be so happy to have a low pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
"There is no point getting offended. You can either decline or offer a counter offer lower than $15 average per hour.

If you really love the job as you say you do then you can offer something else. Its silly to whine that you can't do the job that you love under the terms that you want. Most situations involve some give and take. If you counter offer, you can respond that sleep schedules are variable and you need to rely on a regular weekly pay amount. You can offer a lower rate than $15 average an hour or you can offer to more tasks (all laundry, cooking, dusting, changing bed sheets, mopping floors etc)) during nap time."


"maybe you should go take that job then since you seem like you'd be so happy to have a low pay."

Brilliant advice except that OP hasn't found other offers that pays what she want and have one baby. No job pays less than a job slightly less than your desired range. OP has choices. She can try to negotiate understanding that negotiating means you give up something too or she decline and hope the perfect job materialized at some point for her.

[Anonymous]

Or she could let the mom know that it is not standard to lower the rate during nap time, and that she would love to accept the job but would need to be paid $15/hour for all hours. If the mom likes you, she may agree, if not wish her luck and move on. Don't be surprise when she comes back in a week willing to talk sense because she couldn't find a qualified idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe it's possible to sleep up to 28 hours in a 24 hour day.

OP, you should have told her "That's fine, but I charge triple when the baby cries and if the baby cries for 10 minutes, I still need the whole hour paid."

Also, can you PLEASE politely decline and let her know the reason why.

Oops, I meant 18.

[Anonymous]

OP.. what did you say to the mum?

[Anonymous]

Or she could let the mom know that it is not standard to lower the rate during nap time, and that she would love to accept the job but would need to be paid $15/hour for all hours. If the mom likes you, she may agree, if not wish her luck and move on. Don't be surprise when she comes back in a week willing to talk sense because she couldn't find a qualified idiot.

This is declining the offer which all other posters included as an option to the OP. Its just more risky that the other party will not counter offer and walk away They may counter but you are always more likely to keep the negotiation open and seal the deal if both parties give something.

If OP is willing to walk away then decline the offer. You can hope that the other party will call back and meet your original request but if they don't you have no where to go. If she really wants the job but doesn't like this one aspect then negotiating by countering may yield a better result.

An important part of negotiating is keep the communication open and understanding your position and the other's party position. OP -did you get the impression that the mom really loved you or clicked with you? Did she seem relieved when she met you or express any anxiety about interviewing nannies? If she felt this way then there is a chance when you decline that she will counter offer but if not and she has other candidates she will move on.

[Anonymous]

I know I'm gonna get flamed but you could always accept and keep looking. Once you get another offer, you could give her the chance to meet the offer but if she declines you have a back up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
"There is no point getting offended. You can either decline or offer a counter offer lower than $15 average per hour.

If you really love the job as you say you do then you can offer something else. Its silly to whine that you can't do the job that you love under the terms that you want. Most situations involve some give and take. If you counter offer, you can respond that sleep schedules are variable and you need to rely on a regular weekly pay amount. You can offer a lower rate than $15 average an hour or you can offer to more tasks (all laundry, cooking, dusting, changing bed sheets, mopping floors etc)) during nap time."


"maybe you should go take that job then since you seem like you'd be so happy to have a low pay."

Brilliant advice except that OP hasn't found other offers that pays what she want and have one baby. No job pays less than a job slightly less than your desired range. OP has choices. She can try to negotiate understanding that negotiating means you give up something too or she decline and hope the perfect job materialized at some point for her.

True, but then a week later she could find an amazing position that DOES pay what she wants. If she were to take this at a much lower pay than she wants (which usually means than she can afford to live on as well), then that is just stupid. She will regret her decision and then start to resent the family that she is working for. That wouldn't be a thing good to do. While some negotiations and give and take is necessary, it would be likely that the nanny would be doing most of the sacrificing in this situation and it really needs to be a more even of a negotiation for both parties to stay happy long term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP.. what did you say to the mum?

Well, she mentioned it with a slew of other things, so I couldn't react to just the one thing, but I bet she saw my face sink. I am one of 4 other people she's interviewing, so I assumed on of theme would bring it up, I just smiled...I'm waiting for her call, to let me know if "I'm out of the running" or what.

I'm bummed because this job is perfect for me, I live in Dallas, Texas (love the boards anyways) and nanny jobs are a little harder to find, and I LOVE working with infants, I'd just be in heaven. $15 an hour is somewhat on the higher end for nannies in the area, I am educated and have 5+ years of experience (with one family) but if she does offer me the job I'll try to say I'll take $12 an hour (even if baby is sleeping), the job comes out to 40+ a week, so I'll make about $480-$500 a week, which is still pretty good. So, we will see. She is a first time mother, and I suppose she just doesn't know. She seems sweet.