When to offer references?

[Anonymous]

I recently applied for a nanny position. I wrote a blurb about myself, my education, experience, and my caregiving philosophy. She wrote back a very brief message asking me to forward my résumé.

Normally I would send it away but because the message was so brief I'm wondering if it's a "real ad". Nonetheless, I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt. But I was going to remove my references out of respect for privacy.

What do you guys think. I've never had a potential MB respond so shortly to my message.

[Anonymous]

Where did you find her?

[Anonymous]

Send it to her.

[Anonymous]

Maybe after you determine that you want the job. I would not want total strangers bothering my refs until I think it might be a viable fit.

[Anonymous]

I don't offer my references until I have met the families for an interview. If it's not a good fit, why should my references be bothered? Go ahead and send your resume and let them know that references can be contacted once you have established if its a mutually beneficial fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently applied for a nanny position. I wrote a blurb about myself, my education, experience, and my caregiving philosophy. She wrote back a very brief message asking me to forward my résumé.

Normally I would send it away but because the message was so brief I'm wondering if it's a "real ad". Nonetheless, I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt. But I was going to remove my references out of respect for privacy.

What do you guys think. I've never had a potential MB respond so shortly to my message.

Ask for more details about the job through an email or ask to talk on the phone. You should be able to figure out by what they tell you (how much detail they go into compared to keeping it very vague) if it is fake or for real. I then will send my CV to them, but I will not include contact info with it. Sometimes I will keep my CV and bring it with me to an in-person interview after doing a phone interview, and after that in-person interview, if we both still want to continue on with things, then I will email the contact info to them (they will have a print out of the CV to use as reference for calls). If they say they want to keep my CV handy for the future but not sure if I am the right fit, or they need a schedule at that time that I cannot do but might use me for occasional work, then I leave my CV but will not send reference contact info until they would want to actually call the families.

[Anonymous]

I would ask more specifics about the job and if you are interested I would forward her your resume. Until meeting with them and deciding that you are very interested in the position, maybe you should withhold your references. I don't want my references being bothered by people who are offering positions that I don't even want. I only give references after I've interviewed in person or have an in-depth phone interview.

[Anonymous]

I don't include my references on my resume. I only give a family my references after I have had at least a phone interview with them. I don't like my previous families getting multiple phone calls.

[Anonymous]

I include one or two of my reference letters as part of my CV, with all of the details removed - so just first names. I also include that the rest of my references are available upon request. I don't usually hand over my references contact details until I am sure I want the job so after an interview

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I include one or two of my reference letters as part of my CV, with all of the details removed - so just first names. I also include that the rest of my references are available upon request. I don't usually hand over my references contact details until I am sure I want the job so after an interview

Good advice.
Don't give them phone numbers until you know it'll be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

I never give my references until I meet the parents and children in their home. If everything checks out -- and I like the entire package and think it is a good fit and know that I would take the job if offered -- then I hand them my references. Never before.

[Anonymous]

I never put reference contact info on the resume, only their names, dates of employment, duties etc. No phone numbers or email, so I send the resume right away but give contact info after we've met and both agree we want to move forward. If they say they want to interview more people, I say I'll give contact info once they've decided they're interested in hiring me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't offer my references until I have met the families for an interview. If it's not a good fit, why should my references be bothered? Go ahead and send your resume and let them know that references can be contacted once you have established if its a mutually beneficial fit.

Exactly. Former employers don't want to be needlessly bothered if nanny doesn't want the job. My favorite former employer appreciates it when I let her know in advance if she should be expecting a call from a particular family. She likes to have their name and age of child. I imagine she'd be less inclined to waste her time on a family that didn't interest me. She's a very busy business woman.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely need to meet the family and see the environment first.

The only time I agreed to a background check first, was when I interviewed with a famous actress in NYC. She had her driver meet me at the airport to drive me to her studio in lower Manhattan. Very cool, but I turned down the job. Too much pandemonium for the children.

[Anonymous]

I never give references or my resume on a care.com ad until I have met the family and see where they live. Just unwise to do so beforehand if I am not interested in accepting to position if offered.

And I will not subject my references to calls from anyone unless I am certain I would take the job if offered.

I am more than happy to have a background check run on me (I did it myself thru care.com) but welcome anyone who wants to run a more detailed check on me - again, only if offered the job.